MEERUT: Parshavi Chopra, the 16-year-old right-handed batter and bowling all-rounder of the Indian Under-19 women’s cricket team, whose three-wicket haul against New Zealand restricted the Kiwis’ run score to 107, allowing India an easy target and a clear road to the finals of the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup on Friday, grew up in Bulandshahr’s Sikandrabad, a small UP town around 95 km from Delhi.
Speaking to TOI, Parshavi’s uncle, Ram Chopra, who runs a school in their hometown in which Parshavi studies in class 9, said, “Ours is a family which celebrates international cricket tournaments like festivals and most family discussions revolve around the sport.” Parshavi’s 67-year-old grandfather, who was once a zonal-level cricketer himself, added, “Shane Warne is her all-time favourite.”
‘She would spend hours in front of TV watching Warne play’
She would spend hours in front of the TV, replaying matches where Warne would humble the most stubborn of opponents. His sudden death dealt a heavy blow to her. It was like a personal loss for her,” he said.
Incidentally, Parshavi’s father and uncle have played club cricket too.
The lanky 16-year-old started her career with skating, winning the silver in U-14 Uttar Pradesh Skating Championships, before her father shifted her to cricket.
“She started as an all-rounder but her coaches soon noticed she was more effective as a spinner. She initially had to train with boys, cricket being a male-dominated sport, but that didn’t deter her. By 12, she was already a part of the U-16 state team,” her uncle said.
He added: “Parshavi’s life revolves around cricket. She is a bit of an introvert and doesn’t have many friends. Apart from cricket, she loves swimming and badminton. Her 12-year-old brother Raghav is also a part of UP’s under-16 cricket team.”
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India win inaugural Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup with thumping win over England
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<p>India won their maiden ICC title in women’s cricket as a bunch of sprightly and talented teenagers lifted the inaugural U-19 World Cup with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over England.<br /></p>
<p>The Shafali Verma-led India U-19 squad managed to do what their seniors could not do by clearing the final hurdle in a global event.<br /></p>
<p>India first bundled out England for 68 in 17.1 overs and then returned to knock off the paltry target in 14 overs to lift the coveted trophy.<br /></p>
<p>India skipper Shafali credited the support staff for all the effort.<br /></p>
<p>India’s bowling attack, led by pacer Titas Sadhu, set up the comprehensive win on Sunday as they blew England away with a clinical display at Senwes Park.<br /></p>
<p>Sadhu showed that Indian women pace bowling is in safe hands following the retirement of Jhulan Goswami with impressive figures of 4-0-6-2.<br /></p>
<p>Leg-spinner Parshavi Chopra continued her dream run as she snapped two for 13 and gave an able support to Sadhu.<br /></p>
<p>Archana Devi also scalped 2 for 17, while Mannat Kashyap (1/13), Shafali(1/16) and Sonam Yadav (1/3) accounted for one wicket each as England were all at sea after being asked to take first strike.<br /></p>
<p>Following a pep talk from India’s Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, India came out with a specific plan and executed it perfectly as England’s innings never really took off after being reduced to 16 for three in four overs.<br /></p>
<p>Chasing 69, Shafali started with a boundary off Hannah Baker before launching Sophia Smale for a maximum. But Baker came back to get rid of the India skipper, who was caught by Alexa Stonehouse in the 3rd over.<br /></p>
<p>Team’s best batter in the tournament, Shweta Sehrawat, also was back in the hut after giving a simple catch to Baker off Grace Scrivens in the fourth over.<br /></p>
<p>Soumya Tiwari (24 not out) and Gongadi Trisha (24) then dug their heels in with a 46-run partnership.<br /></p>
<p>With four runs needed, Trisha was cleaned up by Stonehouse, as Tiwari knocked off the winning runs.<br /></p>
<p>Earlier, Sadhu bowled 20 dot balls in her quota of four overs. She struck in the fourth ball of the innings with a superb caught and bowled effort to get rid of Liberty Heap (0).<br /></p>
<p>Spinner Archana then cleaned up Niamh Fiona Holland (10), while Gongadi Trisha pulled off a sensational catch to get rid of Grace Scrivens (4) to hand Archana her second wicket.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Ryana Macdonald Gay played a couple of hits to the fence to ease the pressure.<br /></p>
<p>In-form leggie Parshavi then got into the act, trapping Charis Pavely (2) in front of the wicket as England lost half their side for 39 in 10 overs.<br /></p>
<p>Left-arm spinner Kashyap also kept things tight at the other end as Chopra removed Macdonald Gay with Archana taking a superb one-handed catch with a full dive at extra cover. India’s fielding was exemplary in the big game.<br /></p>
<p>While Shafali had a modest outing with the bat, fellow opener Sehrawat emerged as the highest run-getter with 297 runs at an average of 99.<br /><br /><br /></p>
The Indian team, led by captain Shafali Verma, defeated New Zealand in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup on Friday, riding high on performances of right-hand batter Shweta Sehrawat and Parshavi’s bowling brilliance.
India will face England in the finals on Sunday. While this is the maiden edition of the U-19 women’s World Cup, a victory would mean a first-ever ICC trophy for India in women’s cricket.
The senior national team previously bowed out of 2005 and 2017 ODI World Cup finals and 2020 T20 World Cup finals.
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