Cricket has always been a passion for Agni Chopra and the world of films was never really for him, despite his father, renowned filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Agni, 25, has been in sensational form in his debut Ranji Trophy season. The No.3 batter, playing for Mizoram in the Plate division, set a record by becoming the first cricketer to score centuries in each of his first four first-class matches.

West Indies’ Joe Solomon had made three hundreds in his first three games from 1956 to 1958.

Agni’s centuries came against Sikkim (166), Nagaland (166), Arunachal (114) and Meghalaya (105 and 101).

“I had always been passionate about cricket from a young age. There was no reason to be so since there was none remotely connected to cricket in my family. But I always knew that this is what I wanted to be,” Agni, son of Vidhu Vinod and wife, film-critic Anupama, told The Telegraph on Wednesday.

Having started playing at Shivaji Park and then at MIG Academy, he played for Mumbai U-14, U-16, U-19 and U-23 before being chosen among the Ranji probables.

“But I knew it would be tough... When last year I wasn’t picked for one of the pre-season tours, I got really disappointed. Then I got an opportunity to go for selection trials for Mizoram... I took it as a chance to perform in List A and first-class cricket. I’m very happy that I took up the challenge.”

Happy where he is, Agni said: “I’m trying to stay in the present and my goal is
to bring Mizoram into the Elite division.”