2025-08-25 13:33:56
Ravi Bopara wishes he’d been a more “careless” cricketer.
The 40-year-old all-rounder regrets taking on so much “responsibility” during his sporting career because he thinks he would have kept an edge as a “dangerous” player.
Asked what he’d advise his younger self, he told Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine: “I would say, definitely, that throughout my career I’ve tried to take on too much responsibility and I wish I hadn’t. I wish I’d been more careless, just like I was when I first came round.
“I was aggressive and I played my shots and I didn’t really care.
“As time went on I became more and more calculated, took more and more responsibility – you’re the senior player, all that sort of stuff – I wish I just didn’t.
“I think I would have been a way more dangerous player and might have got up the order as well in most of the one-day teams that I’ve played in.
“I’ve hated batting in the middle order, I haven’t enjoyed any of it.
“But you do what your team needs you for, knowing what I mean?”
For the last 16 years, Ravi has been around the franchise circuit, including playing in the IPL and Pakistan Super League, but he insisted he hasn’t done it for the money.
He said: “It’s not about the dough and I don’t show that stuff off anyway.
“I’ve got a nice three-bedroom house in Gidea Park but I have a basic car. I don’t want a Ferrari. And I’ve still got my chicken shop.”
Asked why he plays, he said: “Because I might be the leading run-scorer in the tournament.”
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