Nikhil Chopra

{{Short description|Indian cricketer (born 1973)}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Nikhil Chopra | image = | country = India | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|12|26|df=yes}} | birth_place = Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, India | heightft = | heightinch = | heightm = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm off break | role = | family = | international = true | internationalspan = 1998–2000 | onetest = true | testdebutdate = 2 March | testdebutyear = 2000 | testdebutfor = India | testdebutagainst = South Africa | testcap = 227

| odidebutdate = 28 May | odidebutyear = 1998 | odidebutagainst = Kenya | odicap = 116 | lastodidate = 1 June | lastodiyear = 2000 | lastodiagainst = Sri Lanka | odishirt = | club1 = Delhi | year1 = {{nowrap|1993/94–2000/01}} | club2 = Uttar Pradesh | year2 = 2001/02–2003/04 | columns = 4 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 1 | runs1 = 7 | bat avg1 = 3.50 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 4 | deliveries1 = 144 | wickets1 = 0 | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1 = 0/– | column2 = ODI | matches2 = 39 | runs2 = 310 | bat avg2 = 15.50 | 100s/50s2 = 0/1 | top score2 = 61 | deliveries2 = 1,835 | wickets2 = 46 | bowl avg2 = 27.95 | fivefor2 = 1 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 5/21 | catches/stumpings2 = 16/– | column3 = FC | matches3 = 61 | runs3 = 1,940 | bat avg3 = 27.71 | 100s/50s3 = 1/11 | top score3 = 132* | deliveries3 = 12,604 | wickets3 = 151 | bowl avg3 = 35.00 | fivefor3 = 7 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 7/66 | catches/stumpings3 = 29/– | column4 = LA | matches4 = 88 | runs4 = 760 | bat avg4 = 17.27 | 100s/50s4 = 0/2 | top score4 = 61 | deliveries4 = 4,424 | wickets4 = 101 | bowl avg4 = 30.71 | fivefor4 = 2 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 5/10 | catches/stumpings4 = 37/– | date = 25 April | year = 2023 | source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/nikhil-chopra-27641 ESPNcricinfo }}

'''Nikhil Chopra''' {{audio|Nikhil_Chopra.ogg|pronunciation}} (born 19 August 1973) is a retired Indian cricketer. He played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm offbreak bowler. A One Day International (ODI) specialist, he was part of the Indian team at the 1999 Cricket World Cup. He played in 39 ODIs and a solitary Test match for India.<ref name=ci>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/nikhil-chopra-27641 Nikhil Chopra], ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2023-04-25.</ref><ref name=ca>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/7/7251/7251.html Nikhil Chopra], CricketArchive. Retrieved 2023-04-25, {{subscription required}}</ref>

After retiring from cricket, Chopra became a television cricket analyst. He is a regular guest in ''Cricket Crazy'', ''Timed Out'' and ''Cricket Extra'' programmes of the ESPN-Star. Presently he is a working as a cricket expert for Aajtak, India Today and doing Hindi commentary in IPL.

== Cricket career ==

Considered as a one-day specialist, Nikhil Chopra, is a former Indian off-spinner who played one Test and 39 ODIs for India. He was part of the Indian squad for the 1999 World Cup in England. Apart from being a good limited-overs bowler, Chopra was also a good fit lower down the order with the bat.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

He could play the role of a pinch-hitter or add a few quick runs towards the end of the innings. In 26 innings for India in ODIs, he garnered 310 runs at an average of 15.50, including the highest score of 61. Chopra was a very useful bowler who had good control over line and length. He had good variations, but couldn't quite make a mark in the longest format of the game.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

In the only Test he played against South Africa in 2000, he bowled 24 overs for 78 runs and stayed wicketless. Chopra picked up 46 ODI wickets during his career. His best bowling figures came against the West Indies in 1999. In the third ODI in Toronto, he took 5/21 as West Indies were bowled out for just 137 in comparison to India's 225.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

Chopra had an indifferent 1999/00 season. With just 10 wickets from his last 9 ODI innings, the selectors would have always found it hard to keep Chopra in the team. He was dropped from the national team after India lost their game against Sri Lanka in the 2000 Asia Cup.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

He became a cricket commentator after retirement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dasgupta |first=Piyali |date=30 June 2010 |title=Nikhil to play a commentator in Patiala... |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nikhil-to-play-a-commentator-in-patiala-/articleshow/6106041.cms |access-date=2023-04-26 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Nikhil}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:India Test cricketers Category:Indian cricketers Category:India One Day International cricketers Category:Cricketers at the 1999 Cricket World Cup Category:Delhi cricketers Category:Uttar Pradesh cricketers Category:North Zone cricketers Category:Cricketers from Prayagraj Category:Indian cricket commentators Category:Cricketers from Delhi