Ravinder Singh Bopara, also known as Ravi Bopara, was one of the prominent names in England’s cricket setup before 2015. Born in 1985 to a British-Punjabi family in London, Bopara developed an interest in cricket from a young age. He started attending local cricket clubs and honing his fundamental skills.
Bopara began refining his cricketing talent at the Frenford Club. A right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, his cricket journey started representing the Essex Boys Club in the U-14 competitions. Essex became like a home for Bopara throughout his career, where he steadily progressed and made a name for himself in England cricket.
He made significant strides in age-group cricket through the Essex Boys Club. At the age of 17, he debuted in the prestigious County Cricket for Essex. This opportunity led him to represent England in various age-group levels. Bopara was included in England’s squad for the 2004 U-19 World Cup as a middle-order batter.
The 2005 season marked a turning point in Bopara’s cricket career. At 20, he scored 880 first-class runs, including his maiden first-class century. This performance earned him a spot in the England A team and a place in England’s preliminary squad for the 2006 Champions Trophy.
However, Bopara had to wait longer to debut for England’s senior team. He was included as a replacement for the injured Kevin Pietersen during the 2007 ODI series against Australia. Bopara made his debut on February 2 in Sydney. Batting at number eight, he didn’t score many runs but claimed Mike Hussey’s wicket with his bowling.
Following this, Bopara was included in England’s squad for the 2007 ODI World Cup. He impressed in the Super Eight stage with a half-century against Sri Lanka, earning the Player of the Match award. He also made some important partnerships against Canada and Sri Lanka. However, England was eliminated in the Super Eight stage.
In 2009, Bopara achieved new heights in Test cricket. He scored three consecutive Test centuries against the West Indies, becoming the fifth English player to achieve this feat. He was also part of England’s squad for the 2009 T20 World Cup, scoring 55 runs against the West Indies during the tournament.
Despite his success, Bopara struggled in the Ashes series against Australia later that year. Nevertheless, he remained a regular in England’s ODI squad.
Bopara was included in England’s final squad for the 2010 T20 World Cup. He played one game against New Zealand but didn’t feature in the other matches. England went on to win the tournament, defeating Australia in the final.
For the 2011 ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Bopara was included in England’s squad. His partnership of 99 runs and a 60-run knock against South Africa helped England secure a vital group-stage victory, earning him the Player of the Match award. Despite his good form, he wasn’t regularly included in the playing XI as team management prioritized spinners.
Bopara scored his maiden ODI century against Ireland in 2012. In the 2013 Champions Trophy, he played a crucial role in England’s journey to the final, where he took three wickets and scored 30 runs. However, England lost to India in the final.
After England’s disastrous 2015 ODI World Cup campaign, Bopara was dropped from the squad as the team management focused on younger players and a more aggressive style of play.
Bopara’s vast experience and versatile cricketing skills make him a significant player for Chitwan Rhinos in the upcoming Nepal Premier League (NPL).
