India skipper Mithali Raj says women’s cricket needs media support, never felt the need to avoid a press conference

Mumbai: India Test and ODI captain Mithali Raj on Monday said women’s cricket needs media support to promote the game and personally she had never felt the necessity to forgo a press conference.

Mithali made the remarks in the wake of a controversy involving 23-year-old Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the ongoing French Open after refusing to take part in the post-match media conferences.

File image of Indian women’s ODI skipper Mithali Raj. AFP

“Well, I think it is tough to be in quarantine for any athlete. But, I think getting into a tournament, we do not feel that. Personally I have not felt that I should forgo a press conference because women’s cricket right now, where it stands, it needs media support,” Mithali said when specifically asked about the topic.

Mithali was addressing a virtual press-conference ahead of the team’s tour to England alongside head coach Ramesh Powar.

“And it is important for players also to try and help in the growth of a sport. So, we need to try and promote the sport,” added the 38-year-old, who has several records to her name.

Osaka had decided to boycott press conferences during the ongoing Grand Slam — a move that had drawn flak — as he felt that the nature of questioning was often damaging to her mental health.