The United States will witness a month of thrilling Twenty20 action when the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season gets underway. Six strong teams will square off at three special locations from June 13 to July 14, offering exciting matches and highlighting the rising talent in American cricket. With 34 matches overall in this extended third edition of the MLC, a notable increase from 19 in its first year and 25 in its second, the league's quick expansion and rising prominence are evident.
The tournament kicked off with a bang at the Oakland Coliseum, with the San Francisco Unicorns delivering a dominant performance against the Washington Freedom, winning by a massive 123 runs. This early result set the tone for what promises to be a highly competitive season. With outstanding undefeated records and the first two slots on the points table as of June 17th, the San Francisco Unicorns and Texas Super Kings have emerged as early favorites. Both teams are in the top two spots with six points after three games, respectively, and have not lost a game in the tournament thus far. With two points from two games, the Washington Freedom are now standing third in the points table. In contrast, the Seattle Orcas, Los Angeles Knight Riders, and MI New York have not yet won a game.
The league continues to attract a blend of established international stars and promising domestic players, creating a unique cricketing spectacle. Players like Finn Allen (San Francisco Unicorns) have already lit up the tournament with their batting prowess, while bowlers like Haris Rauf (San Francisco Unicorns) and Noor Ahmad (Texas Super Kings) have been making a significant impact with the ball. Currently, Finn Allen from San Francisco Unicorns is the leading run scorer of the tournament. He has scored 216 runs in 3 matches, with 1 century and 1 half-century. He played an incredible knock of 151 runs against the Washington Freedom. He played with an Average of 72.00 and a strike rate of 257.14. He has also smashed 10 fours and 25 sixes in the tournament. He will want to continue his excellent form in the upcoming cricket matches of the MLC 2025. On the other hand, in the Bowling Department, Finn Allen’s MLC 2025 Team Mate Haris Rauf is currently the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with 9 wickets.
The Oakland Coliseum of Oakland in California, the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium of Grand Prairie in Texas, and Broward County Stadium of Lauderhill in Florida will host the league matches, knockout stages, and the final. All cricket fans have seen some exciting matches and memorable performances during the league stage so far.
The schedule is packed, with multiple matches on many days, ensuring continuous cricketing excitement for fans. The league stage, which features a double round-robin format where each team plays every other team twice, will culminate in a thrilling playoff series to determine the ultimate champions. The playoffs will follow a familiar format, including a Qualifier, Eliminator, and Challenger match, leading up to the grand final.
As MLC 2025 progresses, the competition is expected to intensify. With more matches scheduled and teams settling into their rhythm, the race for the playoffs will become even more captivating. The league's expansion is a testament to the growing appetite for cricket in the United States, and MLC 2025 is poised to further cement its position as a significant fixture in the global T20 landscape. Cricket enthusiasts in the US and worldwide are eagerly watching to see which franchise will ultimately lift the coveted MLC trophy this season.