Parshavi Chopra switches to leg-break, spins into focus

It took Parshavi Chopra a switch from bowling seam to leg-spin on the advice of her coach for her cricket career to really gather pace.

Besides honing her leg breaks at the nets of Youngstar Cricket Academy and Yuvraj Singh Center of Excellence in Greater Noida, Parshavi started following Australian great Shane Warne, watching and reading about him. Now, she follows India’s best leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal.

“I started as a pace 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 started dreaming of becoming a batter like Smriti Mandhana,” said Parshavi, who took 11 wickets to help India win their first U-19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa in January.

“I was surprised to get a call to play for India in the U-19 World Cup. I wasn't confident when I got to bowl my first over,” said Parshavi, who is part of UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League.

The bowling all-rounder started playing cricket at the age of 10. She has represented Uttar Pradesh at the U-14, U-16 and U-19 levels. “Cricket is my lifeline. (I am) putting in a sincere effort in the off-season camp of UP Warriorz so that I can do well in the domestic season as well as the next WPL,” the 17-old said.

“Playing for the senior India team is my target.”

Parshavi, an athletic player, made her international debut at India youth level in 2022, against New Zealand in a five-match series which they swept 5-0. “I watch the videos of Warne and Chahal. Their style of bowling leg-spin is quite inspirational. I would love to spin the ball like Warne.” said Parshvi.

Skating was the first love of the Bulandshahr-born player and she did find early success. But coming from a family of cricket enthusiasts – her grandfather, Parshuram Chopra, played at zonal level and her father and uncle were club cricketers -- meant it didn’t take long for her parents to enrol her in a cricket academy.

In her first attempt at 12, she wasn’t picked in the UP U-16 team as she was underaged. She made it to the team the next year and won the best bowler award in a competition in Chhattisgarh.

“I enjoyed every wicket at the U-19 World Cup, it was a dream come true. I wish to keep the momentum going,” said Parshavi, who was the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

Parshavi was bought by UP Warriorz for Rs.10 Lakh ahead of the inaugural WPL.