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{{Short description|Indian retired cricketer (born 1977)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name =
| image =
| country = India
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|09|19}}
| birth_place = [[Agra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nickname =
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightcm =
| heightm =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium<br />Right-arm off break
| role = [[Batting (cricket)|Batsman]]
| website =
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2003–2004
| testdebutdate = 8 October
| testdebutyear = 2003
| testdebutagainst = New Zealand
| testcap = 246
| lasttestdate = 26 October
| lasttestyear = 2004
| lasttestagainst = Australia
| club1 = [[Delhi cricket team|Delhi]]
| year1 = 1997-2009/10
| clubnumber1 =
| club2 = [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]]
| year2 = 2010-2011/12
| club3 = [[Himachal Pradesh cricket team|Himachal Pradesh]]
| year3 = 2012/13
| club4 = [[Kolkata Knight Riders]]
| year4 = 2008–2009
| columns =4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 10
| runs1 = 437
| bat avg1 = 23.00
| 100s/50s1 = 0/2
| top score1 = 60
| deliveries1 = –
| wickets1 = –
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 25/–
| column2 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches2 = 162
| runs2 = 10,839
| bat avg2 = 45.35
| 100s/50s2 = 29/53
| top score2 = 301[[not out|*]]
| deliveries2 = 546
| wickets2 = 6
| bowl avg2 = 53.33
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 2/5
| catches/stumpings2 = 189/–
| column3 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches3 = 65
| runs3 = 2,415
| bat avg3 = 44.72
| 100s/50s3 = 7/17
| top score3 = 130[[not out|*]]
| deliveries3 = 84
| wickets3 = 1
| bowl avg3 = 58.00
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 1/17
| catches/stumpings3 = 29/–
| column4 = [[Twenty20|T20]]
| matches4 = 21
| runs4 = 334
| bat avg4 = 18.55
| 100s/50s4 = 0/1
| top score4 = 72[[not out|*]]
| deliveries4 = 0
| wickets4 = 0
| bowl avg4 = –
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = –
| catches/stumpings4 = 4/–
| date = 1 July
| year = 2020
| source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/27639.html ESPNcricinfo
| module = {{Infobox social media personality
| child = yes
| youtube_handle = AakashChopraCricketer
| youtube_display_name = Aakash Chopra
| youtube_years_active = 2011–present
| youtube_genre = [[Cricket]] Analysis, Updates, News
| youtube_subscribers = 5.04 million
| youtube_views = 1.38 billion

| stats_update = 22 June 2025
}}
}}

'''Aakash Chopra''' ({{audio|Akash_Chopra.ogg|pronunciation}}; born 19 September 1977) is a cricket commentator, [[YouTuber]] and former cricketer who briefly played for the [[Indian cricket team]] from late 2003 to late 2004.<ref name="cricinfo" />

Chopra currently works as a Hindi cricket commentator for [[JioStar]].<ref name="https://www.hotstar.com/1971003806">{{cite news |title=Suresh Raina, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, and Aakash Chopra in Viacom18's Expert Panel for SA20 |url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/suresh-raina-rp-singh-pragyan-ojha-and-aakash-chopra-in-viacom18s-expert-panel-for-sa20-6780775.html |work=www.news18.com |language=en}}</ref> He previously worked as a column writer for [[ESPNcricinfo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Insider: Decoding the craft of cricket by Aakash Chopra |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/site/theinsider.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2023-03-05}}</ref>

His international cricket career consisted of 10 test matches, in which he scored 437 runs at an average of 23 runs per inning.<ref>http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/27639.html ESPNcricinfo</ref>

In Indian domestic cricket, Chopra played for the [[Delhi cricket team]], [[Himachal Pradesh cricket team]] and [[Rajasthan cricket team]]. He also played for the [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] in the [[Indian Premier League]].

== Cricket career ==

===International===
Chopra made his Test debut in [[Ahmedabad]] against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] in late 2003, as India sought to find an opening partner for his Delhi teammate [[Virender Sehwag]].<ref name="cricinfo">{{cite web| title = Aakash Chopra| url= http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/27639.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date =6 February 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070215143908/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/27639.html| archive-date= 15 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> During the 2003–2004 second Test in [[Mohali]], Chopra scored two half-centuries against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]]. On the 2003–04 tour to Australia, he frequently partnered with [[Virender Sehwag]], including two century opening partnerships in [[Melbourne]] and Sydney. As an opening batsman, Chopra was credited with the large scores that India accumulated in that series, surpassing middle-order batsmen [[Rahul Dravid]], [[V. V. S. Laxman]], [[Sachin Tendulkar]] and [[Sourav Ganguly]] who regularly scored centuries.<ref name="cricinfo"/>

On the subsequent tour to [[Pakistan]], Chopra scored 42 runs in the first test match wherein Virender Sehwag scored the First ever triple century for an Indian and India scored more than 600 runs in the first innings. India went on to defeat Pakistan in the first Test in [[Multan]]. However, in the second Test, the Indian batsmen scored much lower, apart from a century from [[Yuvraj Singh]], who played in place of the injured captain [[Sourav Ganguly]].<ref>{{cite news| first = Anand| last = Vasu| title= Yuvraj or Chopra? India's selectorial dilemma| url= http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/134262.html| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| date = 8 April 2004| access-date = 7 February 2007}}</ref> When Ganguly returned for the final Test, Chopra was axed and Yuvraj was retained in the team.

Chopra was reintroduced as Sehwag's partner in the 2004 [[Border–Gavaskar Trophy]] after Tendulkar was injured for the First Test in [[Bangalore]]. A heavy loss saw Chopra axed for the following match in [[Chennai]] upon Tendulkar's return, with Yuvraj playing as opening batsman. Yuvraj also struggled, and Chopra was recalled for the Third Test in [[Nagpur]]. Australia won this series, the first test win in India for them in 35 years, and this resulted in Chopra being dropped from the team. Chopra was replaced by Delhi teammates [[Gautam Gambhir]] and [[Wasim Jaffer]], who went on to partner Sehwag in Test matches. Due to his low scoring rate, Chopra was not considered for [[One Day International]]s. {{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===Domestic===
In September 2008, Aakash played for Delhi in the Nissar Trophy against SNGPL (the winners of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy from Pakistan). Delhi scored 4 and 197,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/370014.html|title=Chopra and Kohli stretch lead to 384}}</ref> making the match a draw, but SNGPL won the trophy based on first-innings lead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/13877/scorecard/368336/delhi-vs-sui-northern-gas-pipelines-limited-mohammad-nissar-trophy-2008-09|title=Mohammad Nissar Trophy at Delhi, Sep 15–18 2008}}</ref> After representing Delhi for a long time, Chopra joined Rajasthan as a guest player in the Ranji Plate division.<ref name="ChopraRajasthan">[http://www.hindustantimes.com/Aakash-Chopra-to-represent-Rajasthan/Article1-612997.aspx Aakash Chopra to represent Rajasthan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104002242/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Aakash-Chopra-to-represent-Rajasthan/Article1-612997.aspx |date=4 November 2010 }}</ref> Chopra helped Rajasthan to become the first Plate division team to win the Ranji Trophy, followed by another Ranji trophy win in 2010–2011 season. Chopra has won three Ranji titles in total, one with Delhi and two with Rajasthan. {{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===IPL===
Chopra played for the [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] in [[IPL 2008]], [[IPL 2009]], but was dropped eventually as he was deemed too slow at scoring for fast-paced T-20 cricket.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} In those two seasons he scored 53 runs with an average of 8.83 runs across 6 innings.

In [[IPL 2011]], Chopra was signed by the [[Rajasthan Royals]]. In 2015, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aakash Chopra Biography, Achievements, Career info, Records & Stats – Sportskeeda |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/aakash-chopra |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref> Chopra is one of the few Indian cricketers who have scored over 8,000 First-Class runs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aakash Chopra Profile – Cricket Player India {{!}} Stats, Records, Video |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/aakash-chopra-27639 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

==Cricket commentary career==
Chopra was a cricket commentator for [[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]] for a long time.<ref>{{cite news |title=IPL 2023: Aakash Chopra No Longer A Part Of Disney Star, Will Do Commentary For Sports18 & JioCinema |url=https://kheltalk.com/cricket/ipl-2023-aakash-chopra-no-longer-a-part-of-disney-star-will-do-commentary-for-sports18-jiocinema/ |work=kheltalk.com}}</ref> His cricket commentary style has been described as similar to [[Navjot Singh Sidhu]], in that he uses lots of one-liners and rhymes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aakash Chopra reveals why he honed his craft in Hindi commentary, not English |work=circleofcricket.com |url=https://circleofcricket.com/category/Latest_news/50452/aakash-chopra-reveals-why-he-honed-his-craft-in-hindi-commentary-not-english}}</ref>

During the 2018–19 Australia vs India test series, Chopra was a commentator for [[Seven Network|7 Network]], and also commentated for [[Sony Ten|Sony Ten 2]].<ref>{{cite web |title="Bangladesh are saying that it is not Diwali time but they have prepared for a whitewash" – Aakash Chopra |date=8 December 2022 |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-bangladesh-saying-diwali-time-prepared-whitewash-aakash-chopra |publisher=sportskeeda.com}}</ref>

In January 2023, Chopra left Star Sports, and joined [[Viacom18|Viacom 18]] network. He voiced Hindi commentary on [[Sports18|Sports 18]] and on the [[JioCinema|Jio Cinema]] app during the South African [[SA20 (cricket)|Twenty20 league, SA20.]]<ref name="https://www.hotstar.com/1971003806" />

In July-August 2024, Chopra served as a Hindi commentator for the Sri Lanka vs India ODI series on [[Sony Sports Network]]. Following the merger of [[Viacom18]] and [[Star India]], he returned to [[Star Sports (India)|Star Sports]] and was part of the Hindi commentary panel for the [[2025 ICC Champions Trophy]].<ref> {{cite web | title=Champions Trophy 2025: Star-Studded Panel Of Commentators For All 9 Language Feeds
|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025/champions-trophy-2025-star-studded-panel-of-commentators-for-all-9-language-feeds-7744840 | publisher=sports.ndtv.com}} </ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Aakash Chopra – Commentary career'''
! Years !! Platform/Channel !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 2013–2022 || [[Star Sports (India)|Star Sports]]|| ''Commentator''|| Prominent Hindi commentator during IPL and international matches.
|-
| 2018 || [[Seven Network]] || ''Commentator''|| English commentator during Australia vs India 2018
|-
| 2023–2025 || [[JioCinema]] || ''Commentator '' || Hindi commentator during IPL,WPL,SA20 and international matches.
|-
| 2025–present || [[Star Sports (India)|Star Sports]]|| Commentator ||

|}

==Other media==
Chopra's columns regularly appear in Mid-Day and on ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra shares expert guidance for aspiring commentators |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/cricketer-turned-commentator-aakash-chopra-shares-expert-guidance-for-aspiring-commentators-23180456 |work=Mid-day Newspaper |date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2009, Chopra released ''Beyond the Blues: A First-Class Season Like No Other'', a diary of his domestic season in 2007–2008 published by [[HarperCollins]]. It received critical acclaim, and [[Suresh Menon (sports writer)|Suresh Menon]] of ESPNcricinfo wrote that it was "the best book written by an Indian Test cricketer".<ref name="BeyondBlues">[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/386632.html ESPNcricinfo review of Beyond the Blues]</ref> In November 2011, his second book was published by HarperCollins, and was titled ''Out of the Blue'', about [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan's]] victory in the [[Ranji Trophy]]. He went on to write two more books; ''The Insider with ESPNcricinfo'' in 2015 and ''Numbers Do Lie with Impact Index'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beyond the blues: a cricket season like no other |url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4729132 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India |date=2009}}</ref>

In May 2020, Chopra signed as a commentator with popular mobile cricket game [[World Cricket Championship (mobile game)|''World Cricket Championship'']] commentate the upcoming WCC3 game.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Commentator Aakash Chopra Joined World Cricket Championship|url=http://bwdisrupt.businessworld.in/article/Commentator-Aakash-Chopra-Joined-World-Cricket-Championship/27-04-2020-190380|last=Bureau|first=BW Online|website=BW Disrupt|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Aakash Chopra joins online cricket with the world's No.1 cricket game, World Cricket Championship|url=https://europeangaming.eu/portal/press-releases/2020/04/27/69255/aakash-chopra-joins-online-cricket-with-the-worlds-no-1-cricket-game-world-cricket-championship/|last=Miller|first=George|date=2020-04-27|website=European Gaming Industry News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Chopra was the first commentator to become a commentator on a digital game platform.<ref>{{Cite web|title=With IPL suspended due to Pandemic, Aakash Chopra to commentate on digital matches|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/with-ipl-suspended-due-to-pandemic-aakash-chopra-to-commentate-on-digital-matches/story-zQZEhNnyq5mbu9zSc9vGII.html|date=2020-04-28|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

Aakash Chopra has a YouTube channel where he uploads match reviews and previews.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emily |date= 4 February 2022|title=Akash chopra income through youtube |url=https://buzzzfly.com/akash-chopra-net-worth/ |url-status=live |access-date= |website=Biography of celebrities- Buzzzfly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304190823/https://buzzzfly.com/akash-chopra-net-worth/ |archive-date=4 March 2022 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Aakash}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:India Test cricketers]]
[[Category:North Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Delhi cricketers]]
[[Category:Kolkata Knight Riders cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh cricketers]]
[[Category:Rajasthan cricketers]]
[[Category:Central Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Agra]]
[[Category:Indian cricket commentators]]
[[Category:Star Sports]]
[[Category:Indian YouTubers]]
[[Category:YouTube channels launched in 2011]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Delhi]]

Aakash Chopra - Revision history

Stoutsanitaryware at 08:52, 26 December 2025