Former captain, and mainstay of the Indian women's cricket team, Anjum Chopra is one of the more recognisable faces from her ilk. gung-ho about her coffee table book on women's cricket, she talks about the BCCI, the men in blue and playing chef

Anjum's got pitch fever!

In a country obsessed with the men in blue, only a handful can rattle off the names of India's women cricketers. Thankfully, Anjum Chopra is an exception. She shares with us what it means to be a woman, and a sportsperson, in a field dominated by men.

Anjum Chopra holds the Npower Series Trophy for the team's
win over England

Tell us about your book on women's cricket.
It is an anecdotal book that talks about the countries that play the game and includes special events like the World Cups. Nothing like this has ever been written on women's cricket, especially in India.

Filmmaker Sunil Yash Kalra's docu-drama, 'Poor Cousins of the Million Dollar Babies' (unveiled last month) focuses on the apathy towards women's cricket. You were integral to the film; how important are such messages?
It is extremely important to have reminders such as these. It refreshes our memories about the achievements of women in sports. A docu-drama does not have, or should not have, a select audience. Sports are for mass consumption and a documentary on the game also has mass appeal. Its purpose is not just to serve as a reminder to the authorities, but also for people across the different stratas in society to realise the importance of discipline, encouragement, sacrifice, achievement and appreciation.

You've watched women's cricket evolve: what transformation has BCCI's organisational and monetary muscle brought in?
In terms of facilities, it has improved. We get access to the best that the BCCI offers. Monetary gains have been minimal; we are in the same bracket as an Under-19 team. The BCCI is helping us improve our skills with state-of-the-art training facilities, educated coaches (in different departments of the game) and back-up support.

Your take on the 'spot fixing' controversy.
Anything bad for the game, in any part of the world, with any team is bound to affect the sport ufffdu00a0 men's or women's. Hopefully, it should get sorted out soon to prevent the sport from getting irrevocably tarnished.

You scored your first one-day hundred in your first tour of England where India won the match by 86 runs. How did you celebrate?
It's still very fresh in my mind. As I entered the dressing room I was informed that I had made history as the first Indian girl to hit a ton in ODIs. There wasn't time to celebrate, as we had to leave to field. But yes, I took the team out to dinner that night. When the ODI series ended, we had a big bash in our hotel. It hit me only the next morning, when I got a call from home. I realised the knock had received loads of appreciation in India; more so, since we won the series. However, that was just the beginning of a long journey.

The men in blue own Hummers, superbikes and have countless endorsements. How do you deal with this disparity?u00a0
Honestly, I have never thought of it. When I made my debut the situation was almost similar. I took to the game with passion, and a dream to lead the country wearing Indian colours. When cricketers endorse these brands and drive luxury sedans, it is their earnings from contributions to the game. Some day soon, we should see women cricketers in the same league.

Your camaraderie with captain Jhulan Goswami is well known, especially since your were the captain of the team before.
Jhulan is not just a good, dedicated cricketer, she is also a good human being. Yes, she made her debut under my leadership. Yes, I was a big support to her, and still am, as she says (laughs). Ugly moments come and go; they help us in making practical decisions. Even if we disagree on some point, we debate over it and work out a solution.

One of your best meals at a World Cup was the Chicken Biryani in South Africa, served by a Bangladeshi family. How often do you swap your cricket pads for the apron?
Yes it was. I am the head chef of the team! I cook for my teammates while on tour, when we stay at places with kitchens. We finish our training, team meetings, and later get together in my room to cook a meal. Endless dinner conferences and laughing exercises are always moments that we cherish.

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