Young Cricketer Agni Dev Chopra, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and film critic Anupama Chopra, has been listed as a foreign player available for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 player auction. The 27-year-old left-handed batsman, who holds US citizenship has been listed as a player representing the United States. However, Agni has denied enrolling for PSL auction.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s official players registration list, Agni Chopra’s base price has been set at PKR 60,00,000 (approximately ₹19.6 lakh or $21,520). He is categorised as a left-handed batter and right-arm off-spin bowler.
After reports of his name appearing in the PSL auction by PCB appeared, Agni Chopra posted a statement on Instagram clarifying that he has not enrolled for PSL auction. He said that he is fully focused on his cricket career in the USA. He posted, “Fake and misleading reports are being circulated in my name regarding a tournament. I would like to clarify that I have not enrolled for the PSL. I remain fully focused on my cricket journey in the USA and my long-term career goals. I request everyone not to fall prey to misinformation.”
His mother, Anupama Chopra, posted a screenshot of the Instagram status on X.
Agni Chopra is mentioned among the 879 cricketers listed by PCB who are apparently available for bidding by the 8 franchises. The list includes 491 foreign players from various countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UK and the USA.
The PSL 2026 (Season 11) marks a significant expansion for the league, with new franchises added and an auction format that replaces the traditional draft system. The two new teams added to the league are Kingsmen Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz. The existing six teams are Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
Notably, BCCI does not allow Indian cricketers to play in foreign T-20 leagues. Even if there were no such restriction, it is unlikely that any Indian cricketer would play in the PSL. Pakistani cricketers are banned from playing in India’s IPL. Agni Chopra has been listed in the PSL auction as an American cricketer. He is a USA citizen as he was born in Detroit.
Agni Chopra started with Indian domestic cricket by playing for Mizoram at the under-19 level. He made headlines by scoring centuries in each of his first four first-class Ranji Trophy matches, a record that drew widespread attention. However, he had to leave the Mizoram team in 2024 after the BCCI banned players without Indian passports from playing in domestic cricket. Before that, players with a PIO/ OCI card were also eligible to play, making Agni eligible.
Therefore, he moved to the United States and qualified as a domestic player in the Major League Cricket (MLC) due to his American citizenship. He was picked by MI New York for $50,000 last year. Agni Chopra had said that if he had been selected in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he would have applied for an Indian passport.
It is interesting to note that the base price listed by PCB for Agni Chopra is significantly lower than the amount paid by MI New York.
