Akash Chopra

Aakash Chopra  pronunciation  (born 19 September 1977, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh) is a former Indian cricketer, who played for the Indian cricket team from late 2003 until late 2004 as a defensive opening batsman and close catcher in Test matches. An article by Aakash Chopra was featured in the 2012 book Rahul Dravid: Timeless Steel. An article by Aakash Chopra has also appeared in the book "Sachin Tendulkar : The man cricket loved back." (2014). He can be seen commentating in various international matches telecasted on Star Sports, plying his trade mainly in Hindi commentatory.

An opening batsman, Chopra started his cricket journey with Sonnet Cricket Club in Delhi. He represented India School Boys trip to the West Indies in 1995. He represented Delhi at Under-16 and Under-19 levels and was picked to play North Zone in both age-group categories, and toured Sri Lanka with the India Under-19 team.

Chopra made his Test debut in Ahmedabad against New Zealand in late 2003 as India sought to find an opening partner for his Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag. Chopra's international career started well, scoring two half-centuries against New Zealand during 2003/04 in the second Test in Mohali. On the 2003–04 tour to Australia, he featured in many solid partnerships with Virender Sehwag, including two century opening partnerships in Melbourne and Sydney. Chopra's work in seeing off the new ball saw him credited with the large scores that India accumulated in that series when middle-order batsmen Rahul Dravid, V. V. S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar regularly compiled large centuries.