Published: Sep 28, 2015, 03:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 22, 2016, 09:44 PM (IST)
Varun Chopra, an Irish-born leg-spinner, will play for Ireland in the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016. His father, Vishal, was also born in Ireland but had to rush back to India following a tragedy. Vishal’s mother Asha, who was eight months pregnant at the time, was killed by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) sniper while driving a car, with a five-year-old Vishal sitting in the back. The sniper was taking aim at a police officer whom Asha was talking to. The bullet ricocheted off the police officer’s arm and struck Asha on her forehead. She was the only Asian victim of the Irish unrest, and the IRA later officially apologised for her accidental demise.
Speaking to Indian Express, Vishal said, “My mother’s death changed everyone’s life in the family. My sister and I were flown to India right away while our father joined us after folding up his business. He would remarry. I didn’t let the trauma of my mother’s death make me turn my back on Ireland even though it brought unhappy memories. I did return to the place of my birth.” 7 Test Cricketers who were victims of shooting
Vishal still sometimes drives past the location of his mother’s passing. “Somehow, I feel her soul is around there. Dad used to tell me how he told mom not to drive as she was pregnant but she insisted. Ironically, it was a funeral that we were returning from. While at the wheel, my mother was talking to the cop who was managing the traffic because of a bomb threat in the area. We later found out, the IRA were aiming at the cop,”
Vishal’s love of cricket stayed with him when he returned to Ireland, where he still plays as a weekend club cricketer. His love of cricket translated into his sons Rishi and Varun taking up the game. “Now I look forward to the day when my sons Varun and Rishi play for the Ireland senior team. Being part of the Ireland under-19 team is a big honour for the family and the Indian community.”
Vishal spoke about how a number of Indian players used to play club cricket close by. Vishal would take his sons to these matches. “There were a number of overseas players from India — like Kiran More, Shantanu Sugwekar, Milind Gunjal — who would come to play club cricket in our town. There was quality cricket. My sons mostly accompanied me for cricket games and they took the sport seriously.”
His son Varun decided to become a leg-spinner. Luckily, he was coached by Bobby Rao, a former leg-spinner from India. Rao taught Varun the crucial elements of leg-spin bowling such as the googly, flipper, and skidder. Ireland Under-19 coach Ryan Eagleson said, “Varun has had an outstanding season at the domestic level helping Coleraine to the Premier title, and bowling superbly for both our European titles-winning U-15 and 17 sides. He’s an exciting prospect who we have high hopes for.”
Varun is, according to Vishal, an “Anil Kumble type of leggie” who “bowls fast-ish leg-breaks that skid.” While academics are more important to Vishal, he is not against Varun going on to play county cricket.
