OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — When cinema meets cricket, sparks are bound to fly. Agni Chopra, the son of legendary filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, made his electrifying entry into professional T20 cricket in the most unexpected way — and it wasn’t on Indian soil.
On June 13, 2025, the 23-year-old right-hander took guard for MI New York in the Major League Cricket (MLC) season opener against Texas Super Kings, marking his debut in America’s rising cricket league. While his first outing yielded just 5 runs, it signaled the arrival of a new player with a story unlike any other.
✈️ A Selection Story Fit for a Script
In a plot twist worthy of a film his father might direct, Agni learned of his $50,000 MLC draft pick mid-air — quite literally. While flying from San Francisco to Mumbai, his phone buzzed with the life-changing news upon landing. By the time he touched down, he wasn’t just Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s son anymore — he was MI New York’s latest signing.
“I had no idea. I was just watching a movie, and boom — I’m in the MLC,” Agni shared in a post-match interview. “It still feels surreal.”
🏏 From Mizoram to America: A Wild Journey
Agni wasn’t always a globetrotter. His cricket journey began in India’s domestic scene, where he represented Mizoram in the Ranji Trophy. But he wasn’t just warming the bench — he scored centuries in each of his first four first-class matches during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.
He ended the 2024 Plate Group season as the leading run-scorer and was even honored by the BCCI on February 1, 2025 — just months before he became ineligible to play in India.
🌐 The Passport Dilemma That Changed Everything
Here’s the kicker: Agni doesn’t hold an Indian passport. Due to BCCI’s strict eligibility rules, only Indian passport holders can play domestic cricket. This meant Agni’s days in Indian cricket were numbered — but the door to global leagues swung wide open.
Now, as a U.S. citizen, Agni is fully eligible to play across international T20 circuits, from MLC to The Hundred, ILT20, and beyond. However, if he ever wishes to return to the IPL, he’ll have to sign on as an overseas player.
“The rulebook closed one door but opened five others,” said a close source from Agni’s training camp.
🌟 Not Just Another Star Kid
While Bollywood is filled with celebrity children trying to find their spotlight, Agni is carving out his own legacy — not with scripts and cameras, but with runs and resilience. His path to MLC stardom may have been unconventional, but it’s far from over.