Parshavi Chopra grew up surrounded by cricket hysteria, with his father and uncle always discussing the game at home. However, India’s reaching the final of her 2017 ODI Women’s World Cup in England sparked this youngster’s passion for cricket.
India’s campaign and their disappointing victory over Australia captured the imagination of Indian fans, and despite losing to England in the final, women’s cricket found a new identity in India. He dreamed of playing for India in the World Cup and was inspired to join the Yuvraj Singh Center of Excellence (YSCE) in Noida.
Six years later, leg spinner Parshavi is realizing her dream. Not only was she part of the team that won the first ever T20 ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup by defeating England in Sunday’s final, but she was also India’s best wicket taker in South Africa, taking 11 in six games. It was 15-year-old Australian pacemaker Maggie Clarke’s tournament best (12 out of 5 games) who took the scalp.
She was one of the bowlers who eased India in the final at Potchefstroom. 2/13 in four overs led a dominant show for Spinner as England were dismissed for 68 to give India a seven-wicket win. She was also spotlighted against Sri Lanka, scoring her 4/5 on the Super Six stage.
Parshavi earned praise from India’s U-19 heroes her ODI and her T20 World Cup-winning Yuvraj Singh. “I am very happy that a young woman won the U-19 World Cup. This is a historic moment in sport and I am sure this will pave the way for many other young girls to start playing sport.”
The former Indian all-rounder was impressed by the Academy trainees. “I have followed Parshavi’s development very closely. She is a very hard worker and she faithfully follows her trainer’s orders. I think she is a talent to watch on the world stage.” I look forward to seeing her back in India. I am very much looking forward to their future activities. ”
The team, led by Shafali Verma, won the first global title by an Indian women’s team.
16-year-old Parshavi’s family is from Brandshar, Uttar her Pradesh. For several seasons she was a member of her U-19 national team.
“She’s a skater and before she started playing cricket she won a lot of medals at the state level. She also ran the 100 meters at school. But after seeing her 2017 World Cup, she knew she wanted to be a cricketer. We encouraged them and put them in a well-equipped academy. Vishal Bhatia was her coach. Since then, she has worked hard on her craft and skills,” said Gaurav Chopra, Paashavi’s father.
Gaurav and his brother have played cricket at the metropolitan club level. Parshavi’s brother is also an up-and-coming cricketer and has been in the UP U-16 boys’ camp this season.
“The whole neighborhood was with us during the final,” said his father, speaking of Yuvraj’s academy’s role in his daughter’s development as a player.
“Now is the time for Parshavi to continue building on her and putting in more effort. She is very young and her attention will allow her to show her talents as a cricketer,” he said.