Aakash Chopra, the former India opener,
announced his retirement from all forms of
cricket on Friday. Chopra, now a succesful
commentator, played his last competitive
match for Himachal Pradesh against
Punjab during the 2013/14 Syed Mushtaq
Ali Trophy.
"I have always been very proud of my
fielding, but I dropped a couple of catches
in the slips in what turned out to be my
last first-class game," the 37-year-old
Chopra told ESPNCricinfo. "I was the
captain of the side and had to take myself
off, from that position. That's when I felt
it's not right, perhaps the time has come.
If I am not able to take catches in slips,
then perhaps I am a bit of a liability."
BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel paid tribute to
the batsman-turned-commentator by
saying he "was one of the best opening
batsmen produced by the country". "He
had a long and illustrious first - class
career, and was part of Delhi and
Rajasthan teams that won the Ranji
Trophy. He was a key member of the
Indian team that created history in
2003-04 by winning a Test series in
Pakistan.
"On behalf of the BCCI, I would like to
congratulate him on a memorable innings
and wish him all the best for his future,"
Patel said in a BCCI statement.
Chopra's Test career didn't quite witness
the same success as his first-class run.
He scored over 10,000 runs and 29
centuries over 15 seasons for Delhi,
Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, but only
managed ten Test matches for India from
2003 to 2004 as Virender Sehwag's
opening partner. He debuted in a two-Test
series against New Zealand at home and
was part of the Indian team for the tours
of Australia and Pakistan.
"I should have achieved more, that is the
feeling that will always linger. At the same
time, I don't think I was supremely
talented," he said. "Some of my peers
were far more talented and I was the
fortunate one who ended up playing for the
country. I would always remain the 245th
player to represent India in Test match
cricket."
Chopra made his Ranji Trophy debut in the
1997/98 season and scored a century. He
went on to score 5,075 runs over 78
matches. Chopra jumped ships to
Rajasthan in 2009 and helped the team to
back-to-back Ranji Trophy triumphs in
2009/10 and 2010/11.
"A century on debut for Delhi was very
special because when I was growing up
playing for Delhi was the be all and end
all," he said. "Winning the Ranji Trophy is
something to be very proud of. It happens
over 5-6 months with some known and
some lesser-known players and it doesn't
come easy."
http://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/69845/aakash-chopra-announces-retirement
announced his retirement from all forms of
cricket on Friday. Chopra, now a succesful
commentator, played his last competitive
match for Himachal Pradesh against
Punjab during the 2013/14 Syed Mushtaq
Ali Trophy.
"I have always been very proud of my
fielding, but I dropped a couple of catches
in the slips in what turned out to be my
last first-class game," the 37-year-old
Chopra told ESPNCricinfo. "I was the
captain of the side and had to take myself
off, from that position. That's when I felt
it's not right, perhaps the time has come.
If I am not able to take catches in slips,
then perhaps I am a bit of a liability."
BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel paid tribute to
the batsman-turned-commentator by
saying he "was one of the best opening
batsmen produced by the country". "He
had a long and illustrious first - class
career, and was part of Delhi and
Rajasthan teams that won the Ranji
Trophy. He was a key member of the
Indian team that created history in
2003-04 by winning a Test series in
Pakistan.
"On behalf of the BCCI, I would like to
congratulate him on a memorable innings
and wish him all the best for his future,"
Patel said in a BCCI statement.
Chopra's Test career didn't quite witness
the same success as his first-class run.
He scored over 10,000 runs and 29
centuries over 15 seasons for Delhi,
Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, but only
managed ten Test matches for India from
2003 to 2004 as Virender Sehwag's
opening partner. He debuted in a two-Test
series against New Zealand at home and
was part of the Indian team for the tours
of Australia and Pakistan.
"I should have achieved more, that is the
feeling that will always linger. At the same
time, I don't think I was supremely
talented," he said. "Some of my peers
were far more talented and I was the
fortunate one who ended up playing for the
country. I would always remain the 245th
player to represent India in Test match
cricket."
Chopra made his Ranji Trophy debut in the
1997/98 season and scored a century. He
went on to score 5,075 runs over 78
matches. Chopra jumped ships to
Rajasthan in 2009 and helped the team to
back-to-back Ranji Trophy triumphs in
2009/10 and 2010/11.
"A century on debut for Delhi was very
special because when I was growing up
playing for Delhi was the be all and end
all," he said. "Winning the Ranji Trophy is
something to be very proud of. It happens
over 5-6 months with some known and
some lesser-known players and it doesn't
come easy."
http://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/69845/aakash-chopra-announces-retirement
tup:tup :luv
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