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{{short description|Indian cricketer}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = Anjum Chopra
|              female = true
|               image = File:ANJUM CHOPRA (3388377038).jpg
|             caption = Chopra in 2009
|             country = India
|            fullname = Anjum Chopra
|          birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|5|20}}
|         birth_place = [[New Delhi]], [[NCT of Delhi]], [[India]]
|             batting = Left-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|                role = [[Batting (cricket)|Batter]]

|       international = true
|   internationalspan = 1995–2012

|       testdebutdate = 17 November
|       testdebutyear = 1995
|    testdebutagainst = England
|             testcap = 47
|        lasttestdate = 29 August
|        lasttestyear = 2006
|     lasttestagainst = England

|        odidebutdate = 12 February
|        odidebutyear = 1995
|     odidebutagainst = New Zealand
|              odicap = 42
|         lastodidate = 16 March
|         lastodiyear = 2012
|      lastodiagainst = Australia

|      T20Idebutdate = 5 August 
|      T20Idebutyear = 2006
|   T20Idebutagainst = England
|            T20Icap = 2
|       lastT20Idate = 23 March 
|       lastT20Iyear = 2012
|    lastT20Iagainst = Australia

|               club1 = [[Delhi women's cricket team|Delhi]]
|               year1 = {{nowrap|1992/93–1995/96}}
|               club2 = Air India
|               year2 = 1996/97–2004/05
|               club3 = [[Delhi women's cricket team|Delhi]]
|               year3 = 2006/07–2011/12

|             columns = 4

|             column1 = [[Women's Test cricket|WTest]]
|            matches1 = 12
|               runs1 = 548
|            bat avg1 = 30.44
|           100s/50s1 = 0/4
|          top score1 = 98
|         deliveries1 = 258
|            wickets1 = 2
|           bowl avg1 = 44.00
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 1/9
|  catches/stumpings1 = 13/–

|             column2 = [[Women's One Day International|WODI]]
|            matches2 = 127
|               runs2 = 2,856
|            bat avg2 = 31.38
|           100s/50s2 = 1/18
|          top score2 = 100
|         deliveries2 = 601
|            wickets2 = 9
|           bowl avg2 = 46.00
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 2/9
|  catches/stumpings2 = 33/–

|             column3 = [[Women's Twenty20 International|T20I]]
|            matches3 = 18
|               runs3 = 241
|            bat avg3 = 17.21
|           100s/50s3 = 0/0
|          top score3 = 37[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries3 = –
|            wickets3 = –
|           bowl avg3 = –
|            fivefor3 = –
|             tenfor3 = –
|       best bowling3 = –
|  catches/stumpings3 = 3/–

|             column4 = [[List A cricket|WLA]]
|            matches4 = 225
|               runs4 = 5,521
|            bat avg4 = 35.85
|           100s/50s4 = 1/34
|          top score4 = 100
|         deliveries4 = 661
|            wickets4 = 18
|           bowl avg4 = 30.27
|            fivefor4 = 0
|             tenfor4 = 0
|       best bowling4 = 3/11
|  catches/stumpings4 = 64/–

|                date = 18 August
|                year = 2022
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry| {{IND}}}}
{{MedalSport|Women's cricket}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Women's Cricket World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2005 Women's Cricket World Cup|2005 South Africa]]|}}
}}
'''Anjum Chopra''' (born 20 May 1977) is an Indian cricket commentator and former [[cricket]]er.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/cricket/four-female-commentators-in-ipl-8-who-are-former-cricketers-16764.html|title=IPL8: Four female commentators who are former cricketers-IndiaTV News|access-date=2017-09-27|language=en-US}}</ref> She represented [[India women's national cricket team|India]] in over 150 international matches across formats over 18 years. Chopra was the first woman to reach 1,000 ODI runs for India. Since retirement, Chopra has worked as an English-language commentator covering professional cricket such as the [[Indian Premier League]].


She played various sports at an early age, representing her school and college in athletics, basketball, and swimming. She was also a member of the Delhi State basketball team that competed at nationals.<ref name=":0" />

Chopra made her debut in [[Women's One Day International|one-day internationals]] at the age of 17, on 12 February 1995 against [[New Zealand women's national cricket team|New Zealand]] at [[Christchurch]], New Zealand, and made her debut in [[Women's Test cricket|Test cricket]] a few months later against [[English women's cricket team|England]] at [[Eden Gardens]], [[Kolkata]], on 17 November 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/421025|title=Live Cricket Scores & News International Cricket Council|access-date=2017-09-27|language=en}}</ref> In only her second series for India the same year, she was awarded player of the series in the one-day internationals against the visiting England cricket team, scoring at an average of 67.5.

She played as a left-handed batter who bowled right-arm medium pace. She played in 12 Tests, 127 ODIs and 18 T20Is.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/53910.html|title=Player Profile: Anjum Chopra|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=24 January 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100116013029/http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/53910.html| archive-date= 16 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8475/8475.html|title=Player Profile: Anjum Chopra|work=CricketArchive|access-date=24 January 2010}}</ref> She was coached by [[Sunita Sharma (cricket coach)|Sunita Sharma]], Hardeep Dua and [[Tarak Sinha]] from Sonnet Club.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/people-would-say-oh-ladki-ne-kaise-out-kar-diya-anjum-chopra/story-War0rQtJO02WgBFJKw50LP.html|title=People would say, 'Oh, ladki ne kaise out kar diya': Anjum Chopra|date=2016-10-01|work=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=2017-09-27|language=en}}</ref> She was the first woman to score 1,000 runs in ODIs for India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/pathmakers-first-to-1000-odi-runs-from-each-country/ |title=Pathmakers – First to 1000 ODI runs from each country |work=Women's CricZone |access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

Carving out a niche in the male-dominated sport in the country, Chopra has begun to be recognized as the face of women's cricket in India as a player, captain, consultant, commentator, motivational speaker, author, and actor.

==Personal life==
She received her undergraduate degree from [[St. Stephen’s College, Delhi]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = St Stephen's G-jams, nimbu paani must-haves: Anjum Chopra | date=20 June 2017 |url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/st-stephen-s-g-jams-nimbu-paani-must-haves-anjum-chopra/story-dBHo1Yk4GfX0hus8FFjwHJ_amp.html}}</ref>

Chopra belongs to a family of sportspeople:
* Maternal grandfather Ved Prakash Sahni was an athlete and represented India. He was also a cricket commentator. 
* Father Krishan Bal Chopra is a golfer.
* Mother Poonam Chopra, a devoted homemaker, has won a Goodyear car rally.
* Brother Nirvan Chopra has represented [[Delhi]] state in Under−17 and Under-19 cricket.
* Maternal uncle Rohit Sahni is a former cricketer. As a schoolboy, he was wicket-keeper and opening batsman for his alma mater, [[Mayo College]]. Later, he captained both Hindu College and Delhi University.

Chopra is also a pet lover who loves to spend time with her dogs, who live with her at home.

==Career==

Anjum Chopra is both a Test and One Day International cricketer who represented India's national women's cricket team. She is currently working as a cricket commentator. She made her One Day International debut in 1995 against [[New Zealand women's national cricket team|New Zealand]] at [[Christchurch]]. In the first ODI she opened the bowling for India, giving 14 runs in her 4 overs. Going in to [[Batting order (cricket)|bat at No 10]] for India, she had a crucial partnership of 11 runs to secure the victory for India.

She made her Test match debut in November 1995 against England in [[Calcutta]]. She was sent in as a [[Nightwatchman (cricket)|nightwatchman]] against the English team in her very first Test match for India. Living up to her coach's confidence in her she successfully batted until the next morning until lunch scoring 27 runs for her team.

She was made Vice Captain of the Indian team in [[2000 ESPNcricinfo World Cup]] in [[New Zealand]]. With two player of the match awards and the highest scorer from India, Chopra led the batting charts at the World Cup until the Indian team lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners New Zealand.

Chopra was made the Captain of the Indian team in 2002. In her first series as skipper, she led India with 7 debutants to a whitewash win over visiting England side, a record victory. The Indian team's first tour of South Africa saw them record their first overseas Test win, with Anjum Chopra scoring a match-winning 80. Her astute captaincy and using the part-time bowlers got the team 20 South African wickets at Paarl.

In 2005 World Cup in South Africa, India reached the finals of the World Cup for the first time. She was the top scorer from India and was also the Player of the Match against England.

In 2009 World Cup in Australia, in a must-win game for India, Chopra scored 76 match-winning runs and bagged the player of the match award. India finished third at the World Cup behind England and New Zealand.

She has played 6 World Cups for India, including four 50-over World Cups and two T20 World Cups. She is the first player to play 100 ODIs for India. One of the strong fielders on the team and a safe pair of hands, she has held the highest number of slip catches for India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/5-top-players-in-the-indian-womens-cricket-team-in-the-last-decade|title=5 top players in the Indian women's cricket team in the last decade|date=2013-12-03|access-date=2017-09-27}}</ref> A right arm medium pace bowler, Chopra made her debut as an all-rounder, opening the bowling in her first ODI and batting at No 10. She is the eighth-highest run-getter in women's ODIs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/739899.html|title=Anjum receives Padma Shri award|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2017-09-27|language=en}}</ref>

Chopra has batted at almost all positions for her team, including opening, when needed. She has scored against some of the best of bowling attacks in the world, and is known to occupy the crease and bat for long hours. For example, batting in the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand against Ireland, India was reeling at 3 wickets down with 1 run on the board. She played a patient knock of 70 runs and won the match.

She is known to bat well under pressure and has played numerous knocks to perfection to get the victory. A quick runner between the wickets, her ability to convert ones to twos had been an outstanding feature of Chopra's batting style.

After attending [[Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram|Delhi Public School R.K. Puram]] and [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi|St. Stephen's College]], [[Delhi University]], Chopra completed her Master's in Business Administration from [[FORE School of Management]] with a dual specialisation in Marketing and Human Resources.

In the corporate world, Chopra is a motivational and corporate speaker/consultant. Also an MBA, she has conducted training programs for globally recognised brands such as [[General Electric]], [[Standard Chartered]], [[Goldman Sachs]], [[Vodafone]], and various schools and colleges.

==Domestic career==

Anjum Chopra is a Delhi native who has played for the state since her Under-15 days. She has also represented Air India (her employers) for domestic matches where she emerged as the most successful skipper for the women's team.

Under her captaincy:
* Delhi state won the National championship in 2012 season, the first time in history that the Delhi women's team has won the national cricket championship.
* Air India won the nationals and zonal championships in both 2002 and 2003.
* Air India was declared as "Best team of the year" in 2003.

The 2011–12 cricket season saw her achieving victories for Delhi State. Captaining the team, Delhi won the national championship for the first time in history of the women's game. She also went on to lead the North Zone team that won the Zonal championships the same year. In the T20 format, Delhi state finished as runner-up, ending the year as the "Best State Team".

==Awards==

[[File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Anjum Chopra, at an Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 26, 2014.jpg|thumb|The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Anjum Chopra, at an Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 26, 2014]]

[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Patil presenting the Arjuna Award -2006 to Ms. Anjum Chopra for Cricket at a glittering function, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007.jpg|thumb|The President, Smt. Pratibha Patil presenting the Arjuna Award -2006 to Ms. Anjum Chopra for Cricket at a glittering function, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Award
!Notes
|-
|2014
|Padma Shri 
|
|-
|2007
|Arjuna Award
|
|-
|2004
|Rajiv Gandhi Delhi state award 
|
|-
|2000
|ICC Player of the Match 
|
|-
|2005
|ICC Player of the Match 
|
|-
|2009
|ICC Player of the Match 
|
|-
|2002
|Shiromani Desh Sewa Rattan Award
|Presented by Shaheed memorial international Sewa society, Ludhiana
|-
|2004
|Award of Honour for exemplary contribution in the Field of Cricket 
|Presented during forum of women in public sector
|-
|2008
|Zee Astitva Award – 'Award for exemplary Women'
|
|-
|2009
|FICCI – YFLO- Young Women Achievers Award
|
|-
|2011
|Award for contribution to Field of Sports 
|Presented during National Progressive schools conference
|-
|2012
|Alumni recognition award for public contribution
|FORE School of management
|-
|2013
|Shaksiyat Awards for Outstanding performance in the field of sports
|Presented on International women day 
|-
|2012–13
|Exemplary contribution in the field of sports
|Presented by Delhi Public School, Indore 
|-
|2013
|Honours in Recognition to the society and nation 
|Presented by All India National Life insurance Employees Federation on their 50 years (golden jubilee celebration)
|-
|2016
|Honorary Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Lord's Cricket Ground, London
|She is the first Indian woman cricketer to receive it<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/anjum-chopra-first-indian-woman-to-be-honoured-with-mcc-life-membership-2993474.html|title=Anjum Chopra first Indian woman to be honoured with MCC life membership|date=2016-09-07|access-date=2017-09-27}}</ref>
|}

==Records==
* First Indian player to score an ODI century for India.
* First captain to win a Test Series abroad. India won the test match in South Africa in 2002 under her captaincy.
* First captain to win a home series 5–0 whitewash against England in India in 2002<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiansportsnews.com/cricket-news/44800-women-s-day-special-top-5-indian-women-cricketers-to-have-made-name-in-gentleman-s-game|title=Women's Day Special: Top 5 Indian women cricketers to have made name in 'gentleman's game'|last=Kowjalgi|first=kaushal|website=www.indiansportsnews.com|date=8 March 2017 |language=en-gb|access-date=2017-09-27}}</ref>
* First player to play 100 ODIs for India
* First to play 6 World Cups for India (four ODI World Cups and two T20s) 
* Only player in modern-day cricket to have played 12 Test matches with ODI and T20s 
* First player to get an international appointment when she worked with Cricket South Africa women's team as a technical consultant in 2012–2013
* First female sportscaster and player to commentate on men's cricket matches

==Achievements==

Anjum Chopra co-authored the coffee table book titled ''Women's Cricket World &ndash; A Journey from 1745- 2013''. The book showcases the world history of the sport to its present-day under the International Cricket Council.

She has also acted in a docudrama, "Poor Cousins of Million Dollar Babies". The film received national acclaim at the Arnold Sports Film Festival in Ohio in 2011. It talks about that despite the disparities between men's and women's cricket, the girls are very happy playing the sport and enjoy the camaraderie.<ref>{{youTube|vnvc7ouXPik|Poor Cousins of Million Dollar Babies preview}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/poor-cousins-million-dollar-babies-indian-women-cricket | title=Indian women's cricket team: Poor cousins of the million dollar babies | publisher=[[Sportskeeda]] | date=22 August 2014 | access-date=31 March 2017 | author=Garg, Swati}}</ref>

To promote the game, Anjum has also participated in a reality show, Fear Factor 'Khatron ke Khiladi' season 4, aired on the Colors channel. She has also walked the ramp with leading names of the fashion industry promoting the women's game.

Anjum is a commentator/subject expert with Doordarshan and other leading news and sports channels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/anjum-chopra-former-women-cricketers-part-ipl-commentary-team-2188019.html|title=Anjum Chopra and other former women cricketers part of IPL commentary team|date=2015-04-07|access-date=2017-09-27}}</ref> A [[sportscaster]] she represents women's cricket on television analysing the game from a player's perspective. She has also forayed into other sports, acting as a commentator for the [[World Kabaddi League]] in 2014 on [[Sony Six]].

Anjum Chopra is the first woman cricketer from India to be awarded an honorary life membership of the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/Anjum-India%E2%80%99s-first-woman-to-get-MCC-membership/article14626534.ece|title=Anjum, India's first woman to get MCC membership|last=Lokapally|first=Vijay|date=2016-09-07|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-25|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Television ==
Anjum was a participant on the reality show [[Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 4]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2011/may/060511-Akshay-Kumar-Khatron-Ke-Khiladi-4-promo-music-video.htm |title=Let's get dangerous |date=5 June 2011|publisher=Midday}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons category|Anjum Chopra}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{facebook|anjumchopra}}
* {{cricinfo|id=53910}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{Navboxes
|title= India squads 
|bg = #0077FF
|fg = #FFD000
|bordercolor = #FF4F00
|list1 =
{{India Squad 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 2000 Women's Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 2004 Women's Asia Cup}}
{{India Squad 2005 Women's Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 2005–06 Women's Asia Cup}}
{{India Squad 2006 Women's Asia Cup}}
{{India Squad 2009 Women's Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 2009 ICC Women's World Twenty20}}
{{India Squad 2010 ICC Women's World Twenty20}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Anjum}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Air India women cricketers]]
[[Category:Delhi women cricketers]]
[[Category:India women One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:India women Test cricketers]]
[[Category:India women Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricket commentators]]
[[Category:Indian women cricket captains]]
[[Category:Indian women cricketers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:Contestants on Indian game shows]]
[[Category:Participants in Indian reality television series]]
[[Category:Women cricket commentators]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Delhi]]