Agni Dev Chopra, son of renowned filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is currently participating in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States, representing MI New York. This has raised eyebrows because the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) generally restricts Indian players from participating in overseas leagues to maintain the exclusivity of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The standard rule dictates that players must retire from all forms of Indian cricket to become eligible to play in these foreign leagues. However, Agni Chopra's situation is unique due to his citizenship.
Agni Chopra holds a US passport, as he was born in Detroit, Michigan, and is not an Indian citizen. This fact exempts him from the BCCI's regulations concerning Indian players in overseas T20 leagues. He had previously stated that he would have considered applying for an Indian passport had he been selected in the IPL. Still, the lack of opportunities led him to continue as a US citizen and pursue cricket in America.
Agni, 26, has a history in the Indian domestic cricket circuit. Up until 2024, BCCI allowed players with overseas citizenship to participate in domestic tournaments. He played for Mizoram and made a significant impact. In the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, he emerged as the leading run-scorer in the Plate League, amassing 939 runs in six games with an impressive average of 78.25 and a strike rate of 103.30, including five centuries and three half-centuries. His performance earned him the Madhavrao Scindia Award. He continued his strong performance into the 2024-25 season, scoring 865 runs at an average of 123.57. Agni even achieved a remarkable feat by scoring a century in each of his first four First-Class matches.
Despite his success in domestic cricket, the BCCI has since changed its rules, mandating that only players with Indian passports can participate in domestic cricket. Therefore, Agni's US citizenship, which allowed him to play in the MLC, simultaneously disqualifies him from playing in Indian domestic cricket under the updated guidelines.
His journey hasn't been without its challenges. Earlier in his career, Agni faced setbacks and considered quitting cricket. He played for Mumbai in the Under-19 and Under-23 teams and even captained those teams. In the 2019-20 Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy, he scored nearly 800 runs for the Mumbai U23 team, including three centuries and a double ton. Despite this form, he was not selected for Mumbai’s Ranji team. An injury further compounded his difficulties. A call from Mizoram revitalized his passion.
Being drafted by MI New York for $50,000 to play in the Major League Cricket was a dream come true for Agni, who has been a Mumbai Indians fan. He received the news from his mother, Anupama Chopra, while traveling from Mumbai to San Francisco. He opened the innings for MI New York and scored 5 runs in his debut match. In his first two outings in MLC, he has recorded modest scores of 5 and 8.
The BCCI's strict stance on Indian players participating in foreign leagues aims to maintain the IPL's dominance and exclusivity. Veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik has supported this policy, stating that it benefits Indian cricket and its players, given the opportunities at the state level. According to Karthik, players should only be allowed to play overseas T20 leagues once they retire from Indian cricket. Even South African cricket legend AB de Villiers acknowledged that while he hopes the BCCI will allow Indian players to participate in leagues like SA20 in the future, he recognizes that the BCCI is unlikely to make active players available for overseas leagues anytime soon.
