How Agni Chopra is eligible to play in MLC despite BCCI’s ban on overseas leagues

Upcoming Indo-American cricketer Agni Chopra recently made the news after playing in the current Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament in the US. His presence generated intrigue amongst fans and commentators, particularly given the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s strict policy against Indian players participating in foreign T20 leagues. As a popular name in domestic Indian cricket, many wondered how Chopra managed to play in MLC 2025.

Agni Chopra has been well-known for his First-class cricket exploits, especially while playing for Mizoram. The 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season was the time when he made waves by ending up as the top run-getter with 939 runs in merely 12 innings at a staggering average of 78.25. His consistent and classy left-handed batting fetched him attention from the selectors and the fans as well. In spite of these credentials, the 26-year-old remained unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Curiously enough, the eligibility of Chopra to be bought by MLC is based on his American heritage. Detroit, Michigan-born, he is not in possession of an Indian passport and thus is free from the BCCI ban. To be sure, Agni Chopra, son of celebrated Bollywood director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, confessed in an interview that he would have taken an alternative path if the IPL auction had gone his way.

USA Born Free to Play in the USA

“I would have still applied for an Indian passport and stayed if I had been picked in the Indian Premier League, but I’m looking forward to my time in America now,” Chopra said, as quoted by TOI. His comments underline the crossroads he faced between pursuing a cricketing career in India or seizing opportunities abroad.

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While his home numbers are impressive—with averages of 94.94 in First-Class, 24.91 in List A, and 30.13 in T20s—his MLC campaign has not yet gotten underway. Playing for MI New York, his boyhood favorite team, he opened in the opening two matches but scored only 5 and 8. Chopra will be keen to contribute more positively as the tournament advances.