3 months ago
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Agni Dev Chopra, the cricketer from Mizoram, is all over the news thanks to his record-breaking exploits in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season. The 25-year-old is the first cricketer to score hundreds in each of his first four first-class matches. In fact, Agni has five centuries to his name now in Ranji Trophy as two hundreds came in the same game against Meghalaya just a few days ago.
Another interesting aspect about Agni is that he is the son of filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and journalist Anupama Chopra. Vidhu Vinod recently delivered the mega hit 12th Fail which won the Best Film award at the Filmfare Awards 2024.
Agni, a resident of Mumbai, use to play for his home city in age-group cricket but moved to Mizoram in hope to make his First-Class and List A debut. He made his List-A debut in against Chandigarh in November 2023 and First-Class debut against Sikkim in January 2024. Agni’s team Mizoram are part of the Plate Group in Ranji Trophy.
He got picked for Mizoram after clearing a trial at the National Cricket Academy.
“In July, the Mizoram had trials at the National Cricket Academy. I went for the trial and I was lucky enough to be picked. It was tough to leave my city but this was the best opportunity to play in the List A and first-class cricket,” Agni told Indian Express in an interview.
But why didn’t he join Bollywood and followed his father’s footsteps?
Because Agni is not interested in working in movies, his passion lies in cricket.
“So I have been asked this question from childhood that will you go into movies but I never thought I would ever be in movies. I never thought that, oh, I should get in because my dad makes movies and it will be an easy avenue for me.
“I was never interested in movies. I mean I love watching movies and have a great time but it was never my passion,” Agni told news agency PTI.
What is his cricket history?
He played for Mumbai U-19 and U-23 teams and was the team’s highest run-getter in 2019-20 CK Nayudu Trophy where he amassed 760 runs including a double ton. Agni also captained the U-19 side but decided to move away after his coach Khuspreet Singh suggested him to play for some other team where he can get regular playing time after he had a poor season.
“Coming here in Mizoram, everyone has been very welcoming and really included me and there are two more pros — KC bhai (KC Cariappa) and Mohit Jangra. They are inclusive and welcoming and I never felt like an outsider. I have been taught a few Mizo words and phrases and I don’t feel in a vastly different place,” he said.
So far he has scored 767 runs in four Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 95.87 and with a strike rate of 111.80. While the bowling in Plate Group may not be a match for the Elite Group, Agni is not bothered about that.
“People will say what they have to say but, at the end of the day, it’s your performance and there are lot many players who are playing in the same division and not scoring that many runs. Standard is same for everyone.”
In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Agni boasts a strike rate of 150, but so far hasn’t been able to land a deal with an IPL side. He, however, is not worried and wants to enter the cash-rich T20 league on his merit rather than with help of his influential parents.
“For me, I want to be picked for anything based on my pedigree, it shouldn’t be because of anything else. I don’t think my dad would ever pick up the phone and tell anyone just because I told him to. I have to be good enough so that they are calling my dad, rather than my dad calling them.” he said.
“If something like that (his father pulling ranks) happened, may be I will be picked in squad, but surely, would not get to play in the eleven. I don’t want to be in a team where I am picked because of a phone call and then I am not going to play.”
“It doesn’t help to use a connection to achieve a dream that you wanted to achieve. Cricket was never my dad’s dream. It was my dream.”
Dad’s advice
Does Vidhu Vinod have an advice for Agni?
Yes, and it’s to follow your passion with sincerity.
“My dad told me and my sister when we were younger what his father told him: “Agar tumhe sadaak par mochi (cobbler) banna hai, apne sadaak ka best mochi banna. (If you become a cobbler, be the best in your lane).
“He gave us freedom to do what we wanted but told us to try to be the absolute best. Talent can only take you that far as rest depends on work you do and I saw that in his movies and amount of work he put and my mother (noted film critic Anupama) in her profession, and that rubbed off on me.”
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