Akash Chopra

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Indian
country = India
country abbrev = IND
name = Akash Chopra
picture = cricket no pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style = Right-arm medium (RM)
tests = 10
test runs = 437
test bat avg = 23.00
test 100s/50s = -/2
test top score = 60
test balls = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 15/-
FCs = 118
FC runs = 8219
FC bat avg = 46.69
FC 100s/50s = 22/41
FC top score = 239*
FC balls = 372
FC wickets = 6
FC bowl avg = 33.16
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 2/5
FC catches/stumpings = 145/-
debut date = 8 October
debut year = 2003
last date = 26 October
last year = 2004
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/27639.html Cricinfo

Akash Chopra audio|Akash_Chopra.ogg|pronunciation (born September 19, 1977, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh) is an Indian cricketer, who played for the Indian cricket team from late 2003 until late 2004 as a defensive opening batsman and close catcher in Test matches who evoked comparisons with Eknath Solkar. He was noted for his calm demeanour and jovial approach to cricket.cite web| title = Aakash Chopra| url= http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/27639.html|publisher = Cricinfo |accessdate =2007-02-06]

Early years

A classical style opening batsman, Chopra was known more for his solid technique and defence than for his flamboyant stroke-play, typically trying to wait for the new ball to lose its shine, rather than hitting the shine off the ball. An opener in his state team, Delhi, Chopra made his domestic limited overs debut in the 1996/97 season, before debuting the following season in 1997/98 in the Ranji Trophy. He batted productively in his first season, compiling 422 runs at 70.33 including two centuries. [cite web| title = Highest batting averages| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997-98/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/STATS/IND_LOCAL_RANJI_AVS_BAT_HIGHEST_AVS.html| publisher =Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-02-06] He was rewarded with selection for North Zone in his first year, playing in their only Duleep Trophy match and compiling half-centuries in both innings. [cite web|title = East Zone vs North Zone at Hyderabad, 1-5 Dec 1997| url = http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997-98/IND_LOCAL/DULEEP/EAST_NORTH_DULEEP_01-05DEC1997.html| publisher = Cricinfo| accessdate =2007-02-06] His second season however, was poor compiling only 117 runs at an average of 19.5, [cite web| title = Highest batting averages| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1998-99/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/STATS/IND_LOCAL_RANJI_AVS_BAT_HIGHEST_AVS.html| publisher =Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-02-06] resulting in his omission from the North Zone team. [cite web|title= Duleep Trophy 1998/99 North Zone Squad| url =http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1998-99/IND_LOCAL/DULEEP/DULEEP_1998-99_NORTH-SQUAD.html| publisher = Cricinfo| accessdate = 2007-02-07] Chopra recovered in his third Ranji season, scoring 309 runs at 44 including one century, [cite web| title = Highest batting averages| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/STATS/IND_LOCAL_RANJI_AVS_BAT_HIGHEST_AVS.html| publisher =Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-02-06] but was again overlooked as North Zone went on to claim the Duleep Trophy. [cite web|title= North Zone Squad| url = http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/IND_LOCAL/DULEEP/SQUADS/DULEEP_1999-2000_NORTH-SQUAD.html| publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2007-02-08] He continued his form the following season with 617 runs at 68.55, including two centuries including a double century, 222. [cite web| title= Batting - Most Runs| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2000-01/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/STATS/IND_LOCAL_RJI_AVS_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2007-02-08] Chopra bounced back from his omission from the previous season's Duleep winning North Zone team, scoring two centuries and averaging 74.5 as they completed consecutive titles. [cite web| title= Batting - Most Runs| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2000-01/IND_LOCAL/DULEEP/STATS/IND_LOCAL_DULEEP_AVS_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2007-02-08] Chopra compiled 479 at 53 with one century in the following Ranji campaign. [cite web| title= Batting - Most Runs| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001-02/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/STATS/IND_LOCAL_RANJI_AVS_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2007-02-08] His Duleep Trophy performances were better, compiling 478 runs at 95.6, including two centuries in four matches, ranking him fourth in the run scoring list, but was unable to secure a hat-trick of Duleep titles for North Zone. [cite web| title= Batting - Most Runs| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001-02/IND_LOCAL/DULEEP/STATS/IND_LOCAL_DULEEP_AVS_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2007-02-08] Chopra continued his consistent form in the Ranji Trophy in 2002/03 with 525 runs at 47.7, [cite web| title= Batting - Most Runs| url=http://www1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2002-03/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/STATS/IND_LOCAL_RANJI_AVS_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2007-02-08] but was forced to miss the Duleep campaign due to injury.

International career

Chopra made his Test debut in Ahmedabad against New Zealand in late 2003 as India sought to find an opening partner for his Delhi team-mate Virender Sehwag. Chopra's international career started well enough, scoring two half-centuries against New Zealand during 2003/04 in the second Test in Mohali. On the 2003-04 tour to Australia, he featured in many solid partnerships with Virender Sehwag, including two century opening partnerships in Melbourne and Sydney. Chopra's work in seeing off the new ball saw him credited with the large scores that India accumulated in that series when middle-order batsmen Rahul Dravid, V. V. S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar regularly compiled large centuries.

On the subsequent tour to Pakistan, he combined with another century stand with Sehwag as India passed 600 in the first innings to set up a large innings defeat of arch-rivals Pakistan in the first Test in Multan. However, in the second Test, the Indian batsmen failed in a losing effort, apart from a century from Yuvraj Singh, who was playing in place of injured captain Sourav Ganguly. [cite news| first = Anand| last = Vasu| title= Yuvraj or Chopra? India's selectorial dilemma| url= http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/134262.html| publisher = Cricinfo| date = 2004-04-08| accessddate = 2007-02-07] When Ganguly returned for the final Test, it was Chopra who was axed and Yuvraj retained.

Chopra was reintroduced as Sehwag's partner in the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Tendulkar was injured for the First Test in Bangalore. However, a heavy loss saw Chopra axed for the following match in Chennai upon Tendulkar's return, with Yuvraj elevated to opening the innings. Yuvraj also struggled, and Chopra was recalled for the Third Test in Nagpur. However, a double failure by Chopra, as Australia won a series in India for the first time in 35 years, saw him dropped for the last time, after his career average gradually decreased, however, from 46.25 to only 23. Chopra was replaced by Delhi team-mate Gautam Gambhir, and has since been overtaken by Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer in the race to partner Sehwag in the Test side. Due to his low scoring rate, he has not been considered for One Day Internationals.

Chopra is currently playing in Staffordshire. His columns are also regularly appearing in Hindustan Times and Cricinfo.

References