Agni Chopra, son of renowned filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and eminent film critic Anupama Chopra, is making waves in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season with MI New York. While most expected him to follow his family’s glittering Bollywood legacy, Agni has instead carved a unique path on the cricket field enchanting fans on T20 pitches rather than red carpets.Born into Bollywood royalty, but driven by a different dream, Agni Chopra son of acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and renowned critic Anupama Chopra chose cricket over cinema, shunning the spotlight of stardom to chase leather and willow. A lifelong fanboy of the MI franchise, Agni now lives his dream donning the very jersey he once admired from the stands.
Before his breakthrough in the United States’ Major League Cricket (MLC), Agni sharpened his skills in India’s domestic circuit, representing Mizoram for two seasons. With Mumbai’s ultra-competitive cricket scene offering limited chances, the young southpaw made a strategic move that paved the path for his international rise.
Choosing the Pitch Over the Picture: A Bold Bet
Born in Detroit in 1998, Agni chopra grew up at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, where he started playing at age six.
Despite the pressures of being a “star kid,” he adamantly refused Bollywood’s allure. He wanted none of the limelight just leather on willow
Reflecting this ethos, a persistent Agni chopra even asked his driver to drop him far away from training sessions to be seen as just another cricketer.He wasn’t after shortcuts he wanted merit. “For me, I want to be picked for anything based on my pedigree, it shouldn’t be because of anything else,” he shared
Ranji Glory: The Making of a Batting Phenom
Agni’s first-class record with Mizoram is extraordinary: five centuries in his first four Ranji Trophy innings, ending the campaign with 767 runs in just four games
His rise illustrates grit: moving from Mumbai’s U‑19 and U‑23 setups where a crowded lineup and limited chances prompted his shift to Mizoram,following coach Khushpreet Singh Aulakh’s advice
From Ranji to MLC: A $50,000 Turning Point
Despite dazzling domestic success, Agni Chopra faced a roadblock: his U.S. citizenship (birth in Detroit) barred participation in the Ranji Trophy due to BCCI rules.That same unique credential made him eligible for MLC’s domestic draft. In February 2025, confidence in his talent paid off MI New York picked him
as their #1 domestic player for US$ 50,000
Imagine the scene: Agni, mid-flight from San Francisco to Mumbai no Wi‑Fi landed only to discover he’d been drafted.It felt like destiny fulfilling itself
Key Highlights: Agni’s MLC 2025 Journey
Drafted for US$ 50,000 as MI New York’s top domestic pick .
Six centuries across two Ranji seasons (2023-25), including four in four consecutive first-class innings
U.S. citizen by birth, splitting his identity between American eligibility and Indian domestic success .
What Agni Chopra Says About His Journey
In candid interviews, Agni credits discipline over heritage:
“I was never interested in movies… It was never my passion.”
On choosing Mizoram:
“Everyone has been very welcoming… I never felt like an outsider.”
On gratitude post-draft:
“I couldn’t wait to land… I had that moment of gratitude for everyone that’s been part of my journey.”
What Lies Ahead for Agni
MLC 2025 offers Agni a global stage. Games in California, Dallas, and Florida through mid-July will pit him against stars like Nicholas Pooran and Rashid Khan.His performance could open doors to T20 franchise leagues or even US national selection, leveraging his dual eligibility and first-class achievements.
His story rooted in Mumbai’s maidans but flying high in US cricket mirrors the evolving global cricket landscape.
Final Take
Agni Chopra is more than a “star kid”: he’s a symbol of ambition, merit, and global cricket fusion. With phenomenal efficiency in Ranji cricket and a high-stakes MLC contract, he blends Hollywood lineage with raw cricket prowess.Expect fireworks as he dons the MI New York colors this left-handed opener is turning heads not because of his surname, but because of sheer performance.
Let’s keep an eye on Agni Chopra: the Bollywood root, the cricket dream and now, the American pitch.