Making her presence felt inside the commentary box in IPL-8, former Indian women’s captain Anjum Chopra feels that the unique opportunity will make people take note of women’s cricket and improve gender bias in sport
New Delhi: Making her presence felt inside the commentary box in IPL-8, former Indian women’s captain Anjum Chopra feels that the unique opportunity will make people take note of women’s cricket and improve gender bias in sport.
Anjum Chopra
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After doing a number of anchor-guest shows on IPL Extraa Innings and otherwise, Anjum joined female cricketers Isa Guha (former England captain) and Lisa Sthalekar (Australian allrounder) and Melanie Jones (Australia) in the commentators box. Sharing the microphone with the stalwarts of the game and veterans of the broadcast world, Anjum is looking at the broader picture.
Three seasons
"I have done three seasons of Extraa Innings in the studio but the commentary experience is completely different. As a cricketer, to be part of IPL and also to work with international cricketers, commentators and be around the cricket field, I think there was never a doubt that the opportunity should be missed," Anjum said.
"What this commentary stint will do is that it will open the doors to women’s cricket commentary and more importantly, what it will do or what it should do, is highlight women’s sport in a much brighter perspective. Women’s cricket is there and the comparison comes up that it’s not as good as men’s cricket.
Better recognition
"But now people will start recognising or identifying that there is women’s sport too. The thought will get endorsed and those, who do not know, will know that women’s cricket is internationally present and how good it is and what level it is at. So, girls doing commentary here is a big plus for the women’s game," the veteran batswoman added.
Lauding broadcasters for including women’s players in commentary, Anjum said that the game’s broadcast value has grown for the better via IPL.
"Now there are people who can talk cricket, who have played the game and add different perspectives. So, they (cricket producers) have added great value. People, who have hired us for the job have done their homework and only then have they given us the go-ahead to do commentary in IPL because it’s a very big stage. It’s a world stage. You’re talking to millions."
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