Indian woman cricketer Anjum Chopra set to be awarded an honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). She will become the first Indian women cricketer to get this honor. Recently, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan were also awarded the MCC memberships.

“It is actually an honour for women’s cricket in India. My journey had begun with a trip to the National Stadium as a schoolgirl and I am delighted to be the first woman player from India to receive the prestigious MCC membership,” a former India captain said.  She received the Padma Shri in 2014.

The MCC said, while announcing her membership, that, “Since her retirement as a player in 2012, her voice has become familiar to millions across the world in her current role as a commentator on the Indian Premier League (IPL).”

“I am really humbled to be among an august gathering of some of the finest players the game has seen,” said Anjum.

She has found a place among the commentators of the game. “To share the stage with the great Sunil Gavaskar was like a dream come true. I learn from every commentary stint. It helps me stay in touch with the game in some way.”

The Cricket South Africa had appointed her the Technical Consultant of its national women’s team for the 2012-13 season. “It was an education for me to work away from home. It gave me a new perspective, too, and I enjoyed my experience of working with the South Africans,” she said.

“I played for 17 years and the experience helps me hugely when I am asked to analyse the game. “I consider myself a student of the game,” she said.

“I learnt to be disciplined, competitive and grounded in behaviour at the Sonnet Club. On such moments I remember my cricket guru and all my coaches,” said Anjum.

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Nandini