Ravichandran Ashwin joins Major League Cricket as MI New York favorites

MLC 2026: R Ashwin Joins the Fray as MI New York Emerges as Favourites Again

Major League sooryavanshi-s-parents-on-t20-tours-for-support" class="nd-inline-link">Cricket (MLC) is set to return for its fourth season on June 18, 2026, with the Texas Super Kings facing off against the Seattle Orcas at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The 34-match tournament will kick off with its first seven games at this venue before moving to the Oakland Coliseum in California and the newly established Knight Riders Cricket Field in Pomona, California. The latter is one of the standout additions to this season’s league.

The Knight Riders Cricket Field, located at the Pomona Fairgrounds, will serve as the home base for the LA Knight Riders franchise, which has been allocated seven matches. This venue will also play a significant role in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with its capacity set to expand for the event. LA Knight Riders will play their opening home game against Washington Freedom on July 1, marking the first time Los Angeles will host a top-tier cricket match.

Commenting on the significance of this development, MLC CEO Johnny Grave said, “Bringing Major League Cricket to Los Angeles is a huge milestone for our league and for the growth of cricket across the United States.” He also highlighted the Pomona Fairgrounds as the future home of Olympic cricket in 2028, expressing excitement about introducing Southern California fans to the sport at this iconic venue.

Another major highlight of MLC 2026 is the debut of Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin. The 39-year-old spinner will represent the San Francisco Unicorns, becoming the first former Indian international to participate in the league. This will also mark Ashwin’s first appearance in a foreign T20 league, as a previous opportunity to play in the Big Bash League was thwarted by injury. His return to competitive cricket comes after his last appearance in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) in July 2025.

Ashwin expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating in a video shared by the Unicorns, “When I was interested in playing outside of India, Anand [Rajaraman] and Venky [Harinarayan] were the first people to reach out. They were very excited about me getting here.” He added that playing in the United States offers a unique experience, noting, “Even though I have played cricket for a long time, to get in, blend in with these people... Look forward to it.”

Elsewhere in the league, familiar faces and seasoned players are set to return. Steve Smith, who led Washington Freedom to the title in 2024, is back at the helm, taking over leadership duties from Glenn Maxwell. Other captains include Jason Holder (LA Knight Riders), Nicholas Pooran (MI New York), Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings), Matt Short (San Francisco Unicorns), and Marcus Stoinis (Seattle Orcas). Stoinis will also have a new coach in Adam Voges as the Orcas aim to break their two-season playoff drought.

Defending champions MI New York once again look like strong contenders for the title. Led by Nicholas Pooran, their squad boasts star players like Kieron Pollard, Quinton de Kock, Trent Boult, and Romario Shepherd. Pollard, in particular, is on the brink of a historic milestone, needing just 81 runs to surpass Chris Gayle as the all-time highest scorer in T20 cricket.

As with most T20 leagues, player availability could pose challenges due to overlapping schedules with other tournaments like England’s T20 Blast and the Lanka Premier League. However, MLC benefits from the fact that The Hundred begins later, reducing potential conflicts.

With new venues, marquee players, and exciting matchups, MLC 2026 promises to be a landmark season for cricket in the United States.