Ravinder Singh "Ravi" Bopara (born 4 May 1985) is an English cricketer who has represented the England national team across all three formats. Originally a top-order batsman, the steady development of his medium-pace bowling has shaped him into a batting all-rounder in the limited-overs game. He has played county cricket in England and has appeared in several major franchise Twenty20 leagues around the world.
| Full name | Ravinder Singh Bopara |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 May 1985 |
| Nationality | English |
| Role | Batting all-rounder; right-hand top-order batsman; right-arm medium-pace bowler |
| County team | Northamptonshire (formerly Essex) |
| National team | England |
| Major honour | Member of the England squad that won the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 |
Bopara established himself in English domestic cricket with Essex before moving to Northamptonshire. His progression from a specialist batsman into a useful seam-bowling all-rounder, particularly in one-day cricket, broadened his utility for both county and international sides.
Bopara was first called up to the England One Day International team in 2007. He made his Test debut in Sri Lanka, but the introduction was a difficult one: a sequence of three consecutive ducks led to his being dropped from the side in early 2008.
He regained his Test place for a series against the West Indies in the winter of 2008–09. On his return, Bopara became the fifth batsman to score three consecutive Test centuries for England, marking one of the most notable achievements of his career. Despite this run of form, he struggled during the 2009 Ashes against Australia and was dropped for the final Test of that series.
In the shorter formats, Bopara was part of the England squad that won the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, England's first global limited-overs trophy.
Bopara has appeared in several leading Twenty20 leagues:
At the start of the 2016 season, Bopara took over the captaincy of the Essex one-day team, reflecting his senior standing within the county set-up at the time.
Bopara is notable as one of a small group of England batsmen to have scored three consecutive Test centuries, and as a member of England's 2010 ICC World Twenty20-winning side. His extensive franchise career across Asia and Australia has also made him a recognisable figure in global Twenty20 cricket.