Major League Cricket 2025: Season Review, Records & MI New York's Comeback
Quick Answer
MI New York won the 2025 Major League Cricket season, defeating defending champions Washington Freedom by five runs in the Final on July 13, 2025, according to the local U.S. date. They qualified fourth in the league stage with a 3–7 record before winning the Eliminator, Challenger and Final to claim the title.Monank Patel topped the run chart with 478 runs, strengthening his position among the best batters in Major League Cricket history. whileSan Francisco Unicorns fast bowler Xavier Bartlett took a tournament-leading 18 wickets, placing him prominently among the best bowlers in Major League Cricket history.Washington Freedom all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who scored 313 runs and took 14 wickets, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, setting the benchmark for the leading MLC 2026 Player of the Tournament contenders.It was MI New York’s second MLC title following their 2023 championship, making them the first franchise to win the competition twice.
Who Won Major League Cricket 2025?
MI New York won MLC 2025, beating Washington Freedom by five runs in the Final at Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas, on July 13, 2025. Indian viewers saw the match during the early hours of July 14 because of the time difference.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Champion | MI New York |
| Runner-up | Washington Freedom |
| Final Result | MI New York won by 5 runs — 180/7 vs 175/5 |
| Venue | Grand Prairie Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Tournament MVP | Mitchell Owen, Washington Freedom |
| Most Runs | Monank Patel, MI New York — 478 |
| Most Wickets | Xavier Bartlett, San Francisco Unicorns — 18 |
The Final result, individual awards and statistical leaders have been verified against the match scorecard, tournament statistics and the official post-match presentation.
This was the third edition of Major League Cricket, and its expanding records, domestic stars and dramatic playoff stories provide further evidence of how Major League Cricket is growing in the USA. MI New York won the inaugural competition in 2023, while Washington Freedom claimed the following title in a dominant campaign covered in AllCric’s MLC 2024 season review. MI New York’s 2025 victory therefore made them the first two-time MLC champions.
How Did MI New York Go from a 3–7 Record to MLC Champions?
Why Did MI New York Struggle During the League Stage?
MI New York, captained by Nicholas Pooran, lost six of their first seven league matches. Their only victory during that opening stretch came against Seattle Orcas, when they successfully chased 201 to win by seven wickets.The squad contained established players including Quinton de Kock, Pooran, Kieron Pollard and Trent Boult. However, individual reputation did not produce consistent results during the first two-thirds of the league phase.Several defeats came in high-scoring matches, while the bowling attack struggled to control opponents consistently. Even Monank Patel’s tournament-leading run tally could not prevent the side from spending most of the league stage outside the playoff positions.
Which Late Results Put MI New York into the Playoffs?
MI New York revived their campaign by winning consecutive matches against Los Angeles Knight Riders.In the first, Los Angeles made 154/8 before MI New York completed the chase at 155/2, winning by eight wickets. In the second, MI New York defended 142/9 by restricting Los Angeles to 136/4, earning a six-run victory.Those victories improved MI New York’s record from 1–6 to 3–6.However, they did not win their final league match. Washington Freedom restricted MI New York to 112/8 and chased the target with six wickets remaining. MI New York therefore completed the league stage with three wins and seven defeats.They qualified because Seattle Orcas also finished with three wins and six points, but MI New York had the superior net run rate:
- MI New York: -0.518
- Seattle Orcas: -1.842
Washington Freedom finished first with eight wins. Texas Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns both won seven matches, with Texas taking second place because of their superior net run rate.
How Did MI New York Win Three Consecutive Playoff Matches?
Once they reached the playoffs, MI New York won three successive elimination matches.
| Match | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Eliminator vs San Francisco Unicorns | SFU 131 all out in 19.1 overs; MI New York 132/8 in 19.3 overs | MI New York won by 2 wickets |
| Challenger vs Texas Super Kings | TSK 166/5; MI New York 172/3 in 19 overs | MI New York won by 7 wickets |
| Final vs Washington Freedom | MI New York 180/7; Washington Freedom 175/5 | MI New York won by 5 runs |
The playoff scores and margins have been checked against the three match scorecards.Trent Boult was Player of the Match in the Eliminator after helping dismiss San Francisco for 131. Kieron Pollard then led the Challenger chase against Texas Super Kings before Rushil Ugarkar successfully defended 12 runs in the final over of the championship match.Washington, Texas and San Francisco were more consistent during the league stage. MI New York’s decisive advantage was their ability to perform when every remaining match carried the threat of immediate elimination.The turnaround required contributions from multiple parts of the squad: Monank’s consistency, de Kock’s major innings in the Final, Boult’s new-ball wickets, Pollard’s Challenger performance and Ugarkar’s final-over execution.
What Happened in the MLC 2025 Final?
Washington Freedom won the toss and elected to field at Grand Prairie Stadium on July 13.MI New York posted 180/7 from their 20 overs. Quinton de Kock led the innings with 77 from 46 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes. Monank Patel contributed 28 from 22 balls, while Kunwarjeet Singh made an unbeaten 22 from 13 deliveries at the end of the innings.Lockie Ferguson was Washington’s most successful bowler, taking 3/21. Saurabh Netravalkar, Glenn Maxwell, Jack Edwards and Ian Holland claimed one wicket each.Washington’s chase began with two wickets before a run had been scored. Trent Boult dismissed Mitchell Owen from the first delivery and removed Andries Gous later in the opening over.Rachin Ravindra counter-attacked with 70 from 41 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. Jack Edwards added 33 from 22, and their partnership brought Washington back into the contest.Glenn Phillips finished unbeaten on 48 from 34 balls, hitting five sixes. Glenn Maxwell made 15 from 16 balls before being dismissed in the final over.Boult’s correct bowling figures were 2/32, not 2/22. Ugarkar also took 2/32, while Nosthush Kenjige claimed 1/30.
The match came down to the final over.
Washington required 12 runs from six balls, with Maxwell and Phillips at the crease. Ugarkar bowled the over:
- Maxwell took one run.
- Phillips took one run.
- Maxwell faced a dot ball.
- Ugarkar dismissed Maxwell with the fourth delivery.
- Obus Pienaar faced a dot ball.
- Pienaar hit four from the final delivery.
Only six runs came from the over. MI New York won by five, and Ugarkar was named Player of the Match.
The playoff scores and margins have been checked against the three match scorecards.Trent Boult was Player of the Match in the Eliminator after helping dismiss San Francisco for 131. Kieron Pollard then led the Challenger chase against Texas Super Kings before Rushil Ugarkar successfully defended 12 runs in the final over of the championship match.Washington, Texas and San Francisco were more consistent during the league stage. MI New York’s decisive advantage was their ability to perform when every remaining match carried the threat of immediate elimination.The turnaround required contributions from multiple parts of the squad: Monank’s consistency, de Kock’s major innings in the Final, Boult’s new-ball wickets, Pollard’s Challenger performance and Ugarkar’s final-over execution.
What Happened in the MLC 2025 Final?
Washington Freedom won the toss and elected to field at Grand Prairie Stadium on July 13.MI New York posted 180/7 from their 20 overs. Quinton de Kock led the innings with 77 from 46 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes. Monank Patel contributed 28 from 22 balls, while Kunwarjeet Singh made an unbeaten 22 from 13 deliveries at the end of the innings.Lockie Ferguson was Washington’s most successful bowler, taking 3/21. Saurabh Netravalkar, Glenn Maxwell, Jack Edwards and Ian Holland claimed one wicket each.Washington’s chase began with two wickets before a run had been scored. Trent Boult dismissed Mitchell Owen from the first delivery and removed Andries Gous later in the opening over.Rachin Ravindra counter-attacked with 70 from 41 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. Jack Edwards added 33 from 22, and their partnership brought Washington back into the contest.Glenn Phillips finished unbeaten on 48 from 34 balls, hitting five sixes. Glenn Maxwell made 15 from 16 balls before being dismissed in the final over.Boult’s correct bowling figures were 2/32, not 2/22. Ugarkar also took 2/32, while Nosthush Kenjige claimed 1/30.
The match came down to the final over.
Washington required 12 runs from six balls, with Maxwell and Phillips at the crease. Ugarkar bowled the over:
- Maxwell took one run.
- Phillips took one run.
- Maxwell faced a dot ball.
- Ugarkar dismissed Maxwell with the fourth delivery.
- Obus Pienaar faced a dot ball.
- Pienaar hit four from the final delivery.
Only six runs came from the over. MI New York won by five, and Ugarkar was named Player of the Match.
What Did the Final MLC 2025 Points Table Look Like?
| # | Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington Freedom | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 16 | +0.954 |
| 2 | Texas Super Kings | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | +1.603 |
| 3 | San Francisco Unicorns | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | +1.330 |
| 4 | MI New York | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -0.518 |
| 5 | Seattle Orcas | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -1.842 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Knight Riders | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | -1.320 |
Washington Freedom were the strongest league-stage team, winning eight of 10 matches. Texas Super Kings finished above San Francisco Unicorns because of net run rate despite both teams earning 14 points.MI New York and Seattle Orcas both recorded three wins and six points. MI New York progressed because their net run rate of -0.518 was substantially better than Seattle’s -1.842.Los Angeles Knight Riders finished last with two wins, although their NRR was better than Seattle’s. League positions are decided first by points, so Seattle remained above Los Angeles because they had two more points.The Qualifier between Washington and Texas was abandoned because of rain. Washington advanced to the Final as the higher-ranked league-stage side; they did not win the match. Across the 34-match tournament, 33 matches produced results and the Qualifier was abandoned.
Who Scored the Most Runs and Took the Most Wickets in MLC 2025?
Top Run-Scorers
| Batter | Team | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monank Patel | MI New York | 478 | 36.77 | 142.26 |
| Faf du Plessis | Texas Super Kings | 468 | 52.00 | 170.18 |
| Quinton de Kock | MI New York | 373 | 31.08 | 142.91 |
| Nicholas Pooran | MI New York | 360 | 36.00 | 134.83 |
| Matthew Short | San Francisco Unicorns | 360 | 45.00 | 164.38 |
Top Wicket-Takers
| Bowler | Team | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier Bartlett | San Francisco Unicorns | 18 | 8.86 |
| Haris Rauf | San Francisco Unicorns | 17 | 9.08 |
| Trent Boult | MI New York | 15 | 8.00 |
| Noor Ahmad | Texas Super Kings | 15 | 8.04 |
| Adam Milne | Seattle Orcas | 14 | 7.10 |
Tournament Awards
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Mitchell Owen | Washington Freedom |
| Leading Run-Scorer | Monank Patel | MI New York |
| Leading Wicket-Taker | Xavier Bartlett | San Francisco Unicorns |
| Domestic Player of the Tournament | Monank Patel | MI New York |
| Under-23 Player of the Tournament | Rushil Ugarkar | MI New York |
| Final Player of the Match | Rushil Ugarkar | MI New York |
Which Records Were Broken During Major League Cricket 2025?
1.Finn Allen’s 151 from 51 balls — San Francisco Unicorns vs Washington Freedom, June 12
Allen hit 19 sixes and five fours, carrying San Francisco to 269/5. He reached his century from 34 balls, the fastest hundred in MLC at the time, and reached 150 from 49 deliveries.His 19 sixes surpassed Chris Gayle’s previous recognised men’s T20 record of 18 sixes in an innings. Allen finished the tournament with 333 runs, a strike rate of 225.00 and 35 sixes.
2.San Francisco Unicorns’ 269/5 — highest MLC team total
San Francisco’s 269/5 against Washington Freedom was the highest team total recorded in Major League Cricket through the end of the 2025 season.
3.Seattle Orcas’ chase of 238 — highest successful MLC chase
MI New York scored 237/4 before Seattle Orcas reached 238/7. Shimron Hetmyer finished unbeaten on 97 from 40 balls.Seattle needed nine runs from the final over and six from the final delivery. Hetmyer struck Kieron Pollard for six to complete the highest successful chase in MLC history.
4.MI New York winning the title after a 3–7 league record
MI New York became the first MLC champion to reach the playoffs with only three league-stage victories. It is more accurately described as a tournament-history achievement than a conventional statistical record.They finished fourth, won every playoff match and defeated the teams that had placed third, second and first in consecutive knockout games.
5.Seattle Orcas’ 60 all out — lowest MLC total
Seattle were dismissed for 60 in 13.5 overs against Texas Super Kings, who won by 93 runs after making 153/6.It was not merely the lowest score of the 2025 season; it was the lowest completed team total in MLC history through the end of that tournament.
How Did Each Team Perform in MLC 2025?
| Team | League Record | Playoff Exit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Freedom | 8W–2L | Lost Final | Best league-stage team; finished five runs short of defending the title |
| Texas Super Kings | 7W–3L | Lost Challenger | Strong league campaign; beaten by MI New York one match before the Final |
| San Francisco Unicorns | 7W–3L | Lost Eliminator | Record-breaking batting peak, but injuries weakened the playoff challenge |
| MI New York | 3W–7L | Champions | Poor league record followed by exceptional knockout execution |
| Seattle Orcas | 3W–7L | Did not qualify | Produced the record chase but missed the playoffs on net run rate |
| Los Angeles Knight Riders | 2W–8L | Did not qualify | Finished last after an inconsistent campaign |
The league records and playoff outcomes are taken from the final standings and knockout scorecards.
- Washington Freedom were the most consistent team across the league stage: They won eight of 10 matches and finished first. Glenn Maxwell captained the side, while Mitchell Owen supplied the tournament’s strongest all-round campaign. Washington reached the final over of the championship match needing 12 but could not complete the chase.
- Texas Super Kings combined strong league results with individual batting excellence: Faf du Plessis scored 468 runs, the second-highest total of the season. Texas progressed past the league phase but lost the Challenger to MI New York by seven wickets.
- San Francisco Unicorns produced the season’s most explosive performance: Finn Allen’s 151 and the team’s 269/5 established major records. Allen was unavailable for the playoffs because of injury, and San Francisco were dismissed for 131 in the Eliminator.
- MI New York delivered the competition’s most dramatic turnaround: They were not the best team across the league phase, but they became the first MLC side to win three consecutive playoff matches on the way to the championship.
- Seattle Orcas demonstrated their potential during the record chase of 238:However, three wins from 10 matches and an NRR of -1.842 left them below MI New York.
- Los Angeles Knight Riders won only twice:They played a direct role in MI New York’s revival by losing consecutive late-season meetings before beating them in neither fixture; MI’s last league match instead came against Washington. Los Angeles finished last on four points.
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MI New York won the 2025 Major League Cricket title, defeating Washington Freedom by five runs in the Final at Grand Prairie Stadium on July 13, 2025. It was MI New York’s second MLC championship.
Monank Patel of MI New York was the leading run-scorer in MLC 2025. He scored 478 runs at an average of 36.77 and a strike rate of 142.26. He was also named Domestic Player of the Tournament.
Xavier Bartlett of the San Francisco Unicorns finished as the leading wicket-taker with 18 wickets. Haris Rauf took 17 wickets, while Trent Boult and Noor Ahmad claimed 15 each.
Mitchell Owen of Washington Freedom was named the Most Valuable Player of MLC 2025. He scored 313 runs and took 14 wickets during the tournament.
MI New York have won two Major League Cricket titles. They won the inaugural tournament in 2023 and reclaimed the championship in 2025, becoming the first franchise to win multiple MLC titles.
