In a significant turn of events, Parshavi Chopra’s decision to embrace leg-spin bowling has brought about a notable transformation in her cricket journey. The shift in her playing style has proven to be a game-changer, leading to a change in her fortunes on the field.
Parshavi Chopra had a strong desire to become one of the fastest cricket players ever. She initially started as a pace bowler but later switched to leg-spin based on her coach’s advice. This decision turned out to be very fortunate for her and brought about a positive change in her career prospects.
In addition to practicing leg-spin bowling at the nets of the Youngstar Cricket Academy and the Yuvraj Singh Center of Excellence in Greater Noida, Parshavi Chopra began to take an interest in the legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne. She spent time watching his matches and reading about his techniques. Nowadays, she is a fan of one of India’s finest leg-spin bowlers, Yuzvendra Chahal.
“Yes, I started as a fast bowler, but my coach advised me to switch to leg-spin. It changed my fortunes. I was fascinated when I saw a women’s cricket match between India and Australia and I started dreaming to be a batter like Smriti Mandhana,” shared Parshavi Chopra.
A talented player, who secured 11 wickets, played a key role in India’s first victory at the Under-19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa earlier this year in January.
“I was surprised to get a call to play for India in the Under-19 World Cup. I wasn’t confident when I got to bowl my first over,” shared Parshavi Chopra, who plays a crucial role for the UP Warriorz team in the Women’s Premier League
Chopra, a talented player in both bowling and batting, started playing cricket when she was just 10 years old. She has proudly played for Uttar Pradesh teams in the U14, U16, and U19 categories in local cricket matches. “Cricket means the world to me. Right now, I’m working really hard during the training sessions with UP Warriorz, even when it’s not the main cricket season. This way, I’m preparing myself to perform well in the upcoming local matches and the next WPL season,” explained Parshavi Chopra, who is 17 years old.
“Playing for senior India team is my target. The domestic matches and WPL are the platforms from where I can impress the selectors,” she said.
Parshavi Chopra had a natural talent for sports and she represented India on the global stage as a young athlete in 2022. Her debut was in a series of five matches against New Zealand, which India won with a perfect score of 5-0. Even today, I find myself watching videos of Shane Warne and Yuzvendra Chahal. The way they bowl leg-spin is truly inspiring. I dream of being able to spin the ball just like Warne did, especially his skill in hitting the stumps from the leg side,” Parshvi expressed.
“I felt immense joy with each wicket I took during the Women’s T20 World Cup; it was like a dream becoming real. I hope to maintain this positive energy in upcoming tournaments as well,” mentioned Parshavi Chopra. She stood out with 11 wickets in hand, securing the title of the second-highest wicket-taker in the World Cup.
Parshavi’s talent caught the attention of the UP Warriorz franchise, who signed her up for ₹10 Lakhs in the WPL. Interestingly, her initial passion was skating, a sport in which she even earned a silver medal. However, her parents directed her towards cricket since her family holds a strong passion for the game. Her grandfather, Parshuram Chopra, was a respected cricketer at the zonal level, while her father and uncle engaged in club cricket.
During her first attempt at the age of 12, she fell short of joining the Uttar Pradesh U-16 Team due to her young age. Yet, her determination bore fruit the very next year as she not only secured a spot on the team but was also hailed as the finest bowler during a tour in Chhattisgarh.”