A leader on and off the field, Anjum Chopra delves into her journey, the evolution of cricket, and shaping the sport’s future
You have been a trailblazer in Indian women’s cricket, paving the way for future generations. Looking back, what are some of the biggest changes you have witnessed in women’s cricket?
The biggest changes are obviously in terms of the growth of the game, with regard to the fan following, with regard to catching the attention of the people, or the more number of people that have started watching or being aware of the women’s game. That has definitely seen an improvement.
It started somewhere from a 2017 final, where India lost to England at Lords, and that was obviously a well-watched final. Since then, the women have made it to a couple of finals and three finals of World Cup. So, if they’ve done well, they’ve been appreciated. They haven’t done well, they’ve been talked about. But I guess the Women’s Premier League, that’s the WPL also, which has started, has also given an impetus to the sport.
So, I’ll say that the biggest growth has been the awareness of the women’s sport. It’s not that it is hit a great high. But yes, it’s definitely seen a massive shift and a growth for the better, of course. So that is one of the things that I’ve seen from when I used to play or the scenario that is there today.
From leading the Indian team to becoming a celebrated commentator, how has your perspective on the game evolved over the years?
My perspective to the sport hasn’t changed. It is still a big sport. It is still a massive part of our society, it’s a passive part of my life. I love to play cricket. I love commentating, being part of any cricket match, or being on the ground, being part of a sporting fraternity. So that has not changed. That has only become stronger, and I’ve always felt that it’s been a blessing to play cricket for India, to Captain India. So that perspective hasn’t changed.
But yeah, I guess it’s always a sport which will be bigger than anybody playing the game. So, the sport is the biggest. We are just a generation or people around who have played the game, and many people will continue to play the game.
To the second part of your question, in terms of evolving, I used to play, I started playing the sport as an under-15 player. Through the years, I’ve seen different stages of being a player or a captain or being a coach as well, and now being a commentator. It’s just been different roles. So the manner in which I have been associated with the sport at different stages or at different probably positions or levels, it’s been excellent, it’s been changing.
It’s always nice to have look at the game from different corners, because it always looks very different the moment the end changes. That is, for example, a players dressing room into a commentators, and if the perspective changes, and if your approach is a very different perspective. It’s changed to the role that I have been given and the role that I’m playing.
Women’s sports in India have gained momentum, but challenges still exist. What key steps do you think are needed to accelerate gender parity in sports?
Gender parity is a massive subject, so it cannot be summed up in words. But look, I always feel that it’s a sports person’s job to excel, to win, and to become a champion. That’s true whether it’s a male or a female, whether it is cricket or media sport, if you’re playing for a club or wherever. But if you’re play for a country, we are picked to play, to perform, and to get the victory for India. If we can’t get a victory, then somebody else will do that job.
The moment you start winning, the moment you become champions, or become World Champions, automatically you get the attention, and the focus will be there. In terms of getting gender parity, and pay parity, these are very vast subjects. The job is, you’re a player. You go out there, perform, win, become a champion, make sure India wins and that’s it, that’s where I leave it.
If you had to define your journey in one word, what would it be and why?
If I have to define it in one word, I’ll say challenging.
Now, why challenging is because, I won’t say for anyone else, but I didn’t expect it to be the smoothest of sails or the smoothest of rides. As I said, the target as a young player was always to play for India. So, it’s not that it will be like progression without any challenge.
There were challenges, and once you play for India, then you have to Captain India, and then you have to lead the country’s team, and we have to make sure that you perform, and everyone’s performing around you as well. So, it is not going to be an easy ride.
I might sum up a 17-year international career or a 22-year cricket playing career in a few words. There have been some very tough times. There have been some glorious moments, but the choppy waters have allowed the boat to sail, and the blessings have always been there. So it’s been a very humbling moment, and obviously it’s been a blessing to play for India and captaining the Indian team.
As a mentor and inspiration to many young athletes, what advice would you give to young girls aspiring to make a career in sports?
My only advice is sports is a way of life. So if you are wanting to really challenge yourself from a very young age and get to know the realities of sport and the realities of life, I would always say, venture out, play a sport. It doesn’t matter which game you play, but if you venture into playing a sport at a very young age and are very, very disciplined towards it, it is the biggest learning experience that you can ever get.
Books are there in black and white, which of course teach us and provide us massive education opportunities. But sport, irrespective of age, gender, time, will always provide you a lesson, which is a practical lesson. You learn to win, you learn to lose, you learn to get better and to collaborate, to be in a team, to be a member, and to lead.
There are so many raw facets to play in the sport. So my advice is if you step out and decide to play a sport, play it with all your passion and wholeheartedly, because those teachings, those learnings, and that enjoyment and that fulfillment can be achieved when you play the sport.
And yes, if you ever decide to have a plan or a goal to play for the country, the day you achieve it, that feeling is unparalleled, and that feeling cannot be defined in words. Winning a match for India is a feeling that can probably only be felt, never defined.
