10 Interesting facts about Prashant Chopra

Prashant Chopra began the Ranji Trophy 2017/18 by scoring a record 338-run knock while opening the innings for Himachal Pradesh. He made the Punjab bowlers toil throughout as he scored 271 runs on the very first day. The Himachal opener has quite a few lesser-known facts about him. Here are some of the most interesting facts about the sensational cricketer.

1. Birth and career:

He was born on 8th October 1992 in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan. He is a right-handed batsman and bowls leg spin. Prashant is also a wicketkeeper and regularly takes up the duty in the limited-overs formats.

2. Success for Himachal Pradesh Under-19:

He took a leap towards recognition when he amassed 493 runs in just seven innings in the 2011/12 Cooch Behar Trophy at an average of 70.42 with three centuries.

3. Selection in India U19 team:

He made an impression during the U19 Inter-Zonal One-Day tournament in 2011/12 season where he top-scored with 277 runs in just four innings with an average of 94.21 including two centuries which helped him to earn a spot in U19 World Cup.

4. U19 World Cup 2012:

Prashant was a part of the Victoria Indian team in the 2012 Under-19 World Cup led by Unmkut Chand. The HPCA player scored 172 runs in six innings with three fifties. Only Anamul Haque, Babar Azam, Quinton de Kock and Liton Das had as many as three fifty-plus scores in that tournament.

5. Dream Ranji season:

He had a stand out 2016/17 Ranji Trophy where he aggregated 978 runs to become the first Himachal Pradesh batsman who scored 900+ runs in a season. He was the 3rd highest run-getter in the 2016/17 season and recorded his maiden double hundred in FC of 237.

6. Record in Vijay Hazare Trophy:

The Himachal Pradesh batsman scored 328 runs in the six innings in the 2016/17 Vijay Hazare Trophy with two centuries including a personal best of 159 against Delhi. It was the highest individual score in the tournament and also the highest List A score by a Himachal Pradesh player. He broke Sandeep Sharma’s record of 118 that he had created in 2005/06.

7. Part of record chase in Bangladesh:

In the 2017 Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, Prashant represented the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. He scored 492 runs in the 11 games at an average of 44.72. Playing against Mohammedan Sporting Cricket Club, he struck a 60-ball 86 with ten fours and five sixes in his team’s chase of 340 runs. The start he gave them helped Sheikh Jamal chase down the total and set a record for the highest successful run-chase in List A cricket in Bangladesh.

8. 271 runs in a single day:

He scored 271 runs on the first day of the game against Punjab setting a record for most runs scored by any player on the first day of an FC game in India. He broke S Wazir Ali’s record of 268 runs (way back in 1935). In Ranji Trophy, only BB Nimbalkar (277) scored more runs in a single day’s play.

9. A triple century on Birthday:

Prashant, who turned 25 on October 8, 2017, got a rare opportunity to complete his triple hundred on birthday. Before him, only Colin Cowdrey and Raman Lamba were lucky enough to bring up a triple ton in FC cricket on their birthday.

10. Record-breaking 338 in Ranji Trophy:

He became the first player to score a triple century in first-class cricket for Himachal Pradesh as the previous highest individual score for HP being 271 by Rajeev Nayyar. His 338 is also the highest individual score by any player against Punjab in FC cricket going past Priyank Panchal‘s 314* in 2016/17 season.