Ravi Bopara
A versatile and resilient cricketer whose elegant batting and handy bowling made him a fixture in England's limited-overs sides for a decade.
Born 1985 (age 41)·English cricketer·Birthday: May 4·Millennials
Biography
Ravi Bopara's cricket journey is one of persistent reinvention. Born in London to Indian-Sikh parents, he announced himself as a stylish, technically sound batsman coming through Essex's youth ranks. His England career was a rollercoaster of brilliant flashes and frustrating inconsistency; he famously scored three consecutive Test centuries against the West Indies in 2009, yet never permanently secured a place in the long-form side. It was in the colored kits of limited-overs cricket where he carved his most durable niche, transforming himself into a reliable batting all-rounder with deceptive medium pace. A globetrotter of the T20 franchise circuit, his calm under pressure and adaptability made him a valued asset from Karachi to Sydney, and he was a key squad member in England's 2010 World Twenty20 triumph.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ravi was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ravi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Ravi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a member of the England squad that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010.
- Scored three consecutive Test match centuries in 2009, a rare feat for an English batsman.
- Played over 100 One Day Internationals for England, often as a batting all-rounder.
- Has had a long career in county cricket with Essex, scoring over 10,000 first-class runs.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified electrician, having pursued the trade as a backup career during his early cricketing days.
He played for a record five different franchises in five different T20 leagues around the world in a single year.
He was named one of *Wisden*'s Cricketers of the Year in 2009.
His full name is Ravinder Singh Bopara.
“I've batted everywhere in the order, from opener to finisher; you just adapt to the team's needs.”
