Agni Chopra's Dream: Playing Ranji Elite Division After Big Start with Mizoram in Plate League

Agni Chopra, son of Bollywood filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and film critic Anupama Chopra, has been making waves in Indian cricket with a remarkable start to his First-Class career. His impressive average of 99.06 in the Ranji Trophy has attracted considerable attention, rivaling the success of Bollywood chartbusters produced by his father.

Since his debut in the Ranji Plate League for Mizoram earlier this year, Agni has amassed 1,585 runs in just nine games, including eight fours and four fifties. His career began with a spectacular 166 against Sikkim in January and has since been marked by numerous tons, including a 218 and 238 against Arunachal and Manipur in the ongoing season.

In an exclusive interview with PTI, Agni revealed the secret behind his consistent run of form: "It's all about hunger," he said. He mentioned a conversation with his coach, Khushpreet Singh, who advised him to focus solely on not getting out, rather than obsessing over runs. Agni set his sights on scoring double hundreds, a feat he did not achieve the previous year, and his improved fitness has also played a key role in his dominant performances.

Though his outstanding performances have come in the Plate League, Agni has his sights set on playing in the Elite division of the Ranji Trophy. "I would love to represent an Elite division team and maybe play for the IPL or India," he said. To achieve this, he knows he needs to continue scoring runs and help Mizoram qualify for the Elite division.

Agni is aware of the responsibility on his shoulders to carry Mizoram to the Elite round, a goal they narrowly missed last season after losing in the semifinals. "Our goal is to finish on top and qualify," he explained. "If we had won, I would have been playing in the Elite division this year."

Despite the pressure that comes with having famous parents, Agni remains grounded. He finds humor in the scrutiny and relies on a close circle of people for support, including his coach, Khushpreet Singh, and his friends, like Shubman Gill.

Although Agni faced disappointment during the previous IPL auction, he remains hopeful for the upcoming mega auction, with aspirations of making his IPL debut. "A lot of the work that I have put in is with the IPL in mind," he said, citing the tournament as a major motivating factor.

Agni idolizes cricketers like Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara, and with his current form and aspirations, he is set to continue making strides in the cricket world.