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LAUNCHED: MI New York's new threads for MLC 2026!!
MI colors, MI pride, MI threads!A stunning new design, but with same Blue and Gold passion - the cape of the defending champions is here. It's an all-star design forged in the class of the Blue with the Gold shining bright, as MI New York embark on a journey to defend their crown. 2023, 2025, bagged. MLC 2026, bring it on!
15 Jun, 2026
Say hello to MI New York's overseas signings for MLC 2026
Blue and Gold in South Africa. Blue and Gold in India. And now Blue and Gold in the USA. Ryan Rickelton is here and with his big-hitting and smart keeping, will play a major role in MI New York defending their crown going into MLC 2026. As someone who topped the run-scoring charts in the 2017-18 season of the domestic 3-day cup, Ryan Rickelton has come up the South African ranks through the grind of First Class cricket. Over the last two years, he moved into an opening role at MI Cape Town, where he excelled, and since, has become a consistent presence in all three formats for the Proteas. You don’t need to look very far to see what he’s capable of. In the first match of IPL 2026, he tore apart the bowling to smash a 43-ball 81 to help Mumbai Indians chase down their highest total in the history of the tournament. Oh, we’re going to love having him here. Welcome to New York, Ryano! ******Coming in next into the New York Blue and Gold is Corbin Bosch, fellow Protea, who, much like Ryan, is with the #OneFamily in Cape Town and Mumbai. A gun all-rounder, who bowls quick, has a bunch of variations at the death, and is a kew lower-order big-hitter, Corbin is here to conquer America.******Tristan Luus makes this a South African trio, with the double of donning the Blue and Gold in Cape Town as well as New York. He's no newbie here, having been with the team during the 2025 MLC triumph. Having idolized and moulded his bowling action around Dale Steyn, this 20-year-old is one to watch out for. It's great having you back, Tristan!******Allah Ghazanfar, the mystery man is here. Off-spin, leg-spin, googlies, carrom ball, the scooter, he has them all in his armory. This 20-year-old from Afghanistan is here to conquer the USA after his exploits in the Blue and Gold at MI Emirates and Mumbai Indians. He's had a sharp rise, from being the standout bowler at the 2024 under-19 World Cup, to now becoming one of the mainstays in the national side. Welcome to America, AMG!******Swinging it around hoops and coming back for the 2026 season is another familiar face, Trent Boult, the true blue MI globetrotter, who's part of all five teams in the #OneFamily. A two-time champion with MINY, the highest wicket-taker of the 2023 season and the star of the 2025 season, he is back to rip out some poles! ******Coming in next to defend his crown is our very own Nicholas Pooran. The champion of 2023 and 2025. The owner of the greatest MLC knock with his 137* in the inaugural final, he is back in the USA to tonk a few more into the stands. ******Following Nicky P is a fellow Caribbean T20 legend, Romario Shepherd. The Guyaneese giant comes in with an equally huge reputation of being the perfect all-rounder – someone who can be called upon to bowl in any situation thanks to the entire armoury of tricks and variations he has up his sleeve, and someone who can be trusted to finish an innings, thanks to the massive hits he can unleash. ******Serial champion, Kieron Pollard, is back, shedding his catching glove for his batting ones. With his massive sixes, wily bowling, gun fielding, and a never-say-die attitude that has seen him steal matches that were dead and buried, he’s all set to conquer the United States once again. Our Champion of MLC 2023 and 2025! ******Our final signing - Protea, ‘keeper, opener, Blue and Gold ledge! Quinton de Kock, fresh off his stunning century for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, is back to do the same in America. Oh, we cannot wait for you to smash it all parts, Quinny!
04 Apr, 2026
Meet MI New York’s RETAINED AND DRAFTED domestic players for MLC 2026
To new beginnings.. As we gear up to defend our crown, we have some news. It’s that time of the year, and we have retained seven of our core domestic players ahead of the MLC 2026 Draft. To MI New York’s Batch of 2025, you will always be special. You taught us to fight, to never give up, and showed that spirit to come back from the brink to bring home the cup. Thank you for all the special memories!MI New York’s retained domestic players:Monank PatelNosthush KenjigeTajinder Singh Rushil Ugarkar Sunny PatelKunwarjeet Singh Agni Chopra Two domestic players were also added to the Bunch of 2026 through a Draft:Corey AndersonFaisal Khan AhmadzaiSeason 4 begins on 20th June 2026, and the month-long cricket extravaganza in America will travel across Texas, Oakland and Pomona as we go across painting the country in our Blue and Gold.
24 Mar, 2026
ANNOUNCED: MLC 2026 Fixtures are here.. Mark your calendars!
Why do we feel our fingers twitching already? We have the Champions crown on our heads, and we now have the roadmap in front of us to defend it. The fixtures for MLC 2026 have been announced. From June 18, 2026 to July 18, 2026, we have your plans covered. From the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas to the Oakland Coliseum in California, to Fairplex, Pomona, which is all set to make its MLC debut, the month-long cricket extravaganza would be crisscrossing the country in a caravan format, before coming back to Oakland for the playoffs. DateOpponentVenue20th JuneWashington FreedomGrand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas21st JuneTexas Super KingsGrand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas26th JuneTexas Super KingsOakland Coliseum, California27th JuneLA Knight RidersOakland Coliseum, California2nd JulySeattle OrcasFairplex, Pomona 4th JulyLA Knight RidersFairplex, Pomona 5th JulySan Francisco UnicornsFairplex, Pomona 8th JulySan Francisco UnicornsGrand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas10th JulySeattle OrcasGrand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas12th JulyWashington FreedomGrand Prairie Cricket Stadium, TexasThis is officially our call to build up to Season 4. Ten matches, the playoffs, and title #3.
20 Mar, 2026
Interview | ‘Calmer’ Tristan Luus absolutely ‘stoked’ after amazing season
2024 – Tristan Luus comes into the South Africa under-19 World Cup squad as an injury replacement 2025 – Tristan Luus can boast of a winner’s medal in the SA20 and the MLC He’s quick. He’s nippy. He’s barely 20. “This last year has been a rollercoaster of a year. It started with the SA20 and me winning the SA20 as a rookie was an unbelievable way to start the year. I’m glad I made my debut for both MI Cape Town and MI New York. Winning the MLC then was like a dream coming through. My cricket is in a really good space right now,” he said in an exclusive chat with minycricket.com.At MI New York, he was on a mission. Having been drafted into the XI with the team in a must-win situation, Tristan had his task cut out. And he couldn’t wait. “I was more excited than nervous (at MI New York), I’ll be honest. I couldn’t wait. I was just in the corner and I was like, ‘I wanna play, I just wanna play’. The day I got to know I was going to play, I was super stoked. I was so excited to play. Thank goodness the coaches saw I could do something in this team.,” he said. And the rewards on the investment were instantaneous. Against Texas Super Kings in the all-important second Qualifier, he ripped through their batting order in a spell of 3/35, which included the wicket of his fellow country great, Faf du Plessis. “There was a lot of planning going into that game,” he said. “We knew it was a must-win game. I was really focused on that game. Emotionally I was locked in. I really played well and I was grateful to just contribute to the team and get wickets.”At 20, every conversation, every interaction, every match is a learning. And with the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, Quinton de Kock to rub shoulders with right in the middle of all the action (must-win territory, mind you!), trust it to be a steep education in the youngster’s cricketing journey. “Every game I played under games like Boulty or Nicky P or Pollard, with players who are legends of the game, I almost feel calmer in match situations. They talk to me when something is going on. What I learnt in that game wasn’t necessarily skill wise, it was being calm in certain situations of the game. Just advice like, ‘you are only one good ball away’. I think I control my emotions a lot better because the guys around me helped me with it.”Tristan, we’ve loved every moment of you in the Blue and Gold.
16 Sep, 2025
“We are shaping a global brand powered by passion, excellence, and the unifying spirit of sport”: Mrs. Nita M. Ambani
Three Championship titles in 2025, 13 Championship titles overall. The Gold in Mumbai Indians’ Blue continues glittering through. The most successful T20 franchise in the world capped off a super successful year after all five teams in the Mumbai Indians family made it to the playoffs, with three of them going on to bring home the winning trophy. The Rashid Khan-led MI Cape Town, after failing to qualify for the playoffs in the first two seasons, kicked the year off with an emphatic title-winning season at the SA20. Harmanpreet Kaur and her girls followed it up with a brilliant run at the Women’s Premier League, winning a thrilling final. Nicholas Pooran’s MI New York capped off a top year, turning around a slow start to the MLC into an inspirational come-from-behind victory. “Congratulations, MI New York. This is more than a victory, it’s a celebration of what sport truly stands for. MI New York’s second MLC title in three years marks another iconic chapter in the growing global story of Mumbai Indians. From Mumbai to New York, Cape Town to Abu Dhabi – five teams across three continents, including our women’s team in Mumbai – we are building more than just cricket teams. We are shaping a global brand powered by passion, excellence, and the unifying spirit of sport. Because at Mumbai Indians, we don’t just play to win. We play with heart. We play as one,” said Mrs. Nita M. Ambani. “To our incredible fans across the world – this victory is yours. Thank you for being the soul of #OneFamily.”
19 Jul, 2025
Rushil Ugarkar, manifesting bowling the Malinga way
You know you’ve pulled off a heist when you’ve managed to defend 12 off the final over of a T20. The heist becomes even more epic when it happens to be with Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips at the crease. The epic becomes legendary when the context is that of a League Final. This is Rushil Ugarkar, the 22-year-old right-arm pacer. He’s uncapped in the international scene. But that’s not stopping him from wanting to bowl the tough overs. That’s not stopping him from stepping up and grabbing the role of MI New York’s designated death overs specialist in the 2025 season of the MLC. Hardened in the Mumbai Indians camp as a support player during IPL 2025, Ugarkar found the slingy wings of the master, Lasith Malinga, the team’s Bowling Coach, who was also MINY’s Bowling Coach in 2024. “I spent a lot of time with Malinga in the previous year as well. We worked a lot on my death bowling. Being in situations which are high pressure, doing those sessions paid off today,” he says in a chat with MINY after his incredible heist of nailing the 20th over to get MINY over the line in the MLC Final. “I noticed couple of things in his training routines. Every time he goes to a net session before a game, he kind of manifests how he’s going to bowl to each player and how he’s going to get them out. That’s something I wanted to add to my game as well. Before every game at the practice sessions, I would do that as well,” he added.Rushil had a pretty tough initiation to the MLC this year. He bowled the 19th over against the Washington Freedom in the league stage, defending 17 off 12, and was at the receiving end of Mark Chapman’s back-to-back boundaries that saw the match go past MINY’s reach. He impressed immediately in the following game against the Seattle Orcas, where he managed to keep Shimron Hetmyer quiet, conceding just three runs in the 17th over, and a miserly 29 runs in his four overs.It was the game against the Texas Super Kings where he faced his sternest test. Donovan Ferreira smashed him for a couple of sixes off the first two balls of the last over of the innings. Rushil, in trying to get defensive, went wide outside off, but in the process, went way past the tramline five balls in a row. To come back from that and produce a gem of a final over in the Final tells you about his character. You need some serious nerves of steel. “The entire squad has been really supportive,” Rushil said. “They have backed me all through. Even after getting hit, they kept me in the team and just kept giving me confidence and telling me ‘you got this, keep giving your 100% every ball’.”The redemption arc is complete. A star is unearthed. Rushil is here to stay. And conquer!
16 Jul, 2025
MI #OneFamily in 2025: Five playoffs, THREE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES across three continents
2025 has been special. Five teams. Five playoffs. A champion in all three continents – Asia, Africa, America. Winning in the Mumbai Indians #OneFamily. We have added another star to our crest. Our Blue has some more Gold. It’s another epic day in our history with MI New York scripting history in the USA and winning their second MLC title. It’s a day to celebrate. In fact, it’s been a year on the whole to celebrate. MI Emirates were the first to make it to the playoffs. MI Cape Town went a step further in what was an absolutely dominant SA20 campaign to bag their first title. The Mumbai Indians Women then took the baton and marched towards their second championship win in the WPL. The men then fought a stellar campaign, coming back after losing four of their first five matches in the IPL to go on a seven-match winning run and break open the playoffs door. Although it ended in the second Qualifier, it was a campaign for us to be proud of. And finally, the boys in America have capped off the year on a high. They went a step further, peaking at just the right time, having won just one out of the first seven league games, to go on an unstoppable roll, bringing home our 13th piece of silverware in our rich history. 5 – IPL (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) | Mumbai Indians2 – CLT20 (2011, 2013) | Mumbai Indians2 – WPL (2023, 2025) | Mumbai Indians2 – MLC (2023, 2025) | MI New York1 – ILT20 (2024) | MI Emirates1 – SA20 (2025) | MI Cape Town Fam, let’s pop the champagne!
15 Jul, 2025
“It’s a celebration of passion, belief and teamwork”: Mrs. Nita M. Ambani
The Mumbai Indians Family has added yet another glittering jewel to their crown, with MI New York winning the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) title, their second championship in just three seasons. This triumph marks Mumbai Indians’ 13th major title globally — and their third trophy in 2025 alone, following MI Cape Town’s SA20 win and the Mumbai Indians Women’s triumph in the WPL earlier this year.MI New York delivered a commanding campaign, capped by a powerful performance in the final, reaffirming their dominance in Major League Cricket and further elevating Mumbai Indians’ stature as the most successful global T20 franchise group.In a remarkable show of consistency and depth, MI teams competed across five leagues on three continents, reaching the playoffs in all five, and emerging as champions in three, across both men's and women’s competitions.Mrs. Nita M. Ambani said, “What a truly special moment for the Mumbai Indians family! MI New York lifting their second MLC trophy in three years is not just a win on the field — it is a celebration of passion, belief, and teamwork. From the Women’s Premier League in India to championship victories in South Africa and now the USA, MI’s incredible journey across continents this year is a powerful reminder of how sport can build bridges and spread joy around the world. We are deeply grateful to all our fans — the MI Paltan — who have always stood by us and remain at the heart of our journey. My congratulations to every player, coach, supporter, and every member of our global MI family!”Mr. Akash M. Ambani said, “This is a humbling and proud moment for all of us at Mumbai Indians. MI New York lifting their second MLC title — as part of a title hat-trick this year across India, South Africa, and the USA — is deeply fulfilling. Yes, it’s about winning trophies, but equally, it’s about building a global cricketing platform that gives talent the opportunity to shine and fans a reason to dream. This success reflects years of belief, culture, and commitment across our teams. Congratulations to every team member at MI New York who made this moment possible.”With a total of 13 championship titles, Mumbai Indians are the most successful franchise in global T20 leagues — including 5 IPL titles, 2 Women’s Premier League titles, 2 Major League Cricket titles, 2 Champions League T20 titles, and one each in the ILT20 (MI Emirates, 2024) and SA20 (MI Cape Town, 2025).With five teams across three continents and four countries, the Mumbai Indians continue to dominate the global T20 landscape, driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep, enduring bond with fans around the world.
15 Jul, 2025
MI Fam, MI Champion team, MI New York
It's a day to rejoice. We know you've been watching that last over on loop, you've smashed the replay button on Polly's acrobatic catch, just as we know you've been standing by us like a rock when the going got tough. ‘Peaking at the right time’, ‘It’s never about how you start but always about where you finish', ‘MI Spirit time', you've probably been hearing a lot of all this over the last few weeks. The tournament graph indeed was one of redemption, of rising from rock bottom. One more loss and we would've been out. But this where the peak MI character, ingrained in every player who dons the Blue and Gold around the world in all its different teams, rises. A character where we refuse to give up. A character where we always believe the trophy is ours. “Everyone stood together through highs and lows. Losing games is tough,” said Nicholas Pooran after the Final. "Every single person put their hands up…everyone had that belief and that is what I felt took us through. We believed there was a chance. That was the conversation, to just believe, stay together."After the action moved to Florida, the two back to back wins over LA Knight Riders injected some momentum into our campaign, helping us sneak into the playoffs. And Beast Mode arrived. “When you look at it, everyone that beat us twice in the tournament, when it mattered the most in the playoffs, we knocked them out. Sport is a wonderful thing. This moment may not come back again and we will never forget in our life. We are going to cherish it, embrace it,” he said. This is MI team. This is MI Fam. We are MI New York.
15 Jul, 2025
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!! MI NEW YORK – WINNERS, MLC 2025!
Yes, yes, yes! Tell the world, announce the crowning, MI New York are the Kings of the USA, the Champions of the Cognizant MLC 2025! It’s time to add some more Gold to our Blue. And what a game it was. An absolute cliffhanger that lasted till the very end. It really looked like the Washington Freedom had the chase well under control, but MI New York, in typical MI New York fashion, pulled off the chase with a new hero being unearthed in the process, Rushil Ugarkar. This is what a big final is about. The past doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make a difference that the team won just one game in the first seven games. We peaked when it mattered, we won when it mattered. And how! Oh Rushil, you Champ, RushilEntrusted with bowling the final over against two monster batters in Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips, defending just 12 runs, this young USA bowler stepped up to the occasion like he’s done all season. Bowling the tough overs and winning the big moments is something he loves, and once again, he was right up for it. Just singles came off the first two deliveries. The third ball was a wonderfully disguised slower one that Maxwell swung and missed. He picked out deep mid-wicket off another top slower delivery off the fourth, snuck in another dot off the fifth. MI New York were through. A young USA fast bowler stood up against the best in the world to carry us home. Trent Boult sets it upNo better way to set it up than with a wicket off the first ball. Trent Boult, as usual, wasted no time in getting into the act, having Michael Owen caught off the first ball. And to top it up, had Andries Gous caught by Pollard off the fifth ball. The tone was set, MINY were on the prowl in their defence of 180. Although Freedom looked in control of their chase with Rachin Ravindra, Jack Edwards and Phillips going strong and the asking rate staying within reach, we just didn’t throw in the towel. We hung in there, ensured the asking rate stayed over eight-an-over at all times, and kept the pressure up. Quinny’s night to set it up He might have had a quiet tournament so far, but come the big night, Quinton de Kock absolutely nailed it. A 46-ball 77 with six fours and four sixes, he set the platform with Monank Patel playing second fiddle. Although there was a bit of a middle-order collapse, a quickfire 13-ball 22 from Kunwarjeet Singh powered the team to a solid total. And it was enough on the big night. The pressure of runs on the scoreboard never deceives. Another piece of silverware has been added to our already studded trophy cabinet. #2 in the USA is in the bag. Start the party!!
14 Jul, 2025
“I’ve won a lot of titles, but this one is very emotional”
This bunch is special. This is a bunch of champions. This season has been epic, coming back from the dead when everyone had written us off, to walk away with the winners’ medal around our neck. Here are the instant reactions from the sidelines with the broadcaster minutes after the heist was pulled off…Mitchell McClenaghan | MINY Bowling Coach: “Super proud. We got knocked back with Naveen getting injured early, and we didn't have a few bowlers turn up. But we played six games. Tristan and Rushil have played nine now, and for the way they stood up in a big moment in the last three games to get the job done. I couldn't be more proud of the two youngsters, and the whole bowling group was outstanding. Boult from ball one got the job done and in the end proved his class."Tristan Luus: “Basically, there's some prep done back home, but I was ready since the start of this tournament. Couldn't wait to play, and finally got my opportunity, and I've just made full advantage of it. Definitely, it's just the culture and, like, the team and just the players; it makes you more comfortable with the team and the coaches, they definitely play a big role.”Trent Boult: “I think it was a great final. I think that's what you want. The league deserves that. And, yeah, to come out on top is a great feeling. Telling you all these secrets off here, but you're throwing me under the bus here. But it's a tough, tough place to bowl. It's a good wicket. There are some quality batters, and everyone is trying to hit sixes these days. So, credit to Washington. I thought they had a great tournament. They were in that game the whole time and probably one or two boundaries away from winning it. So it's as close as the game could be. I'm a sprightly 36-year-old, but still learning. I think that's still part of it. And I think a lot of credit should go to the young bowling attack. We've got Tristan, who's just turned 20. Young Rushil to hold his nerve under pressure like that. I'd be training with him for two years. He's been a part of the Mumbai Indians, training in the nets, bowling, and with some good players, but to come out there in that situation under pressur and hold his nerve. He's going to remember that for a long time. So good on him. I think MI Franchises--that's what they do. They invest in young players. They find talent early as part of the IPL wider training squad with the Mumbai Indians in the nets every day; you're only going to get better bowling in those situations. To those players and boys who hit the nets, it's a different game from what's happening out there in the middle. And you wouldn't know, he held his nerve. Perfectly executed the plan. Those were two brilliant finishes.”Mark Boucher | MINY Head Coach: “We've had some tight games in the tournament, but I'm super stoked for the guys. I mean, we put a lot of hard effort into the way we started the tournament. Probably no one would have put us in the final to win a game like this. What a game of cricket, for the USA as well. If I'm rivalled up against Ricky, then I think I'm going in the right direction, because he's a fantastic coach. So, just to compare to him and competition like that is great. A lot of these tournaments are franchise cricket; it's not about having the best team on paper. It's what you do off the field and the camaraderie. And I think the guys, even though we are losing tight games, are sticking together well. And it's just great for them to get a fantastic result like that. We've been playing knockout cricket for the last two weeks now, so we were a battle-hardened team. And it's just nice to get out of there; in a good game of cricket."Kieron Pollard: “It means a lot. We fought hard. I said one win in seven. Everyone sort of wrote us off. And I've mentioned time and time again, there is something in this MI Franchise that until we are mathematically out of any tournament, you should not rule us out. The belief that the guys showed everyone, from the management staff to the captain, to everybody. It's just unbelievable standing here, for us to go and collect that second MLC trophy for MI New York. I can't tell the future, but what I can tell you is that I enjoyed my time here. It was one where I came into this tournament. I hadn't played cricket since January. Had to leave early due to the passing of my mom, and I was motivated. A lot of other things internally and behind the scenes as well, sort of motivated me to come out and show you what I am made of. So again, this one feels good; it's a bit emotional. I've won a lot of titles, but this one deep down inside is a bit emotional for myself. Rushil Ugarkar: "It's still setting in slowly and slowly, but I'm excited. I was just telling him (Pooan) I know what I'm doing; let's just keep talking every single ball to keep me calm. I felt the wicket was quite slow, so I wanted to make good use of the off-cutters that I had. That was the plan the entire time. I reckon initially, when I started the tournament, I was getting hit quite a bit, so it was just a matter of me coming back. So I started focusing a lot of my sessions, and just kept on playing and kept on bowling. (Playing a final before) Yeah, but not at this level. The feeling is setting in slowly. I guess when we lift the trophy, it will probably get to me better."
14 Jul, 2025
“A similar journey in the first season too, it’s about peaking at the right time”: Pooran
Nicholas Pooran knows a thing or two about winning championships. It was his epic 137* that saw MI New York lift the Cognizant MLC title in 2023. He’s back in familiar territory, and he’s on a mission to bring home another piece of silverware. Excerpts from his pre-match press conference.. On MI New York making it to the finalIt’s definitely been an interesting journey. Qualifying with three wins has been a challenge but T20 cricket is all about peaking at the right time. For a group, we are very optimistic of our chances. We knew if we qualified, it was a different tournament for us. We are just gathering momentum at the right time. On the team never giving up hope It’s just something about the franchise. We expect to win every competition and game. It’s a tough place to be in. There is a lot of pressure. But in the dressing room that belief matters. When everyone is going through with the right energy, anything is possible. Like we saw in the first year, we had a similar journey in the MLC. A lot of players don’t have that experience but thankfully we have a lot of guys in the dressing room who have knowledge as well. We share that energy. Obviously in the big moments, the senior players rise to the occasion as well. It is most important for any team. On playing cricket in the USA For me it’s just the environment, it is refreshing. My family is out here as well. It is a nice vacation for them as well. They support me and have a good time. Because cricket is happening here in the US, it is closer to the Caribbean. They try to enjoy the sport. The tournament went to Miami as well this year and with the support it felt like home. It is closer to home for me, so loving the opportunity. The bond he shares with Kieron PollardYeah he’s been my mentor. We share conversations everyday about cricket on how to get better. But the journey this year was one of the toughest challenges we had. We lost some players early in the tournament and some players didn’t turn up. It’s been difficult. It’s one that came down to doing your job as a batsman first and then figuring out on how to win games. It was a challenge to get everyone playing together. It’s a tough experience. You have to kind of manage all these emotions, the highs and lows, the expectations of the local players as well. One thing we continue speaking about is, ‘let’s continue to do our job’. This is for everyone, from the coaching staffs to the players. When we look back that is what we did. The coach managed that really well. It’s been challenging. It’s not a nice place to be in when you are losing games. He did a really nice job in managing everyone. Where the campaign turned around for MINYThe moment for us was Trent Boult’s innings. Credit must be given to him, he gave us a chance in this tournament. On the local USA players stepping upThe scouts have done exceptionally well in identifying talent. Monank has been there since the beginning. In the first two years, he didn’t get the returns he wanted but this year, he has been our standout performer throughout the tournament. His leadership as well. He is the captain of the USA team. He speaks the language of the locals. You can lean on him to get through to the other guys. As overseas players, our responsibility is to share our knowledge and experience. We have some banter at the back of the bus with the local players when they messed up, just to make a joke about it. The coach always says, ‘people in China don’t care whether e win or lose’. We are going to wake up tomorrow and see another day and play another game of cricket. It’s okay to make mistakes, you just don’t want to make it often. It’s our job to have these players grow as well. It’s nice to see the local players getting the opportunity and having an impact as well. It is only going to help USA cricket. You saw in the World Cup as well when they pull off some upsets. Really good to see the franchise giving these players the responsibility and the opportunity. On Rushil Ugarkar coming to the partyRushil has been with us for a few years and it is really nice to see how he has grown. He didn’t start off in the tournament but it is nice to see that you can call someone on the bench. Big kudos to him. He is definitely going in the right direction, not just for us but for himself and for USA cricket. If he pays attention to detail, he’ll become better. He wants to bowl in the tough situations. We have to support him and try to get him better. On what he sees as personal success in this tournament For me it’s not about being a captain, it’s about being a leader. I love seeing other people succeed. I want to play a role, whether that is a supporting role or sharing some advice, I want to see people doing well. It is important for me to be a good human being as well. These guys come from different backgrounds. If I can help in any way I can, I would love to. It is really nice to see these guys take in some advice. I try my best, be the best version of myself. If it means putting a smile on someone’s face, I do so.
13 Jul, 2025
“We are battle hardened, we’ve been playing knockout cricket for two weeks”: Mark Boucher
The MI New York Head Coach, Mark Boucher, was all smiles at the press conference ahead of the big final against Washington Freedom. He showered his praise on Nicholas Pooran’s leadership, the young USA players stepping up, the team culture, and the scouting system across all MI franchises around the world. Excerpts.. Thoughts on the journey so farIt was quite tough at the beginning of the tournament because we lost quite a few players we expected to be here. Finding combinations was always going to be tough. It took us a bit of time. The trip to Fort Lauderdale for us was the turning point. It suited us quite a bit. We had quite a few spin options and those conditions suited them. Getting one or two wins there got us back on track and got the guys believing. We got the opportunity to play a game where we got one or two guys who weren’t playing the opportunity. We saw a couple of things there that really excited us and we’ve taken that forward and put those guys in positions where they could potentially win us the game. That has been the saving grace in this competition for us. Along with a lot of hard work and belief, it has gelled together. It is how you finish the tournament that is important. We struggled in sectors of this competition but we kept the belief and played some good cricket where it counts. On the scouting of players in MI franchises I think any player that steps into an MI franchise team can take a lot of confidence from because they have been recognized by a team of individuals who do a lot of homework and a lot of scouting. That self belief that you selected for an MI franchise is something you can take confidence from. The support you get off the field is fantastic. When things aren’t going your way, the support is fantastic. The belief is there that we can pull it back no matter what. The whole supports staff and the surrounding of MI is where people get confidence from. If you’re an international and you’re playing for the MI franchise, you know you’ve done something good in your career or are expected to do something good. They select a lot of stalwarts who have been fantastic in world cricket but they also select a few youngsters in whom they see a lot of potential. It’s a fantastic franchise to be a part of. On Rushil Ugarkar stepping upWhat I really enjoyed from the start was his attitude. He is a youngster, he wants to bowl in tough situations. He is going to make one or two mistakes as a youngster. When he first got an opportunity at the start of the tournament, the lengths he was bowling were a touch too full. You’re going to have that attitude to take it in and put it into practice. That is where he has been fantastic to work with. A youngster who’s got a bit of talent and listens, he’s moving in the right direction. As a local player, if you’re deaf to information, you aren’t moving forward. He isn’t deaf to that. He’s a winner, wants to bowl in tough situations, is prepared to listen to information from guys who know more than he does, and he is putting it into practice. He bowled really well yesterday (against TSK), bowling into the wind on a tough ground. He has been the find for us. Nicky (Pooran) really trusts him. He’s had one or two tough overs. I think Donovan Ferreira hit him in Texas. He had the opportunity to bowl to him yesterday and had learnt from his past experiences, which is always a positive.The feeling within the dressing room of making it to the FinalTwo, three weeks ago, if you are a betting man and you’d said MINY would be in the final, you would have gotten good money (laughs). This one would be special. I know the owners really want to win this as well. As the coaching staff, you just want to support the players and hope they go all the way. The expectation of winning trophies on our team is big. We’ve put ourselves in another opportunity to do that, which is a tick in our box. Would be the icing on the cake and it would be special for the whole group. On facing the Washington Freedom in the finalI think we are battle hardened. We have been playing knockout cricket for the past two weeks, which I don’t think Freedom have done. They have cruised into the playoffs. They didn’t have their Qualifier. You can look at a team’s strengths, but in a final, it counts for nothing. We believe we have bowlers who can pick up wickets in the first couple of overs like we showed yesterday. It’s about who rocks up on the day. There is the self-belief that we have done unbelievably well to get here to the final. A lot of people had written us off. We are not playing with any fear. We are excited. Other teams might come in and not have the pressure we’ve had so there might be a bit of nerves around going for them. That is where we can release our shackles a bit. Getting to the finals, the job is done really when you give yourselves the opportunity to win the trophy. We’ve really enjoyed the challenge. Our players are in a very good space going into the final and the self-belief is second to none. That I see as a plus for us. Washington could come in and show their best game, but we believe we have match-winners as well. It’s a 50-50 game. It’s about what you bring on game day that matters. On what MINY has done for USA cricketI don’t know the entirety of what MI have done for cricket in the USA. That’s the beauty of MI. There is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes. They don’t look for recognition. They are doing it for the right reasons. Not only for MI New York, but the other franchises as well. That’s the beauty about the MI brand. Ultimately we had a conversation with the local players to tell them that this is their space. They need to create their environment here and enjoy it. The internationals come in year after year, if you don’t perform, you go out. But the youngsters would be here. So they need to create the environment. A lot of kudos have to go to them as well. They have really stepped up. The MI brand has supported them. They have enjoyed it. We had a few celebratory drinks last night and we had the whole squad. It was fantastic to see the guys were emotional. It means a lot to them. I can see the enjoyment on their faces.
13 Jul, 2025
THE FINALE | WFvMINY preview: Silverware, title #2, a comeback for the ages
Let’s complete the circle. One win in seven games, nothing in the Dallas leg, a shift to Florida and then two wins in the next two games, sneaking into the playoffs. And then getting into the peak MI zone: Storming through to the Final. One box remains to be checked. One dot is left to be connected. Title #2 awaits. Oh it’s been some comeback. While MI New York have been in knockout mode for the last five games, Washington Freedom have kind of breezed through to the Final, making it into the playoffs nice and early, and then having their Qualifier game washed out to get a direct entry into the Final. We are battle hardened. We’ve been in the zone and are on a winning run. We can smell it…What: Washington Freedom vs MI New York When: July 13, 2025 | 19:00 local time (July 14, 5:30 IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: Pressure, and with that this second leg in Texas has seen the average scores come down a touch. There’s some rain around as well, but all in all, there’s everything in it to be a cracker!
13 Jul, 2025
Challenger report: WE ARE INTO THE FINAL! Polly-Pooran epic show carries us through
“Not sure how we got to the finals but we are in the finals now. Stay calm and build the energy and keep believing,” captain Nicholas Pooran said at the end of play. MI New York had one win in their first seven games. But in typical #OneFamily fashion, the team refused to throw in the towel. Tournaments are never about how you start, they are always about how you finish, and this team has been all about that. Building momentum at the right time, peaking when it matters, and now STORMING INTO THE FINAL!!Young turks shine with the ball Just the fact that Tristan Luus and Rushil Ugarkar shared five wickets among themselves, and were the only ones to pick up wickets, should tell you how well they’ve stepped up on the big stage. They had the TSK batters in a web in the powerplay, reducing them to 43/3 inside the powerplay. Faf du Plessis held fort for them with a fifty, and then Akeal Hosein and Donovan Ferreira had a good partnership at the death that carried them to 166/5. Oh, Monank!The man with nerves of steel! Quinton de Kock and Michael Bracewell fell early, but the revelation of the tournament, Monank Patel, held fort, at one stage outscoring Pooran as well. He steadied the ship, with five fours and two sixes, for a 39-ball 49, setting the platform for the chase perfectly.. Polly-Pooran, tried, tested, proven match-winnersMINY needed 87 off 46 balls when they got together. Pooran had not yet found his groove and was looking a tad scratchy, batting on 17 off 18 balls. But Kieron Pollard wasted no time in getting into the groove. He smacked the first ball he faced for a six down the ground, signaling his intentions. Some risk-free cricket took the equation to 50 off 24.And then came the explosion. 6, 4, 4, 2, 6 off Zia-ul-Haq, and Polly did what he’s been doing against in the Blue and Gold the Super Kings over all these years in the El Clasico – winning matches from the dead. 4, 6 off Milne in the very next over, and Pooran joined the act as well. 23 runs came off the 17th over, 13 off the 18th and 19 off the 19th.Game won with an over to spare. Final spot sealed. “I think the intent was the key,” said Player of the Match, Pollard at the end of play. Boy, the intent was there for the world to see. He’s carried the team through for the zillionth time.
12 Jul, 2025
“Belief and never-say-die attitude ingrained in the Blue and Gold”: Kieron Pollard
Been there, done that. But we just cannot have enough of him. Kieron Pollard has made a habit of winning these close games for over 16 years now in the Blue and Gold. Tonight was something very similar, against the Texas Super Kings, where his 22-ball unbeaten knock of 47 pulled off a chase from an asking rate of around 12, taking MI New York storming into the Cognizant MLC Final. He was the post-match press conference sharing his views. Excerpts.. On what worked for the team despite the early losses this seasonBelief. In all honesty, we haven’t played good cricket. We shouldn’t have been here but we are here. Once you have an opportunity, you have to grasp it with both hands. The belief in the dressing room was until we couldn’t qualify mathematically, we were going to give it a 100 percent. That has been the mantra of this MI franchise, not just here but around the world as was started from the mother franchise in India. It was something that was ingrained in us. Once you get the opportunity to put on that Blue and Gold, you get that never-say-die attitude. Where the turnaround happenedWe went to Miami and forgot about cricket. I think that was the best thing for us. We just turned up and saw what was in front of us. Getting to Miami was refreshing for us. Guys went, shopped, retail therapy (laughs). But that’s something that helped us to be very honest. On Rushil and Tristan stepping upIt is just fantastic. We are happy for them as individuals. MI is a big franchise and we continue to yearn a lot of young talent in all franchises. Tristan (Luus) was selected last or second last in the SA20 and didn’t play a game. But he got an opportunity here because Rashid wasn’t here. He came out and showed what he is made of. Now people will take a look at him. Rushil (Ugarkar) was there last year and played a couple of games at the back end. He has grown tremendously. He came to India during the IPL, he was bowling there and understanding what was needed. Long may that continue for him. As an experienced player in the dressing room, it is on us to give him that confidence to go out and just express yourself. On Monank Patel’s stellar season Very good character. There is a reason why he is the captain of the USA. When we selected him we selected him as the captain of the USA. It didn’t happen the way he’d have liked (in the first two seasons) but this year he has come with a different sort of mentality, understanding and knowing that he is made for this. The consistency he has shown through the process where he scores those runs gives us that safe feeling. I am sure people would have questioned his strike rate at the start of his innings, but the end result when he finishes, he strikes at 150. It’s great to see him doing well. Hopefully the other USA players and young players qualified to play for the USA take a page from his book and understand what is needed at this level to succeed. Plans for the Final Score one run more than them, or limit them to one run less than us. On negating Akeal Hosein’s bowling plansWhen we played them in the last game, Nicholas Pooran opened the batting. That was because of him. We have grown up with Akeal. Personally sent Akeal to England as a youngster. Pooran keeps wickets to him in club cricket, international cricket. Tactically we knew what was needed. It didn’t work in that game and we faced a lot of flak for it. But knowing that he had one more over with Nicholas Pooran being out there, we knew he wasn’t going to bowl. That’s us winning a battle against TSK. They could have taken a chance and it could have swung in our favor or their favor. That’s the game of chess that you play when you play T20 cricket. You negate those threats. He has done fantastically well in this year of the MLC from a bowling perspective and we saw what he can do with the bat as well. How he’d like to see cricket grow in the USA Sports in America is big. All the sports they play from NFL to Basketball to MLS. To see cricket come to America, happy to be part and parcel of it. If we continue to market cricket in America in different states, it is going to big. It gives you everything, you want to come out there and perform for the people. Let’s continue to market it and grow this league for the future. On the three grounds he’s played at so far in the MLCThis stadium is so close. Fans are interactive. That’s something I have been impressed with. In Lauderhill, it is a fantastic stadium. We just need to get the weather right in terms of when we play. The one that struck me the most was in Oakland. It was a baseball stadium but a bit small. You still want to achieve a balance between bat and ball. We just need to build on that and get stadiums where fans can interact with players. On what he looks for in new players For me personally, I look at the individual himself. Being yourself is the first thing I look at. Talent comes afterwards. Understanding the game of cricket, the way you carry yourself, the way you go about in different scenarios. You can say this guy is talented, but when the going gets tough he gets out, or he is not ready to bowl the tough overs. I look for that sort of work ethic. We can work on everything else. I’m not someone who likes to see someone impress. Be natural, let your talent take care of itself, and you can be as world class as some of the players coming into this franchise.
12 Jul, 2025
Challenger | TSKvMINY preview: Our mission - Avenging 2024 for a repeat of 2023!
The playoffs at the Cognizant MLC in 2024: MI New York were up against the Texas Super Kings. Much like this year, we’d fought our way into the Eliminator, and despite a good fight, the Super Kings had the final laugh, ending our campaign. In both the games these two teams have faced off this year, the fate has been similar: closely fought, but alas, without the W. This Blue vs Yellow is always iconic. This is where it matters. TSK must be hurting as well, coming off a rained off Qualifier against the Washington Freedom where they were forced to go into the Challenger on account of finishing second on the points table. But we have the momentum. We’ve won three our of the last four games, the Eliminator by the skin of our teeth. The boys are in form. They know how it’s done. They know how to do a 2023 all over again! What: Texas Super Kings vs MI New York When: July 11, 2025 | 19:00 local time (July 12, 5:30 IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: Well, there’s forecast for some rain, which could mean the captain winning the toss would want to bowl first. The scores too seem to have come down a bit at this venue. The pressure of a knockout should add some zing to what promises to be a nail-biter!
11 Jul, 2025
Eliminator report: A thriller for the ages, peak MI spirit, and a CHALLENGER SPOT BOOKED!!
A rollercoaster, a match that MI New York were bossing at one point, maybe one that never should have gotten this close, but also a match that at another point MINY had no business winning from. Oh, we need to calm our heart rates down. WHAT. A. THRILLER. What a result. We are through to the Challenger!Boulty, Nosh, have SFU 16/5 and on the matSkipper Nicholas Pooran opted to bowl upon winning the toss and he couldn’t have been vindicated any sooner. 7-1 (Matthew Short, 1.4)9-2 (Seifert, 2.1)16-3 (Sanjay Krishnamurthi, 3.6)16-4 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 4.1)16-5 (Hassan Khan, 4.2)Trent Boult and Nosthush Kenjige were wreaking havoc with two wickets apiece. Although Xavier Bartlett did well with a 24-ball 44 to get the Unicorns to a respectable 131, the damage was done. Rushil joins the funHe’s bowled with a massive heart all season. Rushil Ugarkar might have had some tough outings, but he’s been trusted to bowl the tough overs at the death and has come out with flying colors here. 3/19 in 3.1 overs, blowing away the tail, and cleaning them up without them lasting their quota of 20 overs. From 81/2 to 108/8, drama unfolds Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel led the chase with a sensible 43-run stand in the powerplay. Quinny was the aggressor, Monank the more measured anchor. Michael Bracewell then joined in and things seemed in control as him and Monank were cruising along with at 81/2 in the 12th over. Ah, we couldn’t do it without some drama could we? Hassan Khan triggered a collapse, and suddenly, we found ourselves in all sorts of trouble at 108/8, still 16 runs away. Boulty swings them, even bigger with the bat Nerves of ice! Trent Boult wasn’t one to be ruffled. With Nosh for company – the opening bowlers were finishing things with the bat. They calmly played out Bartlett for five runs in the 18th over. And Boulty unleashed his typical sixes, a shot that has a fanbase of its own. Two back to back hits down the ground, sailing over long-on, and 15 runs were milked off the 19th over. He saw MI New York home, carried us into the Challenger. Oh, goold ol’ Boulty! The Texas Super Kings are up next. We have the momentum, we have the form, let’s blaze through!
10 Jul, 2025
“We just kept it nice and simple, to get any team 16/5 is great”: Boult
A dream start with the ball, a dream finish with the bat. Trent Boult, like he’s done countless times in the past, carried MI New York over the line in a thriller of a contest against the San Francisco Unicorns in the Eliminator. Excerpts from his post-match press conference.. On Hassan Khan’s bowling and his battingI thought he bowled really well. Picking four wickets late in the game certainly flipped the game. A lot of credit goes to him. I have been in this situation personally a lot of times, trying to calculate a number with how many balls were left. But it’s simple. Any lower order batter likes to target the spin bowlers and I was lucky enough to connect with a couple of them. Great to get the job done and get us through. On Rushil’s growth as a bowlerRush (Ugarkar) is a great talent. He trains very hard. He is in a tough role. T20 cricket is about hitting boundaries. From a bowling point of view it’s about being cunning. He’s worked very hard on some good options. It’s a long tournament and he has played across different conditions. Oakland’s conditions were pretty tough, it was a small ground and a pretty good wicket. It swung around a bit here, a soft wicket as well. That’s the challenge as a bowler, adapting to these conditions. I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders to do that. He’s been with the team for a few years now and it’s nice to see him get some reward. Whether SFU got the rough end of the conditions Conditions change throughout the tournament. Rain is unfortunate, but if they were batting second they wouldn’t be complaining as much. They had the opportunity to change the ball a couple of times which swung back into a bowler’s favor with the ball gripping and swinging back in. Obviously from my point of view, nice to get it over. On his bowling performance so far in the tournament I like to swing the ball. My role is to take early wickets to put some pressure on the middle order. Conditions have changed every game really, so probably a good example of moving from plan A, which was swinging the ball to plan B, which was using the seam a bit more. Nice to get a couple of edges. As a collective, I thought from the bowling point of view we kept it nice and simple. To get any team 16/5 was a great start.
10 Jul, 2025
Eliminator | SFUvMINY preview: This is MI territory, let’s conquer it!
We may have lost both the earlier games against the San Francisco Unicorns, both pretty comprehensively. We may not have won a game in the Dallas leg. The past simply doesn’t matter now. We are in the playoffs, and this is where we shine. Historically, this is the territory with the MI #OneFamily spirit comes to the fore, and this is where we go on a winning roll.. The game between the Washington Freedom and the Texas Super Kings, i.e. the Qualifier was washed out, which means Washington are now through to the Final owing to them finishing higher on the points table, while TSK would be playing the winner of our game in the Challenger. Let’s just think about the controllables. We have found our momentum after two good games against LAKR. We experimented a bit as well against Freedom in the last game and found some potential superstars for the future. But we’ll now be back to full strength with the big guns returning. They’ve done it time and again for the Blue and Gold around the world. Let’s bring our big-match game out! What: THE ELIMINATOR: San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New YorkWhen: July 9, 2025 | 19:00 local time (July 10, 5:30 IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: There is a forecast for rain in the evening, but it isn’t threatening enough to washout another game. Both times these two teams met, we were in for a run-fest. The occasion should spice it up and we should be in for another cracker!
09 Jul, 2025
WFvMINY report: Ah, well, not the result, BUT WE GET THE Q
It was a game where we experimented a bit, tried out our bench, gave a few guys game time, gave some of our big guns some rest. The result might not have gone our way, but importantly, we’ve officially gotten the ‘Q’ against our name! That’s correct: WE ARE INTO THE PLAYOFFS!! A slight stutter with the batThe day started with an hour’s delay owing to rain, reducing the game to 18 overs. Monank Patel endured a rare failure, Nicholas Pooran couldn’t get a big one in either. On a slowish pitch, Kunwarjeet Singh, making his debut for us, was impressive as he anchored the innings for a 30-ball 33. With useful cameos from Sunny Patel and Heath Richards, MINY got to 112/8. First game, top impressionMI New York fielded four debutants: Kunwarjeet Singh, Fabian Allen, Tristan Luus and Sharad Lumba. Kunwarjeet got a solid 33, Fabian struck off the first ball he bowled, getting the wicket of the dangerous Rachin Ravindra, the young Tristan Luus, just 20 years of age, cleaned up Michael Owen and later the dangerous Glenn Maxwell. Playoffs, here we comeThe result of the last league game would determine who among Texas Super Kings or San Francisco Unicorns we’d face in the Eliminator. This is our territory where the MI spirit – tried, tested and crowned champions around the globe – will come to the fore. Let’s get the chants going…
07 Jul, 2025
The impressive Kunwarjeet Singh talks about his memorable MINY debut
With a 30-ball 33 in an anchored innings, studded with five crisp boundaries, Kunwarjeet Singh was one of the positives to come out of MI New York’s final league game. He talks about his impressive debut, his training, and how he’d kept himself ready for this moment at the post-match press conference. Excerpts..When he realized he was making his debutI was told early morning that it would be my debut. It’s a great feeling to finally make my debut. I have been working in the nets with the coaches on my batting a lot. I was trying to learn as much as I could and speak to the senior players. The preparation was done and I was just waiting for my opportunity. I just wanted to do my best. On Sharad Lumba having a tough debutIt's a tough sport, especially the T20 format. It doesn’t always go your way. The preparations were there for all players sitting on the sidelines. Me and Sharad have played in the Minor Leagues as well. We’ve been putting in the work from there. It’s just a matter of time when we get the opportunity to showcase our talent. I know given the next opportunity, he would do well. On the challenges of playing at different venues We have played in three different venues. We’ve had games in a short span of time. But that’s the beauty of the game. We have to adapt. During the start of the season, Polly (Kieron Pollard) said that the wickets and conditions are the same for the teams, so the faster we adapt to them, the better it would be for us. As cricketers it is a part of our job to adapt to different conditions. Thoughts on the game I think we did a good job till the powerplay. We were at a decent stage till the end of ten overs as well. What I could have done was stick around for a couple more overs and take the team deep. I was the set batter and that is where I made the mistake. It’s a learning for me.
07 Jul, 2025
Match 10 | WFvMINY preview: Our fate in our hands, PLAYOFFS, HERE WE COME!
The equation is simple: the Seattle Orcas lost to the Texas Super Kings last night. MI New York beat the LA Knight Riders in the morning, eliminating them from the playoffs race. This now leaves both teams on six points, with MINY having one game left and a significantly better NRR. So here’s the deal: We win, we are through. We lose by a margin that’s not huge, we are through. Let’s do it with a win please. We’re riding the momentum wave after two back to back wins, the latest in particular where we defended a low total of 142 in typical MINY style. We’re up against the Washington Freedom, a side who’d be looking to finish in the top two with a win. The Unicorns amassed a massive 246 against us the last time around. But we’ve found a measure of this slowish pitch and the template to play here. We beat the Freedom here and we could face them in the Eliminator again. Let’s. Get. Kicking. What: Washington Freedom vs MI New YorkWhen: July 6, 2025 | 15:00 local time (July 7, 00:30 IST)Where: Broward County, Florida What to expect: We’ve loved every bit of playing in Florida. It’s a quick turnover in less than 24 hours, but we are itching to go out there and seal a playoff berth.
06 Jul, 2025
Fabian Allen replaces Naveen-ul-Haq at MI New York for remainder of MLC 2025
It's nice to have you back in the Blue and Gold, Fabian! Crafty, effective, all-round powerhouse! Fabian Allen - the Jamaican left-arm spinner who doubles up as a solid finisher down the order - is a proven match-winner in the world of cricket. He's no stranger to the MI #OneFamily either, having been part of the Mumbai Indians squad for the 2022 IPL season. He's all set to join the MI New York squad and unleash his heroics in America! He comes in as a mid-season replacement for Naveen-ul-Haq, who was unfortunately ruled out of the season owing to injury.
06 Jul, 2025
MINYvLAKR review: Oh what a feeling! Inflicting the classic choke, the Polly way…
What a game! And what a relief to be on the right side of the result in a thriller! It was a game that kept switching hands, a classic age-old low-scoring thriller, and boy, MI New York have pulled off the classic choke, keeping the LA Knight Riders behind the scoring rate at all times through the innings, and despite them having wickets in hand, never letting their batters cut loose. What this victory means is that we are back in the top four now, with our fate in our hands of making it into the playoffs. Pollard, power packed!With the bat, with the ball, on the field, Kieron Pollard was a proper beast. He’s used to pulling off these must-win games, and this afternoon, he’s added another feather to his cap. On a slow pitch where the other batters were struggling to get going, Polly smashed a 36-ball fifty, studded with four sixes. He led a recovery from 63/4 after skipper Nicholas Pooran fell, and anchored the innings to power the team past 140, a fighting target!Stitching together the dotsAlthough LAKR lost just two wickets till the 19th over, our bowlers mixed the pace up superbly to deny them boundaries and keep the asking rate over eight runs an over consistently. 38 runs were needed off the last two overs, and then 21 off the last two, when Pollard, once again, found himself in the thick of things, mixing his pace up superbly, getting the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford caught for a 28-ball 29, and conceding just five runs off the 19th over. Ehsan Adil then stepped in to complete the formalities, defending 16 runs with ease as LAKR retired out the set Unmukt Chand. It's nice to be on the winning sideAfter four losses, heartbreaks rather in the final over, it’s finally feels good finishing on the right side of the result with two points. The Seattle Orcas too are on six points now and MINY have a better net run-rate. They would be playing their final game before us, which would leave us knowing exactly what we need to make it through to the playoffs. Our fate is in our hands. Let’s storm in!
05 Jul, 2025
Match 9 | MINYvLAKR: The playoff quest, episode 2/3
There’s no downtime. In around 36 hours, we are back, for a repeat clash. The Florida leg has started off on a high with MI New York being absolutely clinical in their win over the LA Knight Riders. Everything went as per plan: Trent Boult setting the tone with a wicket off the first ball, 29/3 in the powerplay, restricting them to an under-par total of 156, and then Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran hunting it down without fuss. We’ve found our momentum, and now need to step on the gas as we hope to storm into the playoffs with this late surge. The mission is crystal clear: we simply have to win it all. LAKR are a team we enjoy a good record against, but they’d be itching to get one over us as well, given that they need to win each of their remaining two games as well to have a chance of going through. But we are prepared. Bring. It. On. What: MI New York vs LA Knight Riders When: July 4, 2025 | 15:00 local time (July 5, 00:30 IST)Where: Broward County, FloridaWhat to expect: More dominance, more determination, and more vengeance from the Blue and Gold army!
04 Jul, 2025
LAKRvMINY report: Cometh the hour, cometh Trent Boult
Clinical, that’s what MI New York were in brushing the LA Knight Riders aside in the first of three must-win games ahead of the playoffs. And it was the experienced warhorses in Trent Boult, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Monank Patel who took it upon themselves to kickoff the Florida leg on a happy note. b Boult x3 in the powerplayFull inswinger, through the gate on Unmukt Chand’s cover drive off the very first ball of the game to set the tempo. A scrambled seam delivery under the heave of Andre Fletcher a couple of overs later to rattle the stumps. And the dangerous Andre Russell done in by the change in pace to clean him up as well. Oh, Trent Boult was breathing fire. He meant business, and LAKR were rocked to 29/3 in the powerplay itself. Rutherford: 86, rest of LAKR: 68That should sum it up. Sherfane Rutherford was the only batter LAKR batter who found some rhythm, as Pollard (2/15), Ehsan Adil and Nosthush Kenjige kept getting wickets at the other end to derail their innings. His 44-ball knock of 86 was what took them to a decent total of 154. Who got rid of him in the end? Boulty, who else! Another day, another Monank fiftyJust pure consistency. Notching up his fourth half-century of the season, Monank Patel laid the foundation for the chase with a solid 44-ball 56. He played aggressor in the beginning in his partnership with skipper Pooran, who took his time to get in. But once they got the measure of this sticky pitch, they stuck in, and how! The big match Nicky P With an unbeaten 47-ball 62, ensuring we storm home in style, Nicky P did was he does best: entertain. And Polly, with two lusty hits at the end to seal it off early and boost the NRR, well, was Polly being Polly. So, fam, we can smile. Florida is being nice. We have two back-to-back games over the next two days. We have the momentum. Let’s storm through..
03 Jul, 2025
“Watch the ball hard and play cricketing shots” – The Monank-Pooran mantra
Thanks to a successful chase against the LA Knight Riders with over two overs to spare, MI New York have kept themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot. Monank Patel, with his fourth half-century of the season, continued his golden run. He was at the post-match press conference, sharing what went on in the middle. Excerpts .. On his learnings from Sherfane Rutherford’s innings I thought if you saw his game, he started playing ground shots. He took time to start his innings. Then he started playing cricketing shots. We had a conversation after the first innings. We knew our bowlers did a great job. 150 on this pitch, I thought they were 15-20 runs short. That gave us time to play calculated shots. The plan for me initially was to back my strengths and play along the ground. It allowed myself to read the pitch and built a good partnership between myself and (Nicholas) Pooran. On the chat with Pooran in the middle We kept is very simple. We just wanted to watch the ball hard and play cricketing shots. When Sunil Narine was bowling, we knew he came in to look for wickets. We didn’t want to try too much. Just wanted to rotate the strike and convert the bad balls. Reason behind his consistent run this season It’s always good to contribute towards the team. MINY has retained me for three seasons and it’s my time to give them back. I’m trying to stay hungry and continue my form. On his conversations with Mark Boucher He shared a few things at the start of the tournament and gave us self-belief. He told us local players to own the tournament. The self-belief he gave really helped me. It was the perfect platform in this game for me. I just wanted to make sure I played at the other end. I knew we had left-right combinations till the fifth wicket. I knew Pooran, Bracewell and Pollard can hit whenever they want. So I just wanted to make sure I took the responsibility to play at least 40-50 balls. Thoughts on the chances of making it to the playoffs Firstly, we are going to enjoy this win. We still have a one day rest, we’ll have a proper recovery and have the same mindset when we come to the ground. Every game is a must-win game and we’ll focus on one game at a time. We are playing the same team again, so we know what our plans are and we’ll just look to execute them.
03 Jul, 2025
Match 8 | LAKRvMINY preview: Officially into the MUST-WIN-EVERYTHING zone
It’s that time. It’s that territory. It’s that motivation. WE.SIMPLY. HAVE.TO.WIN. Three teams – San Francisco Unicorns, Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings – are through to the playoffs. The other three are battling it out for that one remaining spot. Seattle Orcas have won their last three games and are currently on six points with two games left. MI New York have three games left and a better net run-rate. Our task is cut out: win. A new ground will bring in a fresh start. At the Broward County in Florida, we are squaring off against the LA Knight Riders in the first of back-to-back games. It’s a team we have a good record against and are in a similar position as us. Let's get it over the line. What: LA Knight Riders vs MI New York When: July 3, 2025 | 15:00 local time (July 4, 4:30 IST)Where: Broward County, Florida What to expect: The one game that was played here saw a good contest between bat and ball. The ground here has generally been high-scoring, but there is a bit of rain going around, which could make things tricky. All in all, it promises to be a cracker!
02 Jul, 2025
Magnificent Monank!
2023 in USA cricket history was an inflexion point. For their skipper, it was an inflexion point and a half. He’d witnessed a masterclass from close quarters: Nicholas Pooran’s 137*. “It was a dream innings. He single-handedly won us the title. Not just in the final but he scored runs in all every game in that 2023 season. He won us almost every game with the bat that season. Lifting the trophy in the first year will always be history,” said Monank Patel in an exclusive chat with minycricket.com. The Major Cricket League has touched down. MI New York had bagged Monank in the Draft, and he was watching history being made from the sidelines. “The first season of the MLC was obviously a new experience for everyone, playing with and against international players,” he said. “That first year helped all of us grow our skills and our game. It’s because of that first year of the MLC that this year we are able to use that experience and do the basics right. We have played in front of a lot of crowds in international games, but the MLC was a new experience and the first season definitely helped all us local players.”The seed was sown. The first shoots were seen in 2024 at the T20 World Cup. Unfancied, underdogs USA, shocked the cricketing world with their mature brand of cricket, holding their nerve in a thrilling super over win over Pakistan. But Monank had seen it coming. “Before coming into the 2024 T20 World Cup, we performed really well against Bangladesh. We had good momentum and confidence after beating a Test playing country. We had that hunger to do well in that World Cup. We were playing in our home ground against good quality teams and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity playing in front of crowds. It gave us a lot of motivation. The way we played against Pakistan got us into the Super 8s, and yeah, even in the 50-over tournament, we are at currently at the top of the table (Cricket World Cup League 2 2024/27). The growth of cricket has been tremendous,” he said. Come 2025, Monank’s batting is right up there. He had one fifty across 2023 and 2024 combined. He already has three in 2025. 62 (44), 20 (14), 93 (50), 32 (20), 60 (33), 20 (14), he’s not just holding his own, he’s setting the benchmark. For a player who’d admitted to needing a bit of time to get his innings started earlier, his strike-rate of 161 is testament to his growth. The first set of fruits are ripe and ready for picking in the form of Magnificent Monank.
01 Jul, 2025
TSKvMINY report: “An MI franchise is never out of a tournament, teams know that” – Nicky P
It wasn’t our night. Nothing really went our way right from the start. This Dallas leg has been a tough one, but we are still in with a solid chance of making it to the playoffs. Let’s quickly hop over to Florida and make it our fortress! A superb Faf tonGeorge Linde, on his MINY debut, impressed immediately, trapping Smit Patel LBW in his first over. But TSK skipper, Faf du Plessis, went on a rampage from the other end. A calculated one at that too. With five fours and nine sixes, he batted through the innings, with the rest of the batters playing useful cameos around him. Our rejigged batting order doesn’t clickWith a daunting target of 224 ahead, captain Nicholas Pooran promoted himself to open the batting, but it didn’t quite work, with him as well as Monank Patel, who moved down to number three in the process, falling for single digit scores. Quinton de Kock tried to counter-attack from the other end, but was a victim of Akeal Hosein’s three-wicket spell for a 25-ball 35. Polly to the rescue, again!It was a lone effort, standing amidst the collapse and trying to get us close. Five sixes, five fours and a 39-ball 70, and it kept the required run-rate within some control too, but alas, it was a bridge too far. So three teams have qualified for the playoffs. One spot remains. We have a two day break, followed by three games in four days. A new venue is bound to bring us new luck. We are still in with a very strong chance of making it to the top four. As Pooran said in the post-match presentation, “It's never over. Tournaments like this, T20 cricket is all about momentum and individual performances as well. We're going to Miami to oversee different conditions as well. So we're looking forward to seeing what happens there. We're very optimistic. MI Franchise has never been out of a tournament, and all the teams know that. So we do know when, once we get one win. I think it changed for us, it's been difficult for us, and we have accepted that."
30 Jun, 2025
Pooran’s promotion? Polly’s matchup? MINY’s strategy for Florida? Boucher breaks it down
Another game with a bunch of positives for us to take out, but sadly, another game where the result didn’t go our way. Head Coach, Mark Boucher, was at the post-match press conference, throwing light on the change in the batting order, what makes Kieron Pollard special, the bowling strategy and a lot more. Excerpts..Strategy behind sending Pooran to open the battingI don’t like breaking up successful partnerships. Monank (Patel) and Quinny (de Kock) have been a very successful partnership for us in the past. It is something they came to me with knowing Akeal Hosein as well, saying he was really effective in the powerplay. He wanted to go upfront and face him. He’s the guy in form, coming off a hundred and is the captain, he wanted to go out there and set the tone from ball one. It was a decision that didn’t come off in hindsight, but it was a brave decision he wanted to take. We needed to get off to a very good start. The score they got was above par on the pitch. We said at the halfway stage that if we are to get off to a good start, Nicky P has got to be the matchup against Akeal. They didn’t bowl him, which also wasn’t a bad thing for us because we felt we could capitalize in the middle overs and send some big-hitters to take him on. I thought he bowled really well and negated any plan or tactic we had in place. Plans going into the Florida legThe strategy would be to try and win a game. We’ve got some good players in good form. We have struggled in our bowling department and leaking runs in a big way. Today I thought they scored way too many runs in the powerplay. That was just us bowling a touch too full and not reading the conditions well. We pulled it back nicely after that but then they got away again at the back end to score 80 runs in the last five overs that really blew us away. Going to Fort Lauderdale, we’ll look at the conditions there. We have a couple of spinning options. The spinning options haven’t worked at any of the grounds. We have a squad that is packed with spin. Hopefully the conditions suit us better from that perspective and we can put a bit more pressure on batting teams when the ball starts turning because we have got that in our armory. On Pollard being used up the orderThere’s quite a bit of our batters who are in form. The tendency would have been to hold him back today but once again he showed he can go and bat at any stage of the game. We all know that Polly likes to have a look at a couple of balls and he did that today and showed that even if was far-fetched for us to win the game, it always looked like there was something special coming from his side. His experience is key for us. We just need to get our combinations right in the bowling side. Having Polly being able to bat in any position is good for us. The fact that he is in form is a bonus. The guys in the dressing room are down because we’ve lost a couple of tough games. I won’t say we were blown away today but it would be disappointing in that change room. This is when you need a couple of characters to stand up and Polly is certainly one of those guys. He has been in situations like this before and knows how to pull it out and what to say to youngsters to keep their chins up. There is a lot of hard work that goes into these competitions for teams and squads, so it is never nice when things aren’t going your way. We won’t throw in the towel. In true MI standard, we’ll see what we can do in the next two games. We just have to try and sneak into the playoffs somehow. Anything can happen in a playoff game. Teams know that MI teams have done it before, just snuck in and played well. But we just have to win the next game. On Pollard’s matchup against spin We’ve got other batters batting well as well. Most management teams try to play their best players in certain situations. Usually people are used to seeing him go in a bit later. But knew there were spin options that Texas had and we felt there was a matchup for Polly. He showed what he can do in one over. That’s the reason we sent him up. We’ve also got quality players coming in before him. The game of T20 cricket isn’t about batting positions anymore, it is about entry points. Certainly if we feel that Polly is going to have an impact in the game earlier rather than later, we would send him in because we know what he can do.On Rushil Ugarkar bowling the final over He's young and he wants to be put into tough situations, that’s a feather in his cap straightaway. Often it can be a tough place to be when two in-form batters are batting in the last over of a T20 innings. He wanted the ball. I thought he bowled fantastically well. He’ll probably look back and think he shouldn’t have gone full and should have bowled into the wicket. The one shot that Donovan Ferreira played off him was a very good shot. He’ll learn from that. He’s got a good character. He’s gained places. He needs to stay patience. He’s got to learn a lot. You can sit and talk to a youngster but just being out there, in the process is where you learn the most. He’ll take a lot from the experience tonight.
30 Jun, 2025
Match 7 | TSKvMINY preview: It’s time to B.E.L.I.E.V.E
A simple seven-letter word that encapsulates everything MI New York need to do right now: BELIEVE. Believe that we will turn this around. Believe in the numerous positives we’ve had so far. Believe in the fact that all is takes is one match to get on a winning roll. And believe that the Blue and Gold army would play 12th man duties to perfection to power the team through. Up next are the team against whom we started this season in Oakland. It was a game that was in our kitty before a flurry of wickets, including a couple of run-outs, saw the Super Kings bag the two points. We have our task cut out in front of us. The memories are fresh enough for us to avenge this. A win would bring us in the top four. What: Texas Super Kings vs MI New YorkWhen: June 29 | 19:00 local time (June 30, 5:30 IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: This has been a chasing ground, with seven out of the 11 matches being won by the team batting second. It’s our last game at this venue in the league stage before we move to Florida. Let’s leave on a happy note!
29 Jun, 2025
SORvMINY report: No way! No way!! The toughest kind of heartbreak :(
Tell us this isn’t true. Of all kinds of losses to deal with, this one hurts the worst. “It’s a tough one,” conceded Nicholas Pooran at the presentation ceremony. One ball left, six runs to defendKieron Pollard had bowled an absolute gun of an over thus far. The Seattle Orcas needed nine runs to win off the last over, and he’d given away just three runs in the first five balls, disguising his slower ones perfectly. Alas, Shimron Hetmyer, who batted brilliantly, picked out the last delivery, swung, and took the Orcas to their first win of the season. Leaving us with a massive heartbreak. Okay, MINY Fam, result aside, there were so many positives for us to take out of this.He’s arrived, Pooran styleTalk about silencing your critics! 60 balls, seven fours, eight sixes, 108 runs, and skipper Nicholas Pooran announced himself, brushing aside all talk of not being in form. Oh, it was hitting of the highest order..Power-packed Dhillion!Three consecutive sixes in two consecutive overs. He got a promotion up to number five in the order, joined Pooran in the sixth over, took his time to get his eye in, was on nine off the first nine balls, 14 then off 12. Then came the explosion, three sixes off Cam Gannon, three off Sikandar Raza, and he raced to his fifth off just 22 balls, eventually finishing with 95 off 35 and lifting MINY to a whopping 237. We really thought we had this in the kitty. Sadly, we won’t have points to take out of this. But we are still fourth on the points table. We continue to B.E.L.I.E.V.E.
28 Jun, 2025
“The guys in the dressing room are gutted, which tells you how much they care”: Mark Boucher
It’s a tough loss to take. MI New York did most things right for a large chunk of the game, and thus losing it off the last ball is sure to hurt. But Head Coach, Mark Boucher, saw the positives to take out of this one, which would serve the team well in the games to come. Excerpts.. On Rusil Ugarkar’s solid comeback He came back very nicely after the first game where he took a bit of tap in the first over. He came back under pressure. I don’t think the second over he bowled in that game was bad. We had some conversations to see where he was at. He bowled well in the training sessions as well. Very happy for him that he was able to land it in the area he wanted to land it tonight. He dried the runs out. We’ve seen in this tournament that it can be a bit of a run-fest if the wicket is good, so the bowler is always going to be under the pump. Very happy with the way he performed especially after the first game. Whether there could be a strategy to go ahead with only seamers Yes, fast bowlers are doing well but are also taking a bit of a pasting. You look at Sunny Patel, he’s done really well for us and he is a leg-spinner but tonight wasn’t his night. It’s about balancing your team out. If you are not bowling 140ks, change of pace is important on these pitches. Execution is really under the microscope when it comes to these smaller grounds. We didn’t execute as well as we wanted to. Positives to take from this loss Difficult to take positives out of today because it’s a loss. But there are two guys who will take a huge positive for the rest of the tournament. Nicky (Pooran) first of all, his hundred, welcome back to form. It will stand him in good stead going forward. With Tajinder, he hasn’t been given that opportunity in this tournament so far. Our top order has been doing the job. I think he’s only had one or two knocks where he’s spent a bit of time. He’s always been floating in our order. We backed him today. There was a possibility for us to go with an extra bowler, but we stuck with him, which I’m very happy we did. He repaid us with one of the better T20 innings we’ve seen. Very happy for him. He’ll take a lot of confidence from this not only for this tournament but also going forward in his career. Our batting was strong today. The partnership with Nicky was very entertaining to a point where he was taking over. It’s always good to see one of the local guys taking the opportunity. I said it at the start of the tournament as well, the local guys coming in just need a bit of self-belief. That tends to happen in season two, three and four where you get used to mixing with the top players in the world. You look at Monank (Patel) and now Taji, two of the local batters putting their hands up. On Tajinder Singh’s growth as a playerAs a coach you can sit and have a chat with a player. But the best place to learn is out there in the middle with a guy with the experience like Nicky Pooran. Learning from his calmness and composure at the crease, learning when he needed to pull trigger. Those are priceless lessons you learn in cricket. A lot of these players will take benefit from that and become leaders in the USA team. Well done to Nicky for guiding him. On the local USA players doing well When I first came here and watched him play in a camp we had, between him and Monank, they were hitting the ball sweetly. We’ve got some other great players in our side too but those two were showing some good form. It’s tough to select a few and leave a few guys out but we ran with those two and they fitted in the dynamics of our structure. Taji didn’t have a chance to bat until this game and we chose to stick with him. I told him he would get the opportunity some time and he took it hands down. He stuck to his guns. He has been working hard off the field. We’ve had some really good batting meetings as well. He’s the one guy I can see that’s listening. The way he went out and played today shows the things he’s learnt from the batting unit as a whole. He is imparting knowledge to the local players as well. It’s one thing hearing something but going out there and putting it to practice is all him. He needs to take full credit for how he played today. On the importance of winning the MLC in the dressing room You only have to walk into our dressing room to understand how disappointed the guys are. The guys are gutted which tells me they really care. The importance of this league is massive. It’s going to get bigger and bigger as it grows. The local players are going to get better and start competing. It’s not long before you see a couple of USA players playing in the IPL. There’s a talent pool that’s coming through which is fantastic for the league. The format we are playing is full of action and the American crowds love action-packed events. We need to give it a little more time. The players are certainly coming to the party. We’ve had some fantastic games of cricket, last night’s game, tonight’s game. It’s good for American cricket that you have these times of games. For MI New York, we’d just like to be on the winning side of one of them pretty soon.
28 Jun, 2025
Match 6 | SORvMINY preview: It’s not about how you start…it’s about when you peak!
We have some happy memories of this one. In a season where we haven’t had the rub of green in terms of the results, having been on the wrong side of four of the five thrillers. But, but, the one team we have a happy memory against, the one match where we pulled off the chase from a point where it looked lost, the Seattle Orcas, are up next. And what better way to start afresh We’re halfway through the tournament and we haven’t really hit our straps. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing. It’s important to peak at the right time. Historically, the second half of the league is when we come into our own and get on a roll across all the MI #OneFamily teams in all the leagues around the globe. We have a good net run-rate and are still fourth on the points table. The Orcas are still to open their account in their five games. A win here could do wonders for our confidence. What: Seattle Orcas vs MI New York When: 27 June 2025 | 19:00 local time (28 June, 05:30 IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: These are two teams desperate to get their campaign going. Over the last three seasons, there’ve been fireworks every time these two sides have met. It’s a team we hold the record against. All that said, expect another run-fest!
27 Jun, 2025
MINYvSFU report: Another Monank special, but a target too far…
Chasing 247 needed a miracle. For the first ten overs in MI New York’s chase, it really looked like the miracle was coming true. Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock, smashed 122 off ten overs, were right on track with the required run-rate. Alas..Let’s talk some more about MonankIt’s no secret that he’s been in some dream form. 62 vs TSK, 20 vs SFU, 93 vs SOR, 32 vs WAF, 60 vs SFU tonight. He kickstarted things and set the tone upfront with a couple of boundaries in the second over against Xaview Bartlett, took it up a notch with three in Bartlett’s next. His fifty came off just 25 balls and by the time he fell in the 10th over, the stage was set. Vintage Quinny arrives! He may have gotten a couple of fifties already, but tonight, he rolled the clock back. Crisp drives, heaves over the leg-side, whippy flicks, he had them all on display. He was happy playing second-fiddle to an extent to Monank as the two led the charge in the run chase. He finished with a 46-ball 70, and kept going after Monank’s dismissal, but didn’t quite get adequate support from the other end. “We didn’t execute our plans as a bowling group”Skipper Nicholas Pooran was on point in the post-match presentation when asked about where things went wrong. Matthew Short (91 off 43), Jake Fraser-McGurk (64 off 26), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (27 off 16) and Hassan Khan (31 off 9) were just too good. Our bowlers just couldn’t keep them in check as they went on a rampage to post 246 on the board. The first half of the league stage is done, and it’s safe to say things haven’t gone our way. But we are still fourth on the points table. Remember Fam, it’s not about how we begin, but about how it ends. And come the business end, we’re sure to set the stage on fire!
24 Jun, 2025
“I just trust my coaches and follow what they say”: Monank Patel on his stellar run
62 vs TSK, 20 vs SFU, 93 vs SOR, 32 vs WAF, 60 vs SFU tonight. Despite MI New York having had a tough run so far, Monank Patel has been in fine form. Here are excerpts from his chat at the post-match press conference. On Nicholas Pooran’s formIt’s all about preparing well. He has been working hard and has been spending time in the nets. He is an experienced player and has been through such a patch before as well. He knows what to do. It is all about the mindset. On San Francisco's bowling plans They used the conditions really well and made our batters hit towards the longer end. They were very accurate in executing their plans. Overall they played really good cricket in batting and bowling. When they got one wicket, they made sure they didn’t give any room or half-vollies. Out of 18, they executed 16 balls. Credit to them. Thoughts on the other local USA players doing well Good to see domestic players scoring runs and performing well. I still feel there is a long way to go. It is important you get a good start as a domestic player. A lot of players have been performing well. The experience of two seasons is helping the players. Self-belief and confidence is helping the players. On how the tournament is helping players like him The more your share the dressing room with international players, it is going to help. If you see Kieron Pollard playing his 700th T20 game, there is a reason he is why he scores so much in pressure situations. The more you play, the better you get. His preparation ahead of the game When you talk to you coaches, they share important things. I make sure to listen to them and make sure I trust them. Before I face my first ball, I carry a certain mindset and according to the situation, I just adapt myself.
24 Jun, 2025
Tristan Luus joins MI New York as replacement for Rashid Khan
Our champion from Cape Town joins the #OneFamily in New York! Tristan Luus, the right-arm fast bowler is all set to join the MI new York squad as a replacement for Rashid Khan, who is not available for this season of the Cognizant Major Cricket League. Tristan is 19, tall and nippy. Having idolized and moulded his bowling action around Dale Steyn, he has been a part of the under-19 World Cup, SA Emerging side, Proteas A team against Sri Lanka A in 2024 and plays for MI Cape Town in SA20, where he recently won the 2025 title. That’s right, let’s bring it home in the USA as well. It’s great to have you in the Blue and Gold, Tristan!
23 Jun, 2025
Match 5 | MINYvSFU preview: Momentum, luck, high-flying Unicorns, let’s catch ‘em all!!
We haven’t had the rub of the green this year, losing three real close games. But if there’s something the #OneFamily is known for over the last several years across different countries and leagues, it is the ability to bounce back just when everyone begins to write them off. And then get on a victory roll..The San Francisco Unicorns are the team to beat: four wins in four games, including one over us where Xavier Bartlett’s late-hitting saw them over the line in a thriller. We have some unfinished business to avenge. This is where our ascend will begin. This is where we’ll announce our comeback. Make no mistake, there have been plenty of positives for us to take out of our four games: Quinton de Kock’s consistency as he returns to the Blue and Gold fold, Monank Patel looking a million bucks, Sunny Patel being the surprise package, Kieron Pollard’s late-hitting, Michael Bracewell’s all-round blitz, Trent Boult and Naveen-ul-Haq keeping it tight with the ball. But there are some boxes that are yet to be ticked, like captain Nicholas Pooran unleashing his beast mode. We know what happens once that gets unlocked. What better time and stage..What: MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns When: June 23, 2025 | 19:30 local time (June 23, 05:30 IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: There’s not just the motivation of finding some momentum with a win here, but also that of settling scores and getting on the right side of one after the heartbreak at the hands of the Unicorns last week. Expect fireworks!
23 Jun, 2025
MINYvWF report: “Another 10-15 runs could’ve been the difference”, Pooran rues another thriller that goes against us
Arghhhh. Just not the result you want against your game after giving a fight as proper as this. Let’s face it, the Washington Freedom were favorites to win the game with the asking rate always being in their favor. But the way the MI New York bowlers fought, stitching in the dot balls, hitting back with wickets, we really had hope. Alas.. The comeback from 20 being needed off 24Washington needed 20 off 24 balls. The game seemed done. They were romping home. Not so easily when you have MINY at the other end though! Naveen-ul-Haq, on a mission after the previous game to rectify his death bowling, produced an absolute beauty of an over – picking the wicket of Obus Pienaar and conceding just two runs. Trent Boult did better in the next, giving away just one run. Suddenly, the equation was at 17 being needed off 12. Alas, it wasn’t to be as Mark Chapman killed the game with a couple of boundaries. Another day, another Monank specialHe continues his dream run: 62, 20, 93 and now a 20-ball 32, setting the tone in the powerplay to get MINY off to another solid start. Quinton de Kock found his groove as well, smashing a 34-ball 55, studded with seven fours and two sixes to lay the platform for a big total. Although Michael Bracewell produced a 24-ball 42, the final explosion to get us past 200 didn’t quite come from the others as MINY had to settle for 188/4 in their 20 overs. The Sunny Patel-styled fightHe began with the wicket of Andries Gous in the powerplay, but it his wicket of the big fish – Mitchell Owen – who was on a rampage to get 62 off just 26 balls, that brought us back in the game in the first place. His change-ups in pace along with a bunch of variations have been quite handy all season. Sadly, with cameos from Glenn Maxwell, Jack Edwards and Mark Chapman, the Washington Freedom got home in the final over. Let’s not get too disheartened, folks. We’re still in the first half of the league here. There’s enough positives for us to know that it is only a matter of time before the tide turns. And when it does, we’ll make sure it’s a tsunami!
22 Jun, 2025
“Sunny Patel has been the surprise package for us this year”: Mitchell McClenaghan
With figures of 4-0-37-2, including the wickets of Adries Gous and the dangerous Mitchell Owen, Sunny Patel has been one of the biggest positives in the MI New York bowling attack this season. Bowling Coach, Mitchell McClenaghan was equally in praise of the veteran bowler in his post-match press conference chat. Excerpts.. On the MINY bowlers’ performance so farWe’ve got experienced bowlers in our unit. I think tonight we were a little off, and I think we’ve been all through the tournament so far. The plans have been good but the execution has been lacking. Teams have been able to navigate around the big guys and we haven’t been able to support around them. Thoughts on the league so farIt's nice. Another challenge. I love the game, love sharing knowledge. It’s nice seeing the talent of the US players across all teams actually. It’s getting stronger every year. I have been enjoying the league. Bowling plans as the bowlers fought it out towards the end It is still in our minds how Texas brought the game back against us in the first fixture. You’ve got to keep reminding yourself as a bowling unit that if you can take it to the last over, you always have a chance. Sometimes you can panic with the ball and try and think that you have to get wickets earlier in the game than you actually need to. You can take it deeper and build pressure. I must commend our bowlers, they did that this evening. Unfortunately, we were just a little bit short. On Rushil Ugarkar having a tough start with the ball He's an exciting talent. He moves the ball at the top which is why he got the second over today. We missed our line, like we did against Finn Allen and now against Mitch Owen, they will make you pay. He’s a big man and hits it strong and hits the ball hard. I’m not going to come hard on the bloke. We will assess and pump him up. Even though Mark Chapman got them across the line in the last over, he (Rushil) showed some great skills. He just missed a couple of yorkers against him. Lot of positives. He was just against an absolute beast at the top of the innings today. On Sunny Patel’s superb spellSunny has been the surprise package of our side this year. He bowled really well in the warm-up matches for us. He probably missed his length a couple of times trying to search for wickets. Sometimes that happens. I think he’s bowled exceptionally throughout the tournament. He’s become a banker. We are missing Rashid (Khan). He has filled that hole superbly. We’re missing Nosh (Kenjige) as well. He’s filled that role really nicely. He’s a mainstay in this side. I really like how he’s been able to hold his lengths against some of the world’s best players. On the batting unit not having clicked so farIt’s another batter-friendly wicket. The outfield is so fast as well. Our batting is going to click. You look at our unit, we are getting 180s, and we haven’t really had Nicholas Pooran come off. You’ve got some world class players, when they hit form, they don’t stop. What I must commend from the Washington Freedom was that their fielding was exceptional. Get got a hand to a lot of balls and saved 10-15 runs in the field. Thoughts on having Pollard bowl the 20th over The plan tonight was to use our resources early. We had to use Boult and Naveen early to try and put pressure on them. Pollard’s over was really good and kept us in the fixture. Historically, if you look at Polly’s 20th overs which he’s bowled in the past, he has the knack of getting the ball to the keeper. Whatever he does, he gets good bounce, he is hard to hit. He can be difficult if you are chasing 10 runs in the over. He’s not a bad man to have a backup to bowl the 20th over.
22 Jun, 2025
Match 4 | MINYvWF: Bring on the upward march, bring on the Dallas leg
That’s right. We’ve found the W. We’ve found a way to reverse the couple of heartbreaks in the first two games and bag a thriller of our own. Okay, we’re in Dallas now, a ground where we have some fond memories from 2023. We’re here to face the Washington Freedom, who’d be riding the high of a Maxwell century in the previous game. Well, we are coming off a high of our own, the high of winning a game from a point when the asking rate was touching 14. But The Dallas leg should bring about some more normalcy in the cricket. It’s a proper cricket ground with the boundaries evenly spaced, giving the bowlers a bit of a relief. We’re still celebrating Monank Patel’s brilliance, Kieron Pollard’s blitz and Michael Bracewell’s turnaround from the other night. What’s stopping us from having it all over again and painting Texas in our Blue and Gold!What: MI New York vs Washington FreedomWhen: June 21, 2025 | 19:00 local time (June 22, 05:30 IST)Where: Grand Prarie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: Well, if the first game at this ground was anything to go by (TSKvSFU), we’re all set for another massive runfest.
21 Jun, 2025
MINYvSOR report: Oh yassss!!!! We are off, chasing 200 with an over to spare
What. A. Feeling. This was exactly what we needed. After ending up on the wrong side of a couple of thrillers in the 2025 Cognizant MLC, we’ve managed to bury the ghosts, and how. At one point the asking rate really seemed to have gone beyond us, but no, with vintage Polly out in the middle, you never ever give up. Why fear when Polly is here!49 runs were needed off 22 balls when Kieron Pollard walked out. Michael Bracewell couldn’t quite get going until that point, battling on 26 off 29 balls. Polly wasted no time. The first ball went down the ground for four. The ball after went racing through mid-wicket. The intent was signaled. The mood was set. And suddenly, Bracewell found his timing too, launching three sixes in Kyle Mayers’ 18th over. 23 were now needed off 12. After our mishaps in the last two games, we never were really comfortable. Obed McCoy ran in. Ball 1: McCoy to Pollard - FOURBall 2: McCoy to Pollard – FOURBall 3: McCoy to Pollard – 1 runBall 4: McCoy to Bracewell – SIXBall 5: McCoy to Bracewell – 1 run (And he gets his Fifty as well)Ball 6: McCoy to Pollard – wideBall 6: McCoy to Pollard – SIX26 off 10. Kieron Pollard, seals the deal with an over to spare. Just. Polly. Things. Monank in record-breaking mode A target of 201 demands a solid start. Monank Patel gave us just that, and some more. “Really happy with the way we played, we fought till the end. In the second innings, when you try to hit too many shots, it is tough. Wanted to spend time, get set and then play some shots. When there was some extra pace, just wanted to use my pace,” he said in the presentation ceremony. So, what did he do? 93 runs | 50 balls | 8 fours | 7 sixes. He never let the run-rate dip. He never let the momentum go away. He may have missed out on a well-deserved century, but this knock made sure he now holds the record for the highest score by a USA player in the MLC. MINY start superbly with the ball, but the Orcas finish strongAt the 12-over stage, the Seattle Orcas were on 80/2. All our bowlers had done superbly to keep the scoring in check. But Kyle Mayers, along with Heinrich Klaasen and Shimron Hetmyer, cut loose in the death overs, notching up 120 in the last eight overs, and lifting their team to 200. Phew, we really needed this. MI New York are off and running. The Oakland leg has produced some real thrillers and we’ve received great support too. It’s the perfect way for us to sign off as we head over to Dallas.
19 Jun, 2025
“Monank is a fantastic player, his knock doesn’t surprise me”: Mark Boucher
It’s a happy MI New York camp, signing off from the Oakland Coliseum with a win. And what a win it was. The Head Coach, Mark Boucher, was at the post-match press conference, and he couldn’t be more proud of the way his boys turned this around. Excerpts.. Thoughts on the gameIt was our third close game in a row and it was quite good to win one. We should have won the first game and the second game was quite tight. Today was a good day for us to get on the board. Good game of cricket. There’s been some very tight games. Today the pitch played its part, it was a very good cricket wicket and it produced a fantastic game. On Monank Patel’s superb innings It doesn’t surprise me. Monank is a fantastic player and that is why he is playing for the USA as well. His first innings showed me that he knows how to score runs. He struggled upfront in the first game but he stuck it out. Today, he came in, the conditions were tough in the powerplay, especially in the second innings. He stuck to his plan as well and he really expressed himself after that. He played some fantastic cricket shots all around the park. When a guy like Heinrich Klaasen, who’s one of the top batters in the world, said it was an impressive innings, it says quite a bit. It doesn’t surprise me. A lot of the locals I’ve seen here are very talented cricketers. Sometimes their self-belief lets them down a bit. But that will come with a bit of time when you perform against top players. As this league grows a little older and the players mix with some of the best in the world, they’ll take a lot of confidence from that. On the team batting slowly through the powerplayIt was a plan. If you look at their powerplay, they were 32/2 and they got to 200. The trend of the tournament, especially in the second innings is that the wickets have been slightly up and down in the powerplay, but in the back ten it really starts to slide on and becomes difficult for bowlers. We knew we wanted to get off to a good start and limit the amount of wickets we lose in the powerplay. We felt the runs weren’t quite there but we were setting ourselves up for an onslaught at the back end. I was very happy with the start we got. We felt Brace (Michael Bracewell) had been batting really well and was the perfect guy to go in. He also struggled a bit but then towards the back end he really pulled it through. Reasons for not going hard at the startI think it is the pitch. Against the new ball it is a little up and down. It is difficult to line up a bowler. It is very much bowler friendly in the first six overs. At this venue, a lot of teams capitalize in the back end rather than lose too many wickets in the powerplay. If you look at games where teams have batted well, barring maybe the first game, you look at that and get the percentages in our favor as a batting unit and that is what happened today with both sides. On Nicholas Pooran batting lower down the order It is largely due to the pitch as well. We know the stats, we know how good he is. We just felt we’d rather give him an opportunity to come in towards the backend of the game when the bowlers are under pressure rather than him getting in too early and getting a ball that keeps low or hits the gloves. You’re trying to give your best players the best opportunity to put the opposition under pressure. That could change in Dallas. A lot of people wonder, Nicky P (Pooran) is one of the best batters in the world, why wouldn’t you want to give him more balls? But we just wanted to play him where he is best suited for our team. On Nosthush Kenjige’s injury status Nosh has been a big loss for us at the start of the tournament. He has gone for a scan recently and we are just waiting for those results to come in. Certainly, he is one we would love to get into the equation. He is a massive player. I haven’t really worked with him, but he is very keen to get out there as well. We haven’t replaced him and hopefully we can get some positive information from the doctors. Whether there were thoughts of subbing out BracewellWe know what Bracewell is like. He showed it towards the backend when he finished the game off. I wasn’t too concerned because of the way Monank was batting. At no stage did I think of retiring him and getting someone else in. He has played some fantastic knocks in the few games he has played for New Zealand as well. Sometimes it looks tough when one guy is batting like a dream and the other is struggling a bit. You just need one hit to get away. There’s got to be something really extreme to be swapping a player. On Naveen-ul-Haq having a tough game If you have a look at how they lined their attack up today, they also took it easy in the powerplay and wanted wickets at the end. We wanted to get our best, most-experienced bowlers bowling to them as well. He bowled in really tough overs today and took one for the team. He struggled with his execution a bit today but he is a fantastic bowler and someone had to go out there and bowl the tough overs. There’s still a lot of positives to take out of the way he has been bowling. That’s the tough thing about bowling. You look at him and Boulty (Trent Boult) to bowl the tough overs. It’s just the nature of T20 cricket. You come off on certain nights and on some nights you don’t. Unfortunately he didn’t come off. But there is a lot of support from the dressing room.
19 Jun, 2025
Match 3 | MINYvSOR preview: Both teams in the third time lucky zone!
It’s all about getting the ball rolling. Although MI New York don’t have the results to show for, the brand of cricket we’ve played has been really entertaining. We’ve received some tremendous support in Oakland over the last week, and it’d be lovely to sign off from this leg with a smile on our fans’ faces (read two points). The Seattle Orcas are in similar waters with nothing to show for in their two games. David Warner vs Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer vs Naveen-ul-Haq, Kieron Pollard vs Obed McCoy, Heinrich Klaasen vs Nicholas Pooran, oh, this promises to be a mouth-watering feast. What: MI New York vs Seattle Orcas When: June 18, 2025 | 18:00 local time (June 19, 06:30 IST)Where: Oakland Coliseum, CA What to expect: Although the pitches have slowed down compared to what they were in the first few games and the average scores have gone down a bit, you can never take anything for granted with the kind of batting depth these two teams possess.
18 Jun, 2025
Delano Potgieter replaces Azmatullah Omarzai for MLC Season 3
Delano Potgieter, the South African all Rounder, will replace Azmatullah Omarzai, who is not available for the third season of the Cognizant Major League Cricket. Delano is no stranger to the #OneFamily, having played a key role in MI Cape Town's title-winning campaign at the SA20 2025. He made his First Class debut for Gauteng in 2018, immediately went on to top-score for his side in the Africa T20 Cup with 217 runs in six matches, and in the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge that followed, picked up 17 wickets in nine matches for his side. With an economy rate of just 7.56 in T20s, he’s the perfect middle-overs run-drier. Welcome to MINY, DP! Let's add some more Gold to our Blue!
16 Jun, 2025
SFUvMINY report: Not our night! Bartlett blitz trumps QDK special
Ah, well. It wouldn’t have been wrong for the Blue and Gold army to have assumed we were favorites to win this one at the 15th over stage in the second innings. The Unicorns were seven down, the asking rate was mounting, and we were well and truly into their tail. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Naveen, Boult, Ehsan set the tempo upfront The dangerous man in form, Finn Allen, was snapped up early tonight with Naveen-ul-Haq foxing him with a slower one. Tim Seifert couldn’t quite get going either. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Cooper Connolly fell for single digit scores. Hassan Khan smashed a 17-ball 43, but having reduced SFU to 108/6 in the 13th over, MINY were well and truly in control. The Bartlett showThe 15th over was where things turned. 64 runs were needed off 36 balls. Bartlett cut loose, taking Michael Bracewell apart with three sixes and a four in a 25-run over. He continued the assault against Boult as well in the 17th over with a six and two fours to get the equation well within reach. It was his night. The positives: Quinton sets it up, Polly finishes Vintage QDK was on display tonight, striking the ball beautifully with some lovely strokes all around the ground in his 38-ball knock of 63, studded with five fours and four sixes. Monank Patel (20 off 14), Bracewell (17 off 11) gave him good support. But the finish that took MINY to a strong total of 182 came through our forever trusted warhorse, Kieron Pollard, who smashed four sixes in his 16-ball knock of 30, powering us to a big one. Let’s not get too disappointed, folks. We might have been on the wrong side of two nail-biters, but we know how to bounce back from a slow start and get on a roll. It’s in the Blue and Gold blood!
16 Jun, 2025
“We are playing good cricket, it’s just two games into the season”: Sunny Patel
It’s just the beginning. Although the result might have not gone in MI New York’s favor, all-rounder Sunny Patel impressed with both bat and ball. He was at the post-match press conference, instilling positivity within all the fans. Excerpts.. On the advice he gets from the coachesThey’ve played the highest level of cricket for a long period of time. They keep telling me to believe in my skills that got me here. It’s just about hitting the top of the stumps and keeping the ball there. Thoughts on the pitch and the targetLuckily I had a good knock today. The only thing on my mind was to get as many runs as possible. The wicket was a bit slower and tricky. It was two-paced. We were just looking to get extra runs. It was a defendable score. Sometimes games go either side. We are still playing good cricket. It is just two games into the season, so we are trying to do the best we can. On Quinton’s impact in the powerplay Everyone knows Quinny (Quinton de Kock) is a brilliant batsman. He has done it for his country over many years. It was good to have a start in the powerplay. It’s good he is getting some good knocks in. On where the team is going wrong at the moment It’s not about going wrong somewhere. Sometimes things don’t go your way. Hopefully next time when we do the same planning that our team does, it goes our way. Whether dew played a part in the second inningsAs the evening progresses, dew comes in. There was quite a bit of dew at the end of the innings and was difficult for the fielders and bowlers to grip the ball. Whether he felt MINY were on top after Hassan Khan’s wicketEvery wicket seems to be important until the game finishes. We felt we were back in the game after that wicket and tried our best to get over the line. We’ll learn from our mistakes and we’ll try not to repeat it in the next game.
16 Jun, 2025
Match 2 | SFUvMINY preview: The W quest against the table-toppers
A 269 followed by a 219. It’s safe to say the San Francisco Unicorns have stolen the headlines in the last three days. Their batters have been on a rampage, breaking records, notching up big scores, and eventually blowing teams over. Well, MI New York are here to put an end to it!! We are hurting after the result against the Texas Super Kings, a game that we had in our grasp but let go of. A ‘W’ against our name is the quickest way of putting that behind us. And we are sooo going to make our Sunday evening a happy one. What: San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New YorkWhen: June 15, 2025 | 18:00 local time (June 16 | 06:30 IST)Where: Oakland Coliseum, CAWhat to expect: Another run-fest. This pitch is a belter, the boundaries are short, and we should be in for another cracker!
15 Jun, 2025
MINYvTSK report: No, no!! On the wrong side of a humdinger by the barest of margins
We really had this in control. We should have had our two points at the end. Alas, cricket’s unpredictable nature came to the fore, and MI New York ended up just short, on the wrong side of this thriller :(Oh freak, run-outs! That 17th over…Ball 1: Daryl Mitchell to Kieron Pollard: SIXBall 2: Daryl Mitchell to Kieron Pollard: SIXBall 3: Daryl Mitchell to Kieron Pollard: FOURBall 4: Daryl Mitchell to Kieron Pollard: FOURThe equation was down to MINY now needing just 25 off 20 balls with Polly turning back the clock and having the game in complete control. Monank Patel, at the other end, was looking in serious form too with his 44-ball 62. Ball 5: Daryl Mitchell to Kieron Pollard: RUN-OUTBall 6: Daryl Mitchell to Monank Patel: RUN-OUTThe game turned. Although Tajinder Dhillon and Trent Boult kept us in the hunt with a couple of big blows, we couldn’t get over the line. The bowlers set it up, restricting TSK to 185 on a good pitchA belter of a track, small boundaries, and the MINY bowlers – after opting to bowl – can be proud of their effort to keep the Super Kings to 185. Michael Bracewell, bowling through the middle overs did well to keep things tight with a couple of wickets. Although Devon Conway got 65, he wasn’t allowed to cut loose either. We’ll come back, the MINY way!If there’s one thing the entire MI #OneFamily universe can vouch for, it is our ability to bounce back from disappointments. This is just the start. There’s a long way ahead. And we are raring to put this behind us already.
14 Jun, 2025
“A lot of positives for us to take, you learn more from losing”: Trent Boult
A three-run loss, especially from where MI New York were in the game, is always a tough one to swallow. But games come thick and fast in the Cognizant MLC, and we cannot wait to bounce back in a couple of days. Trent Boult is someone who’s won titles with all four teams in the MI family, and he knows what it takes to get on a winning role from here. Here he is, speaking at the post-match press conference. Excerpts.. Thoughts on the pitch and the groundThe pitch is rock solid. The drop in wickets are generally good wickets. With the way everything works, they need to put one beside the other, in my opinion, they both look like good wickets. But the pitch aside, the whole product, spectacle there is amazing. It is great to see some good crowds. To play in a stadium with different angles, different sizes, is very unique and exciting. On MINY suffering back-to-back run-outs Definitely played a big part in the result. I’m not going to sit here and tell the batters how to bat, but they knew the target was never out of reach. One or two good overs and you are back in the game. I thought we got the game right back in our favour. Couple of decisions made by a few players, that’s the margin in this game. We still want to keep it positive. It’s a long tournament. It’s an exciting leg and it is going to be a busy next six days. We’re going to be better off with this experience. On Monank Patel’s superb knock of 62Prime example of taking time at the start. He played fantastically to get the ball back in our court. It could have been easy to panic in that situation and try and play a big shot. I have played with him for three years and he is a talented player. I thought he played fantastically tonight. Positives to take from this gameThere’s always positives. To have to head out and get a feel of how guys like to field, how they like to bat, how they like to bowl under pressure, there are positive opportunities to grow as a team. You learn a lot more from losing. We’ll take away some good things, have a quick turnaround and be back here in a day or two. On the growth of the MLC over the last three seasonsI think the tournament is growing considerably. I was here in the first here when it was played between two venues. Similar venues last year. There’s a lot of history in these stadiums. To get out there and experience it (is special). It’s a long way up to the top there. Eden Park in New Zealand, probably similar sizes. I’ve been playing cricket for 18 years professionally, but still learning and working out things. Even I was unsure where the ball was going to go.
14 Jun, 2025
Match 1 | MINYvTSK preview: Two iconic teams, one epic rivalry! Mission 2025 begins..
Let’s. Get. Started. Blue vs Yellow is really something else. Two large fan bases, two teams with history that goes way back, two proud cricketing franchises. We’re all set for a red-hot start to our 2025 campaign. MI New York are here to repeat their 2023 heroics. Nicholas Pooran is all set to take over the captain’s hat. He’s coming in fresh off a dream IPL season, where he smashed over 500 runs and a record 40 sixes. He’s got fond memories of being captain, having smashed perhaps his best T20 innings – 137* - in our season-winning final. We also have a bit of avenging to take care of. TSK were the team that ended our 2024 season in the playoffs. It’s time to put that behind us and what better way to kickstart 2025 than with a W against them in the first game itself. What: MI New York vs Texas Super Kings When: June 13, 2025 (18:00 local time) | June 14, 2025 (06:30 IST)Where: Oakland Coliseum, CAWhat to expect: What’s new is the venue – the Oakland Coliseum, a baseball stadium with a drop-in pitch. The dimensions, the conditions, are all set to be a surprise. And that’s what makes it all the more exciting.
13 Jun, 2025
MINY and MLC 2025 – Everything you need to know
America, the cricket carnival is here! Bigger, better, fancies, more awaited. The third season of cricket’s USA party is here, the Cognizant Major League Cricket, and MI New York cannot wait to repeat 2023 and paint America in our Blue and Gold! Excited much? Here’s everything you need to know .. Have the festivities come early this year?Oh yes, yes. Barely a week after the IPL, the #OneFamily is back in action. The MLC, a July-August affair over the last two seasons, is now set to make its debut in June. Great, tell me what’s new with MI New York?Let’s start with the top: Nicholas Pooran is our new skipper. Fresh off a stellar IPL stint, he’s at the peak of his powers, and he’s all set to lead from the front. We also have Quinton de Kock, someone who’s won two trophies with the Blue and Gold of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL coming into our mix. George Linde, fresh off title-winning stints at MI Cape Town is here as well. Michael Bracewell and Naveen-ul-Haq are coming in on the back of some red-hot form. Tajinder Singh, with Mumbai Indians in the 2018 IPL squad and Agni Chopra, a record-maker in the Indian domestic circuit, headline our new local signings. I’m already excited! What’s the schedule?Quick, mark the dates.. June 13, 2025: MI New York vs Texas Super Kings | Oakland Coliseum June 15, 2025: San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York | Oakland ColiseumJune 18, 2025: MI New York vs Seattle Orcas | Oakland ColiseumJune 21, 2025: MI New York vs Washington Freedom | Grand Prairie June 23, 2025: MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns | Grand PrairieJune 27, 2025: Seattle Orcas vs MI New York | Grand PrairieJune 29, 2025: Texas Super Kings vs MI New York | Grand PrairieJuly 3, 2025: LA Knight Riders vs MI New York | Broward CountyJuly 5, 2025: MI New York vs LA Knight Riders | Broward CountyJuly 6, 2025: Washington Freedom vs MI New York | Broward CountyJuly 8, 2025: Qualifier (Q1 vs Q2)July 9, 2025: Eliminator (Q3 vs Q4)July 11, 2025: Challenger (Loser of Qualifier vs Winner of Eliminator)July 13, 2025: CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
12 Jun, 2025
Aye Aye Captain, Nicky P
Our hero, our ledge, our skipper! Nicholas Pooran – the 29-year-old pocket dynamite, aka the MINY superstar – has been named the MI New York captain ahead of the 2025 season of the Cognizant Major League Cricket. This left-handed wicket-keeper batter is one of the world’s most feared batters going around. He hit the most sixes (170) across all T20s in 2024 and followed it up with a strong IPL 2025, breaching the 500-run mark in a season for the first time and smashing 40 sixes in the season - the most sixes by any batter in an IPL edition.At the peak of his powers currently, he’s all set to take us to greater glories under his leadership. He was the highest run-scorer in the 2023 MLC season with 388 runs under his belt. You really don't need to look beyond his 137* at the MLC Final to know that. Can’t wait to relive the same in 2025, Nicky!
11 Jun, 2025
MI stripes, MI pride – The 2025 MI New York jersey is here!
Our cape, our stripes, our Blue and Gold! The 2025 edition of the Cognizant Major Cricket League is here, and we cannot wait to unleash our latest jersey on the field. It perfectly symbolizes the brand of cricket that we are known for. It’s a year where MI Cape Town and the Mumbai Indians women’s team were crowned champions. Let’s clock a #OneFamily treble, shall we?As MI New York get set to repeat the heroics from 2023 of bringing the cup back home, this is where we get the ball rolling. See you at the ground, donning this beauty! All you need to do it head over here to lay your hands on the latest 2025 edition of the iconic MI New York jersey.
06 Jun, 2025
MINY Touchdown: We have arrived to conquer MLC 2025
The wait is over. The crew is here. And our task is cut out: BRING HOME THE TROPHY!! A bunch of MI New York stars assembled ahead of the third season of the Cognizant Major League Cricket, and we cannot wait for the action to kick off. From training camps, to photoshoots, to brainstorming sessions, the next week promises to be action packed as MINY gear up to repeat the heroics of 2023 and bring home the silverware. The month-long cricket carnival in the USA is upon us, with MI New York playing their first game on June 13, 2025 at the Oakland Coliseum, in a red-hot clash against the Texas Super Kings. Let’s officially get into the season..
05 Jun, 2025
Our latest Fab Five! Welcome to the #OneFamily
We have news. After retentions, releases, the Draft, we now have our overseas signings for MLC 2025. Some new faces, some familiar with the Blue and Gold #OneFamily who’ve seen them play for the sister franchises in other leagues. But they’re all guns in their game. Let’s say hello ..Quinton de Kock: Protea, ‘keeper, opener, Blue and Gold ledge! A two-time IPL winner with the Mumbai Indians in 2019 and 2020, he’s no stranger to the OneFamily. He loves to take the bowlers on and we love him for that.Michael Bracewell: Fresh off a superb outing in the Champions Trophy where he starred with both bat and ball, we cannot wait for this Kiwi all-rounder to light up America! Naveen-ul-Haq: A feisty quick bowler with an entire range of variations, he stole the spotlight at the 2024 T20 World Cup where his exploits saw Afghanistan reach the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, a feat achieved for the first time in their history. Azmatullah Omarzai: Welcome the ICC’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, 2024. He scores big, picks wickets for fun, and is a certified gamechanger. He’s well embedded in the MI OneFamily, having recently won the SA20 with MI Cape Town. George Linde: Another of our MI Cape Town all-rounders, who’s in real top form this season with both bat and ball, and is riding the high of winning the SA20!
03 Apr, 2025
Mark your calendars, THE SCHEDULE FOR MLC 2025 has arrived!
The month-long cricket carnival in the USA is upon us! New venues, a new window in the calendar, the same old pride. Let’s repeat the high of 2023 all over again, shall we?The iconic Oakland Coliseum in the West Coast is all set to make its debut in the MLC, and would host the first leg of the tournament, before we go over to the good old Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, and finally over to Boward County in Florida for the final leg of the league stage, before heading back to Texas for the playoffs and the final. Quick, here’s how the schedule looks like for MI New York. Save the dates.. June 13, 2025: MI New York vs Texas Super Kings | Oakland Coliseum June 15, 2025: San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York | Oakland ColiseumJune 18, 2025: MI New York vs Seattle Orcas | Oakland ColiseumJune 21, 2025: MI New York vs Washington Freedom | Grand Prairie June 23, 2025: MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns | Grand PrairieJune 27, 2025: Seattle Orcas vs MI New York | Grand PrairieJune 29, 2025: Texas Super Kings vs MI New York | Grand PrairieJuly 3, 2025: LA Knight Riders vs MI New York | Broward CountyJuly 5, 2025: MI New York vs LA Knight Riders | Broward CountyJuly 6, 2025: Washington Freedom vs MI New York | Broward CountyJuly 8, 2025: Qualifier (Q1 vs Q2)July 9, 2025: Eliminator (Q3 vs Q4)July 11, 2025: Challenger (Loser of Qualifier vs Winner of Eliminator)July 13, 2025: CHAMPIONSHIP FINALWe’ve seen the glory of 2023. We’ve seen the heartbreak of 2024. With some fresh faces in the mix along with our settled core, it’s time to bring home another piece of silverware! Let's add some more Gold to our Blue..
28 Mar, 2025
MI New York’s Draft picks for MLC 2025
Say hello to MI New York’s picks at the Major League Cricket draft ahead of the 2025 season. We’ve got a nice mix of youth and experience to join our stellar retained players. Let’s meet them: * Agni Chopra: A stylish left-handed batter who holds the unique record for scoring four centuries in his first four First Class matches, a feat he achieved with Mizoram in the 2023-24 season of the Ranji Trophy. This Detroit-born run-machine boasts of a First Class average of 94.94! * Kunwarjeet Singh: Playing for the Baltimore Royals in Minor Cricket League, Kunwarjeet Singh, is a big-hitting left-handed middle-order batter. * Sharad Lumba: An experienced right-handed batter who’s played a large part of his cricket for Punjab. He’s no stranger to the #OneFamily, having been part of the Mumbai Indians squad in the 2018 IPL season. * Tajinder Singh: An off-spinner who doubles up as a useful lower-order hitter, Tajinder Singh too has had a taste of the #OneFamily during his stint with Mumbai Indians in the 2018 IPL season. First Class cricket with Rajasthan in the Indian domestic circuit and two seasons with the San Francisco Unicorns are on his playing CV.
20 Feb, 2025
Say hello to MI New York’s retentions for MLC 2025!
After the domestic players, it’s time for the overseas retentions to be announced. Although it was a lovely run over the last two years, moments like these leave us with mixed feelings. While there is the happiness of MI New York retaining their core of players, there’s also the sadness of bidding goodbye to what was the lovely Squad of 2024. Overseas retained players: * Nicholas Pooran* Kieron Pollard* Rashid Khan * Trent BoultThey are set to join Monank Patel, Nosthush Kenjige, Heath Richards, Ehsan Adil, Rushil Ugarkar and Sunny Patel, the domestic retentions for the 2025 season. Overseas released players: * KG Rabada* Anrich Nortje* Dewald Brevis* Tim David* Romario ShepherdSteven Taylor, Rueben Clinton and Shayan Jahangir were the other local players who’ve been released. We thank you for all the memories and wish you the best. Thank you for making the #BatchOf2024 special!
16 Feb, 2025
Monank, Nosthush headline retained domestic players ahead of MLC 2025
We’re just under six months away from the USA cricket carnival kicking off. We fought tooth and nail in the 2024 season and pulled off an epic last-second entry into the playoffs. Although we couldn’t ensure a repeat of 2023, it was a special campaign. Today is Retention Day, and it always leaves us with mixed feelings. Let’s start with the happy ones. Here are the MI New York players retained for MLC 2025:Ehsan AdilNosthush Kenjige Monank Patel Heath Richards Rushil Ugarkar (Rookie) Sunny Patel This means MI New York go into the MLC 2025 Draft with a purse of USD 160,000, and would need to make a minimum of three picks and would be allowed a maximum of four picks. With a heavy heart, we say thank you and wish the best to the other USA players we had in our mix. We’ll miss you!Steven TaylorShayan JahangirRuben Clinton The overseas players who’ve been retained would be announced shortly.
14 Feb, 2025
MI team, MI pride, MI New York! Thank you for the MLC 2024 memories
24 hours have passed. It hurts. There was hope of us pulling off a 2023 after our come-from-behind qualification into the play-offs. There was hope of a turnaround. It wasn’t to be. MLC 2024 ended in disappointment. It started off in emphatic style at Morrisville, in a repeat clash last year’s final against Seattle Orcas, with a repeat of the result too. It went on to a DLS-inflicted disappointment. Then came more rain. We moved to Texas. But whether it was Rashid Khan adding feather after feather to his already-decorated hat with his stellar performances with both bat and ball, or it was Nicholas Pooran shedding his natural attacking strokeplay for a measured clutch knock in the must-win last league game against LA Knight Riders, or it was Kieron Pollard rolling back the years with his 6,6,6 to seal the game, or it was Nosthush Kenjige’s superb opening burst against San Francisco Unicorns, or Monank Patel’s mature knocks against Texas Super Kings, or it was debutant Heath Richards nearly pulling off a last-over miracle, there certainly have been enough memories for us to celebrate. Let’s give it some time. When the disappointment withers, what will remain is pride, the pride we have in this side. This is MI city, this is MI team, we are MI New York.
26 Jul, 2024
Eliminator report: A tough night, and sadly, that will be it for 2024
We tried. We fought. But it just wasn’t our night. This stings, and it will for a while, but we are super proud of all the memories our boys gave us this season. Let’s recap the evening.. Another game vs TSK, another Rashid-Monank specialMINY didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Dewald Brevis falling in the first over, and then Nicholas Pooran departing shortly after inside the powerplay. The stars against TSK in the previous game, Monak Patel and Rashid Khan, who’d had a promotion in the batting order this time around, got together at 67/3 in the 11th over. And suddenly, just like that, from a potential 150-run target, to the eventual 163. Rashid, with another quick fifty, upped the ante after Monank fell. Oh, he just loves it here!Faf fifty takes it awayIt was simply his night. Riding his luck, with missed run-outs, edges, and pretty much everything going TSK’s way, skipper Faf du Plessis and fellow opener Devon Conway were a little too clinical, notching up a 101-run opening stand. Nosh gives us a glimmer of hopeAlthough it seemed to be quickly slipping away from us with the asking rate well under control, Nosthush Kenjige got rid of the dangerous Faf, who was the aggressor in that opening partnership, and gave all us MINY fans a slight hope of their being a twist. Alas, it wasn’t to be, with Aaron Hardie shutting the door. “We’ll come back stronger next season”Kieron Pollard, although disappointed at the end with the result, backed the boys to improve and come back as upgraded versions of themselves next year. Although the result might not be what we wanted, the fight was there, and while this loss will sting, it has been a season that we will look back at with pride.
25 Jul, 2024
Robbie Peterson: “We just weren’t consistent enough... we’ll come back stronger next year”
Not the finish MI New York would have wanted to their MLC 2024 campaign, crashing out in the Eliminator against the Texas Super Kings. As Head Coach Robbie Peterson came out for the post-match press conference, he looked back at the campaign, had advice to give, and threw some light on the reasons behind the team combination. Excerpts.. Reflections on the gameYou can’t sit and blame our domestic players. All of us, including the international players weren’t consistent enough across this campaign. The players will be disappointed that couldn’t make the final. We showed some glimpses. We could never tie all the skills in one game unfortunately. Credit to TSK, they played very well. Credit to Faf (du Plessis) as well, his captaincy was outstanding tonight. Devon Conway was the rock as he always is for them in this campaign. A lot of learnings have taken place in the last two years. We would like to win every competition but sometimes these events don’t allow you to slip up. We will come back stronger next year. On Monank Patel doing well in the middle-order You have to be adaptable in T20 cricket. Monank got his two fifties coming in the middle order in this tournament. He is the type of player who can use his experience and leadership. We thought responsibility would fall on his shoulders when he moved down the order with the skillset he possesses. In games you try and counter the opposition, and sometimes you try and send a power-player. No reflection towards his skillset, he played very well in the middle-order and he should consider that in the future. Whether rain made it easier to bat in the second inningsThe rain played a little bit of a role. We won’t use that as an excuse, but we didn’t field well enough. There were seven chances with the run-outs, catches that we should have taken. We still created opportunities to stretch that game. One of those things where you are on the wrong side of the weather. On the pressures of playing in the El ClasicoEverybody knows the rivalry between the MI and the CSK franchise will always be there around the globe. There is a sense of excitement for the guys. There’s a different edge leading to these games. It is a privilege to be involved in these games. Every time you participate, you want to do well. It gives players a lot of joy. Thoughts behind changing the opening combination Sometimes you cannot predict someone’s form. Franchise cricket is pretty ruthless if you don’t get off to a good start. We just felt that Shayan (Jahangir) did well for us last year and we needed a bit of impetus with Dewald Brevis. No reflection on Ruben (Clinton). We just felt that was the combination which would serve us well in the game. They are talented players who will contribute in the future at some point in the MLC. Sometimes tournaments don’t work out well for individuals. They can hold their heads up. They worked hard, they tried hard. They were still great team players off the field. A lot for them to reflect upon and improve. On Steven Taylor and his formWe look at him as a batsman, and off-spin is his hobby. He is drafted as a batsman. His currency is runs at the end of the day. He was probably a bit short there. A lot of conversation on how he can improve has happened behind the scenes. On what the local players need to do to improveFrom a batting perspective, it is going to be tough when you are not facing high quality fast bowling week in and week out, like guys from Australia, South Africa, West Indies. It’s always going to be the challenge for local players. There are guys bowling at serious pace, and it takes a bit of time to adjust to that. It’s not nice to face, so it takes a bit of courage. You’re only going to get better when you face it at training. That’s something the domestic batters don’t have in terms of preparation when they play in the Minor League. They’ve got the taste of it now and there are alternate ways to train for it. Hopefully they can implement it in their training and as MLC progresses, we will see these guys get better and better.
25 Jul, 2024
TSKvMINY | The Eliminator preview: Let’s add another chapter to our epic comeback, shall we?
It’s been a fairytale of a journey. We started off with a win, just were winless for five games in a row, and then with our backs to the wall, in a game where we didn’t just have to win, but win big, we were absolutely clinical to get our campaign back on track. So with that sorted, the celebrations done, we have Texas Super Kings to deal with next. From the family of El Clasicos, we beat them in the Qualifier last time around. We have the league stage defeat to avenge too, remember the one where Rashid Khan and Monank Patel put up a 110-run stand for the ages?Things seem eerily similar to 2023, where we just scraped through into the playoffs, only to turn on our A game and romp through to bag the title. The first half is done. It’s time for the second. It’s time for the climax. What: Texas Super Kings vs MI New York When: July 24, 2024, 7:30pm local time | July 25, 2024, 6:00am IST Where: Grand Prarie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: Big game, big stage, and the unearthing of heroes. This is where the MI New York mentality comes out, where we play like Defending Champions!
24 Jul, 2024
LAKRvMINY report: 6, 6, 6, and a turnaround for the ages! We are into the playoffs!
6, 6, 6! Kieron Pollard, he’s been there, he’s done that. The drama, the pressure, the asking rate creeping up. Nah. The big man just swung, thrice, each one bigger than the previous. And just like that, JUST LIKE THAT, MI New York romped into the play-offs. The Llord of YoreIf you had just one rule to live life by, this is the one: You never, ever, ever, ever, write us off. Polly won’t let you. The Llord in the Blue and Gold, oh, he’s been doing this for nearly a decade and a half, and we just cannot seem to have enough. When 32 runs were needed off 24 balls for MINY to qualify, and it looked a tad sticky with the fifth wicket having gone down, Pollard was in no mood to add to the drama. Poor Spencer Johnson was at the receiving end. Three consecutive sixes, the first straight over the sightscreen, the second way over deep square leg, and the third, in vintage style, over cow corner. The game was sealed!NICHOLAS POORAN! The star in 2023, the star in 2024. While Pollard’s act was the final flourish, Nicky P was the anchor. Steadying the ship after an early wicket with Dewald Brevis, before taking on the game, smashing Andre Russell for a six and a four in the 13th over to reverse the pressure on LA Knight Riders, and then sitting back and letting Polly do the heavylifting towards the death, it was some knock. “We’ve been in the same situation last year. Everyone put their hands up and came together to believe,” he said in his Player of the Match speech. Indeed. We’re reliving 2023 all over again! Rashid brilliance keeps LAKR to 130We didn’t just have to win, we had to win inside 18.2 overs to ensure our net run-rate went over LAKR’s. It was important for the bowlers to keep the Knight Riders down to a smallish total after we elected to bowl first. And boy, they were right on the money. Trent Boult and Nosthush Kenjige, as usual, struck early, before Rashid Khan came in, and with a three-wicket spell, tied their batters down, to keep them to a very-chasable 130. YEAH, WE DID IT!! We are into the playoffs. It was all about believing. And now, we have a date with the Texas Super Kings on Wednesday (July 24) in what will be a straight Eliminator. We were in a very similar position last year as well, scraping through to the playoffs, and before we knew it, we were on a roll and the cup was ours. Let’s make 2024 a 2023, shall we?
22 Jul, 2024
“On Wednesday, you will now see MI New York, the Defending Champions”: Nicky Pooran
From the brink of elimination to storming into the playoffs, MI New York are reliving 2023 in their MLC 2024 journey. And the star from their must-win clash against the LA Knight Riders on Sunday (July 21), Nicholas Pooran, spoke to the media in the post-match press conference, was pumped up after playing an innings that he admits was not his usual style. Excerpts.. On the pitch and conditionsI think LAKR bowled well to me. The ball was seaming around for the pacers. They hit that 4-5 meter length. It was one of those days when it wasn’t about scoring at a strike rate of 200. We kept losing wickets at the wrong time. Just one of those days where I kept the ego aside and did what the team needed me to do, just be there. On deciding to bat through the innings I have been around a while now. I have played a lot of T20 cricket and made mistakes. I have been in the same situation and done the opposite. Happy to learn. For me it is all about winning cricket games. A few nights ago, in a similar situation, I played a reverse sweep, and got out. I didn’t want to make the same mistake again. It is about understanding that sometimes it is better to bat for your team than for yourself. It is good that I can strike at 150, 200, 250 sometimes. At the end of the day, what is most important is winning cricket games. And if it means batting till the end, so be it. It is my job and I have to do it. Thoughts on debutant Rushil Ugarkar’s bowlingPolly mentioned in the beginning of the tournament, that if we wanted to go all the way, everyone would have to contribute. Happy that he got the opportunity today and I was impressed that he was ready for it. Giving him the new ball as well, against Sunil (Narine) and (Jason) Roy. He was a bit nervous, but he felt comfortable. It is all about being ready for the opportunity. He is a young guy and that is the beauty about franchise cricket, giving local players the opportunity to show their ability and talent. Really nice for him to open the bowling with Trent Boult as well and contribute for us. Whether the campaign seems similar to 2023In T20 cricket it is really important to get the right momentum at the right time. Last year is a perfect example, we had to work really hard to get to the final. It is now a different tournament for us. You are no longer going to see us as the team that struggled to get to the playoffs on Wednesday. You are going to see MI New York, the defending Champions. You’re going to see match-winners. You will see individuals putting their hands up and winning the game for their team. It is really good. Winning and losing is contagious. Hopefully we can get some momentum from this game and go on to win the cup this year as well. On the team talk after lossesWe keep speaking about putting your hands up and everyone contributing. Cricket is just a game, you are allowed to make mistakes. But as a group, if we want to move forward, we need to understand that we cannot keep making the same mistakes. We need to understand what is happening in the game. When guys make silly mistakes, it hurts. Obviously it is a game and so you want to put it away. When you want to win, emotions come out. Some things this season was disappointing. Guys hopefully can get the opportunity to learn and get better with themselves. Whatever happens on the park, stays on the park, and we can laugh about it now and go about with our game. Whether Pollard’s wicket-celebration was a message to Andre RussellNo message. That celebration says it all about wanting to win this game and win moments. He got Russell out last year as well. We know how dangerous Dre (Russell) is specially in the last over in a T20 game. Polly took the responsibility to bowl the last over in the game and kept them 20 runs show. Trying to chase 150 in 18.2 overs on that wicket would have been challenging. That’s the small margins you want to win. He won that and sent the right message. We lost just one wicket in the first four overs. We had a solid powerplay and built from there. On the approach for the playoffsIt just feels like last year all over again. To win that game, we need to be at our best. We need to win the match-ups, win the moments, make less mistakes, and the results will take care of itself once we control the processes. On the rivalry against Texas Super KingsEveryone knows how big that rivalry it is. In America as well, the fans come in large numbers to watch that game. Bravo and Polly have that friendship as well, on who can win more titles or games. Hopefully on Wednesday, we can bring out the best in Polly.
22 Jul, 2024
LAKRvMINY preview: “WE WANT A WIN, WE WANT A BIG WIN”
There’s this familiar ring across grounds, ‘we want six’, ‘we want wicket’. Let’s muster all our energy, all our support, at the top of our voices, and goooo, ‘WE WANT WIN’, ‘WE WANT A BIG WIN’. It’s a team we love playing against, and it’s now or never.. This hasn’t been our best campaign. We’ve won one game out of the six we’ve played. Momentum has been rather elusive. All that counts for nothing as we ready up to face the Los Angeles Knight Riders, who are in a pretty similar boat. Both teams need to win this last league game to qualify for the playoffs, and we just need to do it a little better to ensure our net-run-rate pips theirs. It’s something the MI Family is used to, getting into must-win territory, and then going on a rampage to storm towards the trophy. What: LA Knight Riders vs MI New YorkWhen: July 21, 7:30pm local time | July 22, 6:00am ISTWhere: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: A thriller. This pitch here is a belter, the occasion is filled with pressure, the situation unearths new heroes, and well, we cannot wait to kick it off!
21 Jul, 2024
MINYvSFU report: On debut, Heath nearly pulls off a miracle, nearly :(
If you ever were to try describing a heartbreak, you needn’t look beyond tonight. A game that swung and switched sides by the ball, and by the 20th over, looked out of our grasp. But a young Heath Richards, on his Major Cricket League debut, wasn’t one to throw in the towel. Read on.. Remember the name With 41 runs needed off 24 balls, MI New York lost Monank Patel off the first ball of the 17th over to Hasan Khan, and in walked Heath Richards. Dot, dot, dot, dot. Rashid Khan came over to have a word. And the next ball was tonked over the sightscreen. And then in the last over, with 20 runs still needed and the experienced Haris Rauf bowling, Richards put him under the pump right away. He picked out his slower ball, smashed it over long-off, and then with ten needed off the last two balls, pulled one way over cow corner. One ball | Four runs. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Heath’s reverse-lap didn’t connect. The Blue and Gold hearts, broke! DB arrives in style! Promoted up the order, young Dewald Brevis, was on fire. While Ruben Clinton fell in the second over, Brevis found good support in Nicholas Pooran, who was happy to play second fiddle. With five fours and three sixes in his 36-ball knock of 56, DB kept MINY’s nose ahead in the chase of 149. But our other batters couldn’t quite get going. Pooran too wasn’t his usual self. Polly, Monank, Romario, all fell in single digits, and the chase went off-track.The perfect start with the ballNow the Unicorns may have gotten to 148 at the end, but at 33/5 in seven overs, we really had them on the mat. Nosthush Kenjige, with his mystery spin, got rid of the dangerous Finn Allen in the first over itself, struck once more in his next dismissing Matthew Short, and finished with a spell of 2/13 in his four overs. Boult, from the other end, kept things very tight too. In the end, it was a late recovery from Hasan Khan and Corey Anderson that got SFY out of trouble. Here's the equation then: Our final game against LA Knight Riders is a knockout. We need to win, and win big enough to go over their net run-rate, and leapfrog into the playoffs. Again, this is no unfamiliar territory. The Knight Riders are a team we have a good record against. One win, and we’ll get the momentum to soar through..
19 Jul, 2024
“There’s a mathematical chance, and we still believe”: Peterson after heartbreak vs SFU
B.E.L.I.E.V.E. That’s what it’s now down to. MI New York Head Coach, Robbie Peterson, although disappointed with the loss, was still hopeful of the team’s chances to making it through to the playoffs. A lot of it will depend on other results, but here he was, speaking to the media at the post-match press conference after the game against San Francisco Unicorns on Thursday (July 18). Excerpts.. Thoughts on the game Very disappointed we didn’t get over the line there. It was ours to lose really. We found a way to lose a game from a winning position, which is very disappointing in T20 cricket. I thought they played some smart cricket between Corey (Anderson) and Hasan Khan. They played smart cricket, picked their moments and got a total on the board. There is a still a mathematical chance though, and we still believe even though it is very tiny. Guys will be hurting tonight that they didn’t get over the line. On trying out different opening combinations I think tonight was a little closer. A couple of the local boys struggled a little in this campaign compared to the last campaign. Shayan Jahangir gave us a little momentum in the powerplay. He lacked a little confidence and form. He hadn’t played much in the World Cup. We have him the opportunity but it didn’t work out. Sometimes these tournaments are very brutal like that. You have to come with confidence and cricket behind you. We thought we cracked the code tonight having DB (Dewald Brevis) up the order. On Heath Richards’ cameoI’ve known him for a while now in South Africa. He is someone who goes under the radar. He has come through the development system back in South Africa and has now moved to the States. He just showed he has got serious hitting power for T20 cricket. He’s a great kid and I am glad he is able to show glimpses of what he is capable of. We should have maybe played him a little bit sooner, would’ve solved a lot of our issues.
19 Jul, 2024
MINYvSFU preview: Into the must-win zone with a quest to repeat 2023 heroics
Oh it’s tantalizingly poised. While Washington Freedom, who are still to lose a game this season, have comfortably qualified for the playoffs with a couple of games left, the other three slots still have five contenders, with each of the five having a proper chance of making it through. So it’s simple. Two league games remain. We kind of need to win them both to sail through into the playoffs comfortably. Winning one by a big margin could be enough too, but we’d skip that option. This is exactly the position MI New York were in the 2023 MLC season, before the dream run began. The San Francisco Unicorns are up next, who are in a slightly more comfortable position compared to ours. As our Head Coach Robbie Peterson said after the loss to Freedom in the previous game, “It is all about showing character and personal responsibility now”. That’s right, it’s time to step up. What: MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns When: July 18, 7:30pm local | July 19, 6:00am ISTWhere: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: Another pitch the seamers will love, and a contest where the true MINY spirit will come to the fore. Remember, we are yet to beat the Unicorns in an MLC game, and what better occasion than one that could help us put a foot in the playoff door!
18 Jul, 2024
MINYvWF report: No, no. Can we put this game behind us quickly, please?
Okay, can we tune ourselves to believe this never happened? It was just one of those days where things didn’t click. An off-day with the new ball, an off-day with the bat. Let’s quickly brush this behind us and move on.The batting wobble0/1, 9/2, 13/3, 13/4, 25/5, 25/6. It wasn’t an ideal start for us with the bat with the Washington Freedom pacers getting the ball to nip around. And sadly, that was it for us. A pretty tough defeat, with our net run-rate taking a dent too, but let’s not get too worried. We were in a very similar situation last year as well, and found a way to get on a winning roll. There’s no reason 2024 can’t be similar..Sharp death bowling to restrict FreedomAt 105/1 in the 12th over, with Travis Head and Andries Gous going strong, Washington looked well on track for a 200+ total. But Rashid Khan, with a couple of wickets, Romario Shepherd, and Kieron Pollard pulled things back rather well, mixing up the pace with the older ball, to keep them down to 182/5 in their 20 overs. What’s next then?Well, we don’t have time to brood over this. The next game is under 48 hours away, and it’s a game against San Francisco United, a team we haven’t beaten yet in this tournament. Do we really need any more motivation as we head into the must-win zone?
17 Jul, 2024
“It is about showing character and personal responsibility now”: Head Coach Robbie Peterson
After a tough game against Washington Freedom on Tuesday (July 17) where they beat MI New York by 94 runs, MINY Head Coach Robbie Peterson, stepped out to speak to the media in the post-match press conference. Excerpts..On the technical issues faced by battersThe pitch did get a bit quicker, but if anything it helps score a bit quicker in the second half of the game. The technical work is something they probably need to go back and look at. That’s all a part of this tournament, with the local players developing and getting better. It’s not easy to fix overnight. On the local USA batters and the challenges faced We are trying to find solutions. Last season we had a couple of local players who put their hands up at the top of the order. It hasn’t quite been the case this time. It is difficult when you are three or four down in the powerplay to compete, no matter what the total you are chasing. We are giving these guys all the backing and the opportunity. It is for these guys to realize that the opportunity is theirs to grab with both hands. It is a team game, we win together, we lose together. Most importantly we have to stick together. We have two games left. We have been in this position before, to come from behind to qualify. We have to be confident. But it is going to take some soul-searching and some character now to get us over the line in the next matches. On MI New York sticking with local players as openers We’ll have to go back and rejig and look at things. We don’t have too many opening batting options in the group in terms of international players. We have been the one franchise that has done that (backing local players as openers), and we would like to stick with that. We believe in our local players That is what this competition is all about. It is about winning, but also about helping those players develop and become better so that USA cricket can flourish. Unfortunately we aren’t getting over the line at the moment, but I’d like to believe the local players will be richer for experience going forward. On possible changes in the coming gamesEverybody is a possible option at this stage. We have to sit down and look where we have to go. We tried to extend the batting lineup in this game, didn’t quite work out. In the last game we saw a local player we had backed not quite get runs. It’s all about character now. It is about personal responsibility. The team is in need to raise your level of performance. Other teams have gotten better this season. We decided to show faith in people and we are going to continue that for the next two games.
17 Jul, 2024
MINYvWF preview: Time to settle scores after the rain mishap
Let’s complete the potential thriller we should’ve had the last time these two teams met each other in Morrisville, shall we? The game was perfectly set. MI New York had put up a massive score, Washington Freedom began aggressively, but the rain came down, and cost us two points on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. We’re in Texas now, the tournament is in its second half, and it’s time for us to settle scores. So here’s how the tournament has gone for us so far: a thumping win, a match robbed by the rain, a week-long break, a washout, and a brave fight to get us close in a game that looked lost a long time ago. We currently are fourth on the points table with a healthy NRR after four games. Washington, meanwhile, are on top, and are yet to lose a game this season. It’s just the kind of challenge we love! What: MI New York vs Washington FreedomWhen: July 16, 7:30pm local | July 17, 6:00am ISTWhere: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: A cracker in store, on a good batting pitch, and MINY finding just that momentum to get on a winning roll.
16 Jul, 2024
TSKvMINY report: A RASHIDO special for the ages, but we fall just short
From the dead, from what was looking like an easy win for the Texas Super Kings at one point, we fought back, and how! Rashid Khan, with a 22-ball fifty, and Monank Patel, switching gears to smash a 45-ball 61, put MI New York in with a serious chance of pulling off this chase of 177 after being 52/5. Alas, it wasn’t to be..The 97-run-stand from smash-landIt’s not every day that players from the losing side end up winning the Player of the Match award, and that should tell you the brilliance of Rashid Khan’s knock. Four fours, five sixes, and from a point where MI new York needed 125 runs in 52 balls, he refused to throw in the towel. With Monank Patel playing second fiddle to perfection, the duo brought the equation down to 33 runs being needed off eight balls. The fairytale finish didn’t quite come though, with DJ Bravo bowling a tight 19th over, but this partnership is what defines the MINY spirit, one that never gives up! “It would have been great to be on the winning side. The plan was to have a positive mindset and back my skill. It is more of the belief I have and thank the team management as well for believing I can bat at number 7. I have to keep backing myself and do the basics right,” said Rashid in the post-match presentation ceremony.The costly top-order collapseIn the end, it was the batting powerplay that hurt us. Ruben Clinton, Steven Taylor and Nicholas Pooran fell inside the first four overs. Although Kieron Pollard and Tim David tried their bit to rebuild, they couldn’t quite get going, and we were reduced to 52/5 in the 12th over. Thunder-Boult strikes twice! While our batting powerplay was a disappointment, TSK’s was quite the opposite. Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis smashed 85 in 8.5 overs, setting the platform for a possible 190+ finish. Nah, Trent Boult wouldn’t let them. He pulled things back superbly at the death, with two wickets in the 17th over, to keep them to a par score of 176. It might not be the result we were looking for, but this is exactly the fight we needed. Our refusal to give in, the intent to keep fighting right until the end, is only going to make us stronger. With three games now to go, and the race for the playoffs heating up, it sets us up perfectly for what is to come. Onwards, upwards, and onto bigger things..
15 Jul, 2024
“The belief was always there to chase this down”: Monank Patel
MI New York might have been 52/5 in 11.2 overs in a chase of 177, but Monank Patel never lost hope, so much so that he nearly pulled off a heist in the company of Rashid Khan. He spoke to the media in the post-match press conference on Sunday (July 14), and here are excerpts from what he had to say..On the partnership with Rashid Khan I am used to these conditions and know the way the pitch behaves very well. Chasing 175, I thought the way we batted in the last ten overs, we came very close. Credit to Rashid (Khan) bhai for the way he batted with me. Overall, we want to win games for the team, but happy with the way I batted. On the chat with Rashid while battingWe had a good discussion in the timeout. We knew if we would be in the game with two big overs. We came down to 50 runs in three overs. He told me to play cricketing shots. He knows my strengths. The communication between us really helped. The discussion during the time-outThe belief was always there. We wanted to make sure we were aggressive after the time-out. We got 18 runs off the (Marcus) Stoinis over. Bravo, the way he bowled the 18th over, his experience helped the team. But the belief was always there. The difference in conditions across grounds in the USThere is a big difference between New York’s pitch and this one. This pitch has something in it for pacers, spinners and batters. On the advantages of playing in the MLC for USA playersOf course, the league allows local players to get exposure with five local players now being allowed in the side. It is a good chance for the local players to play with the experienced ones.
15 Jul, 2024
TSKvMINY preview: Stop the rain, start the game!
Three matches, one win, one loss, one washout. It hasn’t been the best of legs for us in Morrisville, and thus, now as the action shifts to Texas, let’s get some momentum, shall we? In case you were one of us many with hopes of witnessing an El Clasico in America, don’t worry, the wait isn’t all that long. With back to back encounters scheduled, MI New York and Texas Super Kings will hopefully be allowed by the weather to put on a show this time around. It’s been nearly a week since we played our last game, and we cannot wait to hit the ground running. With the table getting real tense and the business end of the tournament kicking in, it’s time for Kieron Pollard and his boys to paint the town Blue and Gold! What: Texas Super Kings vs MI New York When: July 14, 7:30 pm local time (6:00am IST, July 15)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: Well, Blue vs Yellow is always iconic. It might be TSK’s home ground, but we are carrying some very happy memories from 2023. The pitch here is a proper belter, and we can expect a massive run-fest. Brace up, if you’re in the stands, don’t take your eyes off the ball.
14 Jul, 2024
MINYvTSK report: Alas, Morrisville leg ends with a before scheduled time washout
Not quite the day or the result we were looking for after a week’s break, but sadly, when there’s downpour, we’ve got to bow down to nature. A couple of hours before the scheduled start of play, the MLC announced an abandonment of the MI New York vs Texas Super Kings fixture, bringing an end to our Morrisville leg. The rain hasn’t quite been our ally at Church Street Park, already robbing us of a fighting chance through the DLS in the previous game against Washington Freedom. "We understand the disappointment this may cause fans, who were eagerly looking forward to today's game. Player safety and the quality of the match experience are our top priorities; unfortunately, the current weather conditions aren't up to playing standards,” said Justin Geale, VP of Cricket, Major League Cricket.Right then, onto Texas now, for an upward journey with hopefully some better weather. It’s the reverse fixture, and both teams have another chance to recreate the much-awaited Family El Clasico in America!
13 Jul, 2024
MINYvTSK preview: The latest installment from the family of El Clasicos
Blue going up against Yellow. Pollard going up against Faf. The MI #OneFamily going up against the Super Kings. You say you’ve seen this before?Okay, our six-day break’s done, and refreshed, rejuvenated, MI New York are back for a week of breakneck cricket. It’s also enough time to put our tough loss owing to the rain and the DLS method in the previous game behind us. The Texas Super Kings are on a similar boat, with a win and a loss in their three games along with a rained out fixture. There are plenty of familiar faces around, and we cannot wait for the American version of this El Clasico to kick off..What: MI New York vs Texas Super Kings When: July 12, 2024 | 3pm EDT, 12:30am IST (July 13)Where: Church Street Park, Morrisville What to expect: A thriller. This rivalry is known to force people into nail-chewing. And of course, keeping up with the recent trend of games in the MLC, a huge run-fest.
11 Jul, 2024
WFvMINY report: Rain (and Steve Smith) robs us of two points and thrilling finish
Well, it was far from ideal. In a game that was shaping up to go right down to the wire, MI New York, unfortunately, had to end up on the wrong side of nature’s fury. Our batters fought to get us up to a competitive total on a tricky pitch, but it was just one bad over with the ball just before the heavens opened up that cost us the game. Let’s sum it up for you.. Pooran does a Pooran, againAfter Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir fell quickly in the powerplay, our Nicky P resumed from where he left last night, which was a resumption from where he left in last year’s final. Against the run of play, he injected some much-needed momentum into the MINY innings with a 30-ball 44 as batters fell around him. The Rashid-Nortje death cameo Just as it felt that we might end up with a sub-par total, having being reduced to 111/7 in 16.5 overs, Rashid Khan took over. With three sixes and two fours in a 15-ball knock of 31, along with Anrich Nortje’s nine-ball 14, MI new York suddenly found themselves going past the 150-run mark, with a fighting total in their kitty.Smith (and the rain) goes berserkTravis Head struggled at the crease, Andries Gous couldn’t get going either. Steven Smith too took a couple of overs to get his eye in. But it was the final over of the powerplay that was the difference. He smashed Nortje for two fours and two sixes to collect 22 off the over, and before we could recover, play was stopped owing to lightning, before the rain came down, and refused to stop. What it meant was that Washington Freedom were five-runs ahead on the DLS par score, and with play not resuming, sadly, it was it. But let’s not be too disheartened. We have a six-day break now before our next game, which is the big one against the Texas Super Kings on Friday (July 12), and in true MINY style, trust us to bounce back hard!
07 Jul, 2024
MINYvSOR report: A winning start! Boult, Pooran resume from where they left last year
We came, we saw, we conquered. A perfect start to the 2024 season of the MLC for MI New York, as the boys in the Blue and Gold easily won the repeat of last year’s final, extending the bragging rights some more over Seattle Orcas. Let’s relive how proceedings went.. Boult resumes from where he left last yearIt was as if he never left. Remember that phase in the second half of the season last year when our Boulty was just taking wickets for fun? Today was an extension of that beast phase. Breaking the Seattle top-order and getting MI New York to a dream start with two wickets in the first three overs, before returning at the death and getting the dangerous Harmeet Singh to ensure Orcas folded out for just 108. His swing, his pace, his variations, Morrisville saw it all!Rashid bamboozles, Polly finishes High on confidence after taking Afghanistan into the World Cup semis, and in supreme form himself, Rashid Khan took over the mantle from Boult. Aaron Jones, unable to read his googly was trapped plumb in front, Heinrich Klaasen miscued one to the deep cheaply, and Shubham Ranjane, who was threatening to take the target beyond 130, got hurried on by a quicker one, only to drag it to long-on. Just Rashid things. And then Kieron Pollard, with his off-cutters dug into the pitch that was already tough for batting, applied the finishing touches with a couple of wickets. A Nicky-licious fifty!He was in no mood to waste time. On a tricky pitch and in a tricky situation when MI New York were reduced to 57/3, Nicholas Pooran walked out, and boy, absolutely bossed proceedings. With seven fours and two sixes in his 37-ball knock of 62, he sealed the chase in just 14.2 overs, giving a massive boost to the NRR too. Right then, we’re off to a winning start, but there’s no time to celebrate. We’re all set to play our second game in less than 24 hours, with Washington Freedom up next. Let’s go…
06 Jul, 2024
WAFvMINY preview: Make it two in two in less than 24 hours?
A winning start, check. Boys in form, check. A massive NRR boost, check. Let’s double it up, shall we?After a comprehensive win over Seattle Orcas to kickstart our MLC 2024 campaign, MI New York have the opportunity to put the foot on the gas some more as they now shape up to take on Washington Freedom in less than 24 hours. We might still be celebrating Trent Boult’s top spell, or Rashid Khan’s spin clinic, or Nicholas Pooran’s quickfire fifty, but one sleep, and the juggernaut rolls on. With Steve Smith as Washington’s captain, Travis Head as their opener, and the likes of Lockie Ferguson and Saurabh Netravalkar with the ball, they are a formidable outfit, and would be keen on getting a winning start themselves. But we are prepared, we are in the zone, and we have the momentum. It’s time to get on a roll.. What: Washington Freedom vs MI New YorkWhen: July 6, 3:00pm local | July 7, 12:30am ISTWhere: Church Street Park, Morrisville What to expect: A battle for runs on a slightly tough batting pitch. And a solid battle of skills, with plenty of it set to be on display. Travis Head vs Trent Boult, ah, it’s going to be delicious.
06 Jul, 2024
MINYvSOR: Let’s relive 2023 all over again, shall we?
** Drumroll **And it’s back. America’s very own cricket league is just one sleep away. And what better way to kick it off that have last year’s finalists squaring off in what promises to be a mouth-watering start to this season. There really couldn’t have been a more perfect invitation for Nicholas Pooran to unleash his 55-ball 137* avatar. Our captain Kieron Pollard, after a long coaching stint, is all set to roll the clock back, get back to putting on that helmet, and smash them around. Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada have an equally formidable Anrich Nortje now for company. As we head over to Morrisville to write the 2024 story, let’s slip in a couple of the 2023 pages in too, shall we?What: MI New York vs Seattle Orcas When: July 5, 3:30pm EDT | 1am ISTWhere: Church Street Park, Morrisville What to expect: Big runs, a flat deck, and a super-exciting match. Also, both sides have a bunch of South African players who’re coming off a heartbreak at the recent World Cup final, and would be desperate to put it behind them, with a win. Of course, there’s early momentum at stake too.
05 Jul, 2024
MLC 2024 is here, and Defending Champs MI New York are ready! All your FAQs answered
It’s bigger, it’s better, and it’s back. The three-week long cricket festival returns to America after breaking plenty of new ground in 2023. Oh, and it’s been some revolution this! From introducing the game to ordinary Americans to becoming a raging success, Major League Cricket is all set to push the boundaries further in 2024. IT’S ONE DAY AWAY. Okay, you’ve got questions? We hear you? Here’s your cheat sheet to everything you need to know.. Another cricket party? No wait, didn’t the World Cup just get over?The World Cup was just the start, the MLC will now take it to the crescendo! The second season is here – six iconic cities, two venues, 23 days, and MI New York out there to defend their crown. A host of world class cricketers have assembled in town, and are all set to inspire another whole generation of young American fans. So who’s playing? What’s the format? There’s the defending champions, MI New York, the runner’s up, Seattle Orcas, Faf du Plessis-led Texas Super Kings, fresh from winning the IPL, Sunil Narine-led LA Knight Riders, fresh from inducting Pat Cummins, San Francisco Unicorns, and the Washington Freedom. Each team would play seven league games, and the top four will then proceed to the playoffs. The first leg of the tournament would take place at Church Street Park in Morrisville, before he caravan moved to the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Could you recap season one please?So we won. It was a tight road until the final though, with MI New York having to win their last four games to win the title. And they did it in style, with Trent Boult getting four-fer after four-fer, young Dewald Brevis playing some clutch knocks in the middle-order, Tim David finishing games for fun like only he can, and Monank Patel getting us off to fliers. Come the final, against Seattle Orcas, it was the Nicholas Pooran show, with a blazing 137-run-knock to give us our moment of history! Woah, Defending Champs! What’s new this time then? Anrich Nortje, with his 150kph thunderbolts, is all set to don the Blue and Gold, and it is going to be a dream to watch him bowl in tandem with Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada. Also Romario Shepherd, fresh from his assault in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and then in the T20 World Cup for West Indies, is here too. Four other youngsters, Rushil Ugarkar, Heath Richards, Ruben Clinton and Sunny Patel have come into the mix as well. But the core of the team remains the same, with Kieron Pollard, the MI #OneFamily legend, along with Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Tim David and the USA star players like Steven Taylor, Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir. And what’s new with the MLC in 2024?A few extra matches. Last year saw each team play a single round-robin, but this time there are two extra games in the league. It’s just gotten bigger. But should remain the same though is the passion the league generated among the supporters, who thronged to the stadium in large numbers.Okay, I’m already excited..what’s the schedule? July 5, 3:30pm EDT (July 6, 1am IST) - MI New York vs Seattle Orcas July 6, 3pm EDT (July 7, 12:30am IST) - Washington Freedom vs MI New York July 12, 3pm EDT (July 13, 12:30am IST) - MI New York vs Texas Super Kings July 14, 7:30pm CDT (July 15, 6am IST) - Texas Super Kings vs MI New York July 16, 7:30pm CDT (July 17, 6am IST) - MI New York vs Washington FreedomJuly 18, 7:30pm CDT (July 19, 6am IST) - MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns July 21, 7:30pm CDT (July 22, 6am IST) - LA Knight Riders vs MI New York
04 Jul, 2024
Monank Patel breaks down the road to USA beating Pakistan
Of all the things that stood out in the 2024 T20 World Cup, USA’s campaign takes the cake. They came in as underdogs, were expected to be blown away. Well, they’ve surprised. Perhaps shocked even. But it was no fluke. Our MI New York pride, Monank Patel, leading the side in an epic chase against Canada, followed up by an even more epic Super Over win over Pakistan, breaks down the buildup, the preparations, the mindset, and the road to the Super Eights in an exclusive chat with MI New York. “It’s a great achievement for the entire team and the USA cricket community. The way we played and carried ourselves in the tournament was outstanding. If you see, different players stood out in different games. Everyone is proud of the way we played in those three weeks,” he said. For the world, the journey may have begun when an Aaron Jones-powered USA chased down 195 against Canada, but for Monank, it was a camp in February where the foundation was laid. A new coach, a new template, a new belief, and an instant upswing in the results. Ask Bangladesh. “We had a new coach in Stuart Law, who we had never worked with. We spent a lot of time together as a team in those two series. We prepared ourselves, beat Canada 4-0 and it helped us create momentum for the Bangladesh series. Ahead of the Bangladesh series, the media were talking about it being a one-sided series. But we talked about playing fearless cricket ahead of the World Cup. That is what we wanted to take in. And the way we played against them was outstanding,” he said. In the three-match T20I series, USA beat Bangladesh 2-1. It was as big an upset as could be. And it was just the start of what was to transpire and come over the next three weeks. “It was not just beating them. In the first game, we needed 45 runs in three-odd overs, and we pulled it off from there. Those two games were very crucial for us. It gave us a lot of confidence and belief that we could win from any situation, against any team.”The main deal now – Pakistan in the Group Stage. USA had already done what even the most optimistic of supporters would have been happy with, beating Canada. Just a tough fight would’ve now been enough. Not for Monank though. “We had a chat before the game, and we said we had nothing to lose,” he said of the Pakistan game. “The pressure was on them. We saw the footages of some of their batsmen, and we knew the matchup was in our favor. For example, Muhammad Rizwan’s wicket, we decided we would bowl him the outswinger, and the second ball he faced, he outside-edged to Steven Taylor. We utilized the conditions really well and we knew 160-165 was a very gettable score.”Monank is the ultimate pressure-killer. Or a pressure lover. In the chase of 160, at one point, he was batting on a 27-ball 31 soaking it all up. But it was all accounted for. It was all premeditated. And the larger plan began to unveil with consecutive boundaries off Iftikhar Ahmed. “After the first ten overs, we decided to target certain bowlers. We were targeting the shorter boundaries. I decided to take down Iftikhar if he came on to bowl. We got 11 runs in that over. Shaheen Afridi then came on to bowl, and I pre-planned the whole over and he bowled exactly where I wanted him to bowl. We got another 10-run over we wanted. It gave us momentum.”Before we knew, he was on 50 off 34 balls. USA had a firm foot in the door. The reverse-swinging ball meant Pakistan clawed back. When it all came down to holding their nerve, USA came through. Huffing, puffing, they took it to the Super Over, and ensured America’s biggest cricketing moment was achieved! “Even before the game, I was talking to a friend and I was talking about the crucial times when I was put under pressure and I delivered. I told him it was a big occasion against Pakistan, and that is where my best comes out. I manifested it and it just came out.” It's been a dreamy few months for USA cricket, and now with the second season of Major League Cricket upon us, it’s time to get Monank manifesting all over again. Perhaps a second title!
03 Jul, 2024
Quick, grab your MI New York merch
Our Blue and Gold, your Blue and Gold! From jerseys, to baseball caps, to reversible bucket hats, to some fun t-shirts, we have the entire range of MI New York merchandise. Hop onto the Shop page on minycricket.com, and sport the colors of the defending champions in style. The second edition of Major League Cricket begins on Friday (July 5, 2024) at Church Street Park, Morrisville with a repeat clash of the 2023 Final as MI New York take on Seattle Orcas. Each team is set to play seven league games, before the top four teams move over to the playoffs. We’re all set for some red hot action over the next three weeks. Let’s show some Blue and Gold love, shall we?
02 Jul, 2024
Bring on MLC 2024! The MI New York arrivals begin
It’s almost like an extended cricket party season here in the USA. The World Cup is reaching its pinnacle, the USA cricket team had a dream run, and now, it’s CROWN-DEFENDING TIME. The MI New York players and the support staff have started to arrive, in style, and over the next four weeks, are going to give it their all in a hope to repeat our heroics from last year. It is Major League Cricket time, and we cannot be more excited!! Monank Patel, fresh from leading the USA national team into the Super-8, and fresh from an iconic fifty against Pakistan to seal an epic win, Ehsan Adil, who’s brought his yorkers along, Shayan Jahangir, with his quick starts, and some young, new blood in the form of Sunny Patel, Rushil Ugarkar, Heath Richards, Ruben Clinton, and of course, the no-look, six-monster in the form of Dewald Brevis are here. MI New York begin their campaign on July 5, 2024 against Seattle Orcas at Morrisville, in what is set to be a repeat clash of last year’s final. Let’s paint the Big Apple in our Blue and Gold once again, shall we?
26 Jun, 2024
Willow by Cricbuzz and YES Network to air MINY games in MLC 2024
In a massive testament to the growth of cricket in the USA, and the rising interest among the audience, Willow by Cricbuzz and the YES Network have struck a deal to televise and stream seven Major League Cricket matches featuring the defending champions MI New York in the upcoming 2024 season. These matches will be available on both the YES television network and the YES App, as well on Willow by Cricbuzz’s TV network and its streaming platform. This partnership will bring the exhilarating MLC action to YES’ coverage territory of New York State, Connecticut, northeastern Pennsylvania and north and central New Jersey, starting with the Friday, July 5 season-opener pitting MI New York against the 2023 runners-up Seattle Orcas. “The recent triumph of the U.S. cricket team over Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup has ignited a nationwide cricket frenzy,” said Todd Myers, COO of Willow by Cricbuzz. “In a strategic move to leverage this surge in interest, Willow by Cricbuzz and the YES Network have joined forces. This alliance will not only showcase the MLC and MI New York on a grand scale but also enhance the sport's visibility and accessibility. This transformative collaboration is poised to propel cricket’s skyrocketing popularity across the U.S. and invigorate a thriving fan base.”“We are excited to welcome Major League Cricket and defending champion MI New York to the YES Network,” said Jon Litner, CEO, YES Network. “As sports fans around the world currently enjoy the ICC T20 World Cup, YES is delighted to partner with Willow by Cricbuzz to capitalize on the growing interest in the sport of cricket in the New York area by showcasing MI New York to sports fans throughout our territory.” The MI New York ScheduleFriday, July 5 MI New York vs. Seattle Orcas Saturday, July 6 MI New York vs. Washington Freedom Friday, July 12 MI New York vs. Texas Super Kings Sunday, July 14 MI New York vs. Texas Super Kings Tuesday, July 16 MI New York vs. Washington Freedom Thursday, July 18 MI New York vs. San Francisco Unicorns Sunday, July 21 MI New York vs. Los Angeles Knight Riders
12 Jun, 2024
Accenture named Principal Partner of MI New York
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has announced a three-year partnership with Major League Cricket Champions MI New York, where it will serve as its principal partner.Under the partnership, the Accenture logo will be visible on the front of MI New York match and training jerseys. MI New York will also leverage Accenture's digital services and consulting expertise to enhance performance both on and off the field through innovative solutions and data-driven strategies that will integrate with MI’s existing data driven approach to cricket. Accenture will use its technology, data, and AI capabilities to elevate operations and experiences for MI New York and its fans. Jill Kramer, Accenture’s chief marketing and communications officer, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world and this is an exciting opportunity to innovate and grow the game in the U.S.” Kramer said. "This partnership will demonstrate how technology, including data and AI, can drive new experiences for players, coaches, team and fans.”The long-term partnership will also focus on using data analytics, video analysis, and smart technologies to boost the performance of MI New York’s coaches and players both on and off the pitch. In addition, these innovations will further improve team operations and help build stronger connections with U.S. audiences, increase engagement among American youth, and support MI New York's long-term goals in the development of the cricket ecosystem in the country. Partnering with Accenture is a significant step in MI New York’s efforts to establish and grow cricket in the U.S. With the vast MI fan base worldwide, the partnership will have a great impact on expanding the game across the nation.MI New York is part of the MI family, a leading global cricket brand with five T20 teams across three continents and four countries, including both men’s and women’s teams. Major League Cricket is set to begin its second season this summer, starting July 5th, allowing U.S. fans to enjoy top-tier T20 cricket.
05 Jun, 2024
LAUNCHED: The 2024 JERSEY of the DEFENDING CHAMPIONS!
Our cape. Our pride. Our jersey. It’s here!! Pull up the curtains.. As MI New York get all set to defend their crown, the brand new Blue and Gold jersey for 2024 is here. Brought to life by Monisha Jaising, we cannot wait to watch our boys don it come July 5. “Taking forward the art deco peacock feather motif that inspired the MI NY jersey last year, the MI NY 2024 jersey once again gets its inspiration from the art deco architecture of NYC. Dominating the New York skyline the Chrysler building is a classic example of Art Deco architecture and is a symbol of the city’s boundless energy and creativity,” said the ace designer. “As the building approaches its 100th anniversary, it remains strong & iconic, and a timeless reminder of the power of human ingenuity and the enduring spirit of New York City. It was this spirit that inspired me to use elements of this architecture in the MI NY 2024 jersey. The graphic print of the jersey is inspired by the terraced crown of this magnificent building with its finely layered and ribbed crown, that forms a radiating sunburst pattern.”Let’s go then, and paint America in the MI NY colors once again!
05 Jun, 2024
MI New York Welcomes Commvault as Associate Partner for 2024 Season
Commvault, a leading provider of cyber resilience and data protection solutions for hybrid cloud organizations, today announced its sponsorship of the MI New York, the defending champions of Major League Cricket (MLC). Anna Griffin, Chief Market Officer at Commvault, shared her excitement: “Sponsoring the MI New York cricket team is Commvault’s opportunity to support one of the most dynamic and fast-growing sports in the world. It’s a no-brainer! This partnership not only allows us to engage with cricket fans but also reinforces our dedication to fostering community and resilience. We're excited to share the Commvault spirit and support the MI New York team on their journey. We’re thrilled to connect with cricket fans and bring the Commvault spirit to the pitch.”Cricket fans get ready to join Commvault in supporting the MI New York team! Look for the Commvault logo on jerseys, stadium signage, and across TV and social media platforms. Commvault’s sponsorship will feature exciting opportunities to engage with fans, including exclusive watch parties, contests, and cricket clinics with professional players. Fans, partners, and customers will also have the chance to join these events in Dallas and Morrisville stadiums and help fuel our connection with the cricket community. Additionally, as part of our commitment to community engagement, tickets in both locations may be offered to local charitable initiatives, ensuring that more people can experience the excitement of the game!“MI New York is excited to team up with Commvault. This partnership is a testament to the growing appeal of cricket in the U.S. and reflects our shared commitment to excellence and developing the cricket ecosystem in America,” MI New York said in a statement. “Together, we aim to bring the excitement of cricket to new audiences and demonstrate the importance of resilience both on and off the field. We look forward to a successful season and a partnership that brings fans closer to the action.”Cricket is the second most watched sport globally, with over 2.5 billion fans. As cricket's popularity surges in the United States, Commvault's collaboration with MI New York aims to bring the thrill of the game to a broader, more diverse audience and serves as an opportunity to educate an untapped global fanbase about the importance of resilience – critical knowledge that is applicable to both personal and professional life, whether on the pitch or in a Commvault Cleanroom defending against cyber attacks.Let's get together in welcoming them onboard, and keep the energy up as we aim to defend our MLC crown with the season starting on July 5, 2024!
03 Jun, 2024
New York is ready, bring on the T20 World Cup 2024!
Three days to go. Three days until the biggest caravan in cricket hits the USA. Our New York is ready to play host to some of the biggest clashes in the game, and we cannot contain our excitement! A brand new stadium, the biggest venue in this edition of the World Cup with 34000 fans set to witness a piece of history being created in America, and the opportunity for us to tell the future generations the story of how it all started. Here’s how you need to mark out your calendars to catch all the action at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. DateTimeMatchJune 3, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTSri Lanka vs South AfricaJune 5, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTIndia vs Ireland June 7, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTCanada vs Ireland June 8, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTNetherlands vs South AfricaJune 9, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTIndia vs PakistanJune 10, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTSouth Africa vs BangladeshJune 11, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTPakistan vs Canada June 12, 20249:30am local, 8:00pm ISTUSA vs India Lots of big games, some more madness, and a guarantee of entertainment awaits! See you in the stands..
28 May, 2024
PRE-SALE MLC 2024 TICKETS ARE HERE!!
Things are rolling real quick in the USA. Just a couple of days after the schedule for the second season of the Major League Cricket was launched, here’s your special access to grab match tickets. Yep, the secret pre-sale is here, and here’s how you can avail it:Step 1: Head over to this link: https://vivenu.com/seller/major-league-cricket-ezm5/presale-2024-pjo9Step 2: Choose the match you’d like to purchase tickets for Step 3: Use the pre-sale ticket code (case sensitive): unleashed2024 Voila! You’ve jumped the queue, and you’ve gotten yourself and your family and friends the chance to watch cricket’s biggest carnival in America live. See you in the Blue and Gold at the cricket!
10 May, 2024
MLC 2024 schedule is here! IT’S TIME TO DEFEND OUR CROWN
The American Carnival is here. A month-long celebration of the newest favourite sport in town, Cricket, is back, and is only going to get bigger! 5th July 2024, mark the date, for this is when we will begin defending our title.. You say you’re still under the aftereffects of Nicholas Pooran’s 137-run magic in the 2023 final? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Boy, MLC 2023 was some campaign for MI New York, coming back from the brink to growing in confidence with every game, and finishing with the silverware. The 2024 season of the MLC is set to begin with a repeat of last year’s Finale clash, with the defending champions, MI New York, squaring off against the Seattle Orcas at Church Street Park in Morrisville. Each team would be playing a total of seven league games before the top four on the points table move into the play-offs. Like last year, the tournament is set to be held at the same two venues – Church Street Park in Morrisville and the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Here’s what MI New York’s schedule looks like. Quick, save the dates..DateTimeHomeAwayVenue5th July 20243:30pm EDTMI New YorkSeattle OrcasMorrisville6th July 20243:00pm EDTWashington FreedomMI New YorkMorrisville12th July 20243:00pm EDTMI New YorkTexas Super KingsMorrisville14th July 20247:30pm CDTTexas Super KingsMI New YorkDallas16th July 20247:30pm CDTMI New YorkWashington FreedomDallas18th July 20247:30pm CDTMI New YorkSF UnicornsDallas21st July 20247:30pm CDTLA Knight RidersMI New YorkDallas
07 May, 2024
Nortje, Romario set to join MI New York for MLC 2024
155kph thunderbolts, and the ability to hit 155kph thunderbolts for sixes, we have both sides covered for 2024. Anrich Nortje, the South African express, is all set to join the Blue and Gold army, as is Romario Shepherd, the West Indian hard-hitting all-rounder as MI New York’s overseas signings for Major Cricket League 2024.They are set to join Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Tim David and Dewald Brevis to fill our quota of overseas players. In the domestic players Draft that took place on Friday (March 22), these were the upcoming talents picked up:* Ruben Clinton* Heath Richards * Rushil Ugarkar Bring on the 4th of July 2024 already! Let’s kick off the action and defend our crown..
22 Mar, 2024
MI New York announces players retained for MLC 2024!
The memories of 2023 were wonderful, and each one of our players were a special member of the inaugural MLC Champion batch. But the date for retention and release of players is always one that leaves us with some mixed feelings at the end of it. “The finalization of international player retentions kicks off the roster building process ahead of the 2024 season, scheduled to launch on July 4. Teams will now be able to sign up to a maximum of nine international players to their respective rosters and have until the end of February to settle on the retention of their domestic players from MLC season one. The domestic player draft will then follow in March as teams build out their rosters for the coming season,” said the MLC in their announcement. So here’s the full list of the overseas retained players as we build up to the start of our campaign in 2024: Kieron PollardNicholas PooranTrent BoultRashid KhanKagiso RabadaTim DavidDewald BrevisAnd here's the list of the local players retained for 2024 ahead of the Draft:Ehsan AdilNosthush KenjigeShayan JahangirMonank PatelSteven TaylorAnd for those release, a huge thank you from the entire MI #OneFamily. Thank you for the memories, the laughs, the celebrations. List of released overseas players:David WieseJason Behrendorff
01 Mar, 2024
Our New York set to host iconic India-Pakistan T20 WC clash on June 9
The big match in the Big Apple. It really doesn’t get any hotter than this. New York, our sister franchise, MI New York’s home at the Eisenhover Park, is all set to play host to the biggest showdown in sport – the battle royale – India vs Pakistan, on June 9, 2024. Mark your calendars, and start chalking out your excuses to bunk office. In a 20-team tournament, split into four groups of five teams each, India are set to play all their group matches in the USA, with three games in NYC, followed by one in Florida. Overall, a total of 55 games would be played across six venues in the West Indies (Kensington Oval, Barbados; Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad; Providence Stadium, Guyana; Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua; Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia; Arnos Vale Stadium, St Vincent) and three venues in the USA (Eisenhower Park, New York; Lauderhill, Florida; and Grand Prairie, Texas).The group stage will run from June 1 to 18, and the Super 8 round from June 19 to 24 entirely in the West Indies. The top two teams in each Super 8 group will then qualify for the semi-finals.USA's group stage fixtures: 1st June 2024: USA vs Canada | Dallas6th June 2024: USA vs Pakistan | Dallas 12th June 2024: USA vs India | New York 14th June 2024: USA vs Ireland | Florida
05 Jan, 2024
WELCOME THE INAUGURAL MLC CHAMPIONS – MI NEW YORK
It’s coming home. It’s time to rub some more Gold onto our Blue. The party has begun. DO NOT STAY CALM. Shout, celebrate, jump. After all, we are the Champions. And it’s been sealed courtesy an absolutely stunning once-in-a-lifetime captain’s masterclass! There are dominant knocks, there are moments of glory achieved under pressure, but what we’ve witnessed tonight at Dallas was just out of the world stuff. Dangerous is an understatement. Nicholas Pooran, MI New York’s skipper, on the big night, was just murderous! Chasing a pretty daunting 184 to win, he walked out in the first over. And over the next 55 balls he faced, nobody was spared- as he put up a show of the highest order. 10 fours | 13 sixes | 137 runs, to see us home with four overs to spare. Yep, whodathunk!So as we celebrate, and as the teams gears up to lift the trophy, here’s let’s read what some of our boys said out on the field, and what this means to them on a sideline chat with the league .. Kieron Pollard: No more rivalry (with DJ Bravo whom he was texting).I am just telling him, “I'm coming to catch you”. Looking forward to play with him in the CPL. Very special. Congratulations and kudos to the guys on the cricket field. They took the team from the Eliminator to the final. The way we won today, I couldn't be more proud. (On Pooran) Very special, this is something that's been brewing for some time. Sometimes it hurts me not to see him much in the international arena. He's a talent and he's someone that we need in the Caribbean. Congratulations to him, congratulations to the team, the support staff and the entire MI family. It's about belief, and the never say die attitude that we have. We believe in our players and that augurs well for us. I have been part of all the trophy wins. Even WPL, I was there for the final. We are going to raise the bar in franchise cricket. Thanking you (fans) for coming out and supporting today. This was the home ground of TSK but we painted it blue today. They were fantastic throughout the tournament. Hopefully we can see you all next year as well.Rashid Khan: I had only three hours to get here (to this tournament) and get ready. It means a lot to me, being a part of this family for the last two years in South Africa, Emirates and here as well. Started with a trophy here. Special, first edition of this league and winning this is special. First trophy with MI family. Will enjoy these beautiful moments.Kagiso Rabada: Great to win in the inaugural year of MLC. Very stoked, that was an unbelievable game. Good to see Nicky P playing the way that he is. There was no way to get him out tonight, he was incredible. That was probably close to the innings of his life. He was also facing good bowlers too. It wasn't an easy game. That was unbelievable to witness.Nosthush Kenjige: I couldn't have asked for anything more. The way we finished it today, the last three games - it's been do-or-die. We have shown our character. Today it was just Nicky P show. Some of the shots he hit, I don't think I have watched anybody hit the way that he did. It was a pleasure watching him. The last three weeks, just to have them all in the dressing room - be it Malinga, Rashid Khan, Boult, Rabada - it's been incredible. Trying to learn as much as I can.Trent Boult: There's no secret. In finals cricket, it's all about enjoying. Going out there and try to do the job. What a great way to finish the tournament. To see some fireworks like that from Mr. Pooran's bat was very special. Will really enjoy a very successful couple of weeks.Shayan Jahangir: The trust and support I have been getting from the franchise, it's been commendable. The backing we got brought us this trophy. The amount of talent we have in the US, we can match any country in the world. The exposure is going to take us to places and we'll put US cricket on the map.Tim David: Championships are hard to win. Lost a couple of finals but this is an awesome moment. Everyone here were treated to a very special innings. Nicky P, bloody awesome. I got the first class seat in the house. I just let him do his magic. It was a slow start (to the tournament), we really gelled and found some momentum. Everyone contributed at some point. It takes a whole squad, whole support staff to win the cup and we've done it.Robin Petersen | Head Coach: We tried to keep our composure and keep it cool. It was always going to be about the team, it was a team effort. A lot of adversities due to injuries, but the players were calm, they believed in each other, showed their fighting qualities.Dewald Brevis: We are excited to lift the trophy, very grateful for it and ready to celebrate now. It's a great learning curve, we just keep learning. Tried to get better with every game.Nicholas Pooran | MI New York captain: Chatting today we spoke about creating history. We lost our captain, and a couple of players. At the end of the day I am proud as everyone contributed. We knew it was a good batting wicket, we were prepared for this moment from a week ago. We had to be confident and believe in each other. We got over the line today, we were been put under pressure earlier this week. ‘You are going to bat like Nicky P’, I told myself, and backed my skill. I just had to execute my skills, I have been working on it for the last 5-6 years. It was really special for me. I just want to thank all the fans and supporters, they have been really amazing.
31 Jul, 2023
“I told myself, ‘you are going to bat like Nicky P’”- 137 runs | 55 balls | 10 fours | 13 sixes
Think of all the finals you’ve seen. Don’t just stick to cricket, go across sports. Think of all the all the great performances you’ve seen on the big stage. Again, across sports. You’ve probably seen the greatest of all time tonight. You know it’s not an overstatement. A captain, team under pressure, walking out to bat after the team loses a wicket in the first over, and he single-handedly chases down 184 with four overs to spare. On a historic night for American cricket, and for the MI Family, winning their ninth title (five IPLs, two Champions League T20s, a WPL and now an MLC), Nicholas Pooran was the star. When he gets into the mood, there’s no point trying. Like tonight. Just accept. This is Nicky P’s world, and we are just there to watch him in awe. Here we go then. Let’s relive the 55-ball bolt-from-another-planet, shall we? He walked in with MI New York in sticky water. Steven Taylor had been dismissed off the third ball in the first over. The target was rather whopping: 184 in a big final is good enough pressure. Imad Wasim was bowling. And Pooran, first ball, met him with solid respect, defending it off his front foot. That was all the getting-in-your-eye he needed, for come ball two, he was immediately down on a knee to slog it for a maximum over deep mid-wicket, and followed it up staying tall an tonking the next over long-off. The bugle was sounded. The timing was sublime. The intent was right there. He wasn’t going to hang around. The damning moment for the Seattle Orcas came in the third over. Poor Dwaine Pretorius was at the receiving end. 6, 6, 4, 6, 4, wide, 1 run. 28 runs were milked. None of these were mindless slogs. Each strike was cleaner than the previous, longer than the previous, more innovative than the previous. And then the juggernaut just didn’t stop. His fifty came off 16 balls in the fourth over, off another six of course. Andrew Tye came in to bowl the final over of the powerplay. He snuck in three dots through the over too. The other three balls, you ask? Yep, sixes, each of them. 80 runs came in the powerplay. 100 came up in the eighth over, with the equation coming down to nearly a-run-a-ball. He found a good partner in Dewald Brevis, who was happy to play second fiddle from the other end, letting Nicky have all the limelight he needed. Wayne Parnell, Seattle’s skipper, tried everything, pace, spin, pacers taking pace off, spinners bowling them quick. Nothing stayed on the ground. Everything was duly sent into orbit. Off over number 11.3, in just 40 balls, on the big night of the final, came the century, courtesy a pretty polite slice to deep point. Off went the helmet. Out went the arms. Smiles. Applause. Cheers. Everybody out there knew they’d witnessed something special. The next target was Harmeet Singh and his left-arm spinners. In the 15th over, with the target well within sight, Pooran went, 4, 6, 6, 6 off consecutive deliveries. In a chanceless innings where everything came off the middle of the middle of his bat, it’s only fair that something found an edge. The winning shot did: Cameron Gannon bowled a pretty good yorker, something Nicky jammed his bat down to, and the ball found the inside-edge to roll away into the boundary. 137 runs | 55 balls | 10 fours | 13 sixes. The maiden MLC 2023 trophy in the bag. “I told myself, ‘you are going to bat like Nicky P,’” he said in the post-match interview soon after. Masterclass done right.
31 Jul, 2023
“This is the best T20 innings I have ever played”: Nicholas Pooran
We aren’t done gushing over Nicholas Pooran’s Sunday night slam-bang yet. Here is he, attending the post-match press-conference and getting asked questions that ranged from his mastery, to his family, to his motivation, to USA cricket and the World Cup with the West Indies next year. Excerpts .. On getting a lot of support for cricket in America It’s wonderful. I believe I am an entertainer. Really happy to be here in America, performing like that. Really nice to hear that people have come to support not just me, but cricket in America. That’s the direction we want to head in. It’s a start, the Major League’s success is here. On what was going through his head while battingTo be honest, I never really thought about it. I was sitting and I thought, ‘okay Nicky, you are no longer captain. You are going to bat as Nicky P’. I just went out there and I knew Imad was trying to get me out. I was also looking for something. It was a good batting wicket and I felt I could play through the line. And when I hit a couple, my body just took over and reacted. I was only looking to hold my shape. I just reacted and we had 75 in the powerplay. These are the innings I have worked hard for. I always want to be there at the end. I am still lost for words. This is probably my best T20 innings. Winning the game at the end, being there for my team is a special moment for me and my family. This is the first time my baby girl came to America. Happy that she could witness this moment and come back in 20 years and see that photo. Special feeling. We spoke about that first is always special, and to have MI New York here was wonderful. I know how badly Mumbai Indians wanted this. They are an amazing franchise, They love winning titles. Today is a moment for them in history. On full houses for the games At first I was surprised. But I knew that there were so many Indians in America. They love cricket more than anything. We knew they would come out and support. Really enjoyed this tournament. We didn’t come to relax. The guys played some really good cricket. Rsahid Khan bowled his four overs for nine runs. Klaasen smashing a hundred a couple of nights ago. Quinton tonight. Amazing to see guys putting their bodies on the line here. What the MLC has done for USA cricketThere is a lot of talent. I believe this tournament will open the eyes for a lot of the players. Cricket is not just about batting and bowling, it is about the mind and mental toughness. Really nice to see these players rubbing shoulders with those who’ve played at the highest level. Nice for them to share their stories as well. They will continue to grow. Wonderful opportunity for the local players. In the coming years, USA cricket is going to be a force to reckon with. On MI NY backing younger players The MI franchise knows to deal with individuals. We knew we had to give opportunities to players, but we knew we were here to win. The players have to understand that. In life, sometimes all it takes is one opportunity. Robbie Peterson, Kieron, Malinga, Mahela, all these guys are really good people’s persons to have these conversations to tell people that we believe in them 100%. We have been really good in the last 4-5 games when our backs were against the wall. The younger guys, the local players have learnt a lot. Lessons to take for the World Cup next yearA lesson is that it is really hot here (laughs). We know there is a World Cup coming up here next year. As cricketers, it is just about opportunities. We just need to be there and perform for the fans who come to see us. Really important to build ourselves and be ready. This tournament has shown that the level of professionalism cannot drop. Someone is always looking up to you. You need to be ready on and off the field. On how he looks back at the 2015 period In 2015 I got into an accident and almost lost my life. That changed everything for me. It is all about appreciating the moment. I knew when I got back and was fit again, I just wanted to be the best version of myself. My dream is to play national cricket. I need to put the hours in the nets, training, day in, day out. That is the hard work that people don’t see. I have struggled a lot on and off the field. A couple of years ago, I got four ducks in the IPL. But when you fail, you learn more. Everything has fallen in place nicely, I am just riding the wave, staying in the moment and not overthinking. As a youngster, you just want everything to get better for you. But I have learnt to enjoy the moment and relax and take it day by day, ball by ball.
31 Jul, 2023
“It’s been wonderful to see the growth of cricket around the world”: Mrs. Nita M Ambani
MI New York put on a series of captivating performances to win the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas. On the day of the final, when the men in blue and gold put on a supreme show to clinch the title, team owner Mrs. Nita M Ambani was pitch side, passionately behind the team, as always. Major League Cricket is United States' T20 cricket league. Its inaugural season was held from 13 July with MI New York beating Seattle Orcas in a pulsating final today.Speaking on the momentous occasion, Mrs. Ambani described the atmosphere for the final as ‘unbelievable and really exciting.’ She also hailed the impact of the tournament that has seen some of the best players in the world in action. “Just look at the atmosphere here. It looks like a festival of cricket. I think MLC is a momentous step in the development of cricket in this region. Sport can be a bedrock of society and especially in the U.S. it’s a big part of the culture. So, for us to join hands with MLC and play our role in the growth and development of cricket in this region is fantastic. I’m enjoying every moment of it.”Mumbai Indians is now a truly global franchise with presence across two genders, three continents, four countries and five leagues. Speaking about the vision behind the same, Mrs Ambani said, “It’s been wonderful to see the growth of cricket around the world and especially MI going to the UAE, South Africa and now here in the US. We also have a women’s team which I am very, very proud of. It was so wonderful to see these young girls coming from such diverse backgrounds coming and playing together as a team. It was very heart-warming.”Mrs. Ambani also hoped that the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will be a game changer. “I’m a big supporter of girls in sports and I hope we can take it forward in every sport possible,” she said.Mrs. Ambani also spoke about MI’s unique #OneFamily concept and what it signifies. “We believe that we are a family at MI and that is our ethos. It comprises not just the players and support staff but also all our fans who have contributed so much to making MI a global brand. I think one of the most important initiatives for us is Education and Sports For All. The initiative has supported 22 million children from India who come from an underprivileged background. So we are very proud to call all of them One Family, MI family.”Mrs. Ambani also spoke about how Mumbai Indians have been a nursery of talent over the years. “At Mumbai Indians we pride ourselves on discovering and nurturing young talent – Hardik (Pandya), (Jasprit) Bumrah. We hope to do this not just in India but around the world.”MI New York chased down a total of 184 in just 16 overs in the final to win by six wickets with captain Nicholas Pooran leading from the front with an unbeaten hundred.
31 Jul, 2023
SORvMINY | The Grand Finale Preview: History beckons, let’s bring it home
Firsts are always special. And getting the first in the first ever season is even more special. It just feels like the perfect culmination of what has been a historic three weeks in the USA. This batch of 2023 is special. Despite the injuries, despite the odds, our boys have found a way to keep peaking, fixing the missing puzzle pieces, and fighting in a pack. From the fightback that Polly and Tim embarked on and fell agonizingly short against the San Francisco Unicorns in our first game, to our bowlers skittling our LAKR for 50 to get our juggernaut on track, to a heartbreak against TSK, to our local USA players in Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel stepping up and showing the world their class against Washington Freedom, to Klaasen’s century undoing Boult’s brilliance at the death, to Dewald Brevis putting on a masterclass of hitting in the Eliminator, to another Four-some from Boult and a complete batting effort to avenge the league stage loss against TSK in the Challenger to book our seat in the final, it’s been some campaign. It’s time for one final hurrah. Seattle Orcas await, and we have some personal scores to settle against them as well. At the biggest stage, for the biggest prize, it’s time to rub some more Gold on our Blue. What: Seattle Orcas vs MI New YorkWhen: July 30, 2023 | 7:30pm local time (July 31, 6:00am IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, TexasWhat to expect: The tickets for this game were sold out a week in advance. So in front of a loud crowd, a true sporting wicket, expect a lot of noise. After all, history is never made quietly. What you need to do: Firsts are always rare. Let’s get that feeling. And let’s just keep this momentum going. Do the same, eat what you’ve been eating over the last two days, wear what you’ve been wearing over the last two days, speak to the same people. Absolutely the same.
30 Jul, 2023
Nicholas Pooran: “We have treated the last four matches like a final. We are ready for this for a week.”
The moment is here. Three weeks, 19 matches, and it’s all down to this. One giant trophy. One winner. And as we ready up for the mega clash, our skipper, Nicholas Pooran, was at the pre-match press-conference. Here are some excerpts .. On starting slowly in the league stageIt’s been a challenging one for us. We had to put our pieces together. At the start of the tournament we spoke about how we wanted to play. It took some time for us. Our backs were against the wall. The last 3-4 games were must win games for us. Even losing our captain, all of us had to take responsibility. Everyone raised their hand and did it for the team. All I instilled in the guys was teamwork. We are here in the final because of teamwork. Instilling that confidence in the local players, asking them to just go and express themselves. It has been a learning curve. As a group we are really happy to be in the final. On the local USA playersThey play international cricket as well. When they play for the USA, they express themselves and they are really good. For us, we felt like as the tournament went along, we international players understood that it wasn’t about skill or talent, it was about confidence. It is about making them believe that they belong. For us, it is about understanding these players and building these players up. More tournaments like these would help. Time, games, experience is everything. On standing in for the injured Kieron PollardI didn’t face any challenge. We had guys like Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, they are really experienced. On the cricket field it is really easy. What helped was that everyone put their egos aside. I can’t do it alone. I needed to rely on their experience. I needed to trust them. The communication was good in the last couple of games. I am a wicket-keeper as well, I cannot have conversations with the bowler every single ball. That’s when I can trust Trent or David to have that conversation with our bowlers. It has been easy for me. This is what team sport is all about, share experience, keep the ego aside and be happy for each other’s success. Troubles in finding the opening pair It was a tough call. We have been looking for that opening pair. It has been challenging for us. We have backed our local players. Shayan has stood out for us. Slade has just got the opportunity last game. We as a franchise play tactically. We go a lot on match-ups as well. We haven’t decided on tomorrow. A lot of our players played the situation of the game and that was commendable. Tim David, myself, even Brevis, they way he played in the last game was tremendous. Brevis is just 20, and he is someone all of these guys can look at. He studies the game. He wants to get better. This is where the younger local players can see where they can improve. They can understand what consistency is. Going into tomorrow’s game, everyone has to take responsibility. Just need to do what is right for the team. On the preparation for the finalIn the last four games, we prepared ourselves that we were playing the finals. Even in the game against Seattle, we had a chance to win the game. We felt those dropped chances cost us the game. We competed till the last over. We knew we had two difficult games to play in the semi-finals. We have been prepared for this final a week ago. But having said that, it comes to nothing. Tomorrow is a big game and we as a group are ready. On each of the last three games being must-winsYes it can help the team to build it. But it can be difficult on the bodies. We saw Adil going out last game because of a niggle. Rest is very important. We saw Rabada going out earlier, Pollard as well. We have faced injuries in our team. But our minds are ready and it can take care of everything. On the local crowd support for MI NYIt’s a big help. Any support we get is good support. In the last week we needed every support we could get. We know there is a lot of Indian support for Mumbai Indians. It helped us so much. Hopefully they can come out and do it tomorrow. I can speak from a West Indian point of view, we play this game to entertain and we appreciate fan support. The role and influence of Pollard after being injuredI think his role became bigger after he got injured. The game where we scored 141, we won the game and we had a conversation about what went wrong. He is the bowling coach of MI and he came out here and explained to everyone, starting with myself. I played a ridiculous shot right outside the powerplay. And then Tim coming and getting out one ball before the break. These are things that can lose and win you games. He has played over 600 games. I don’t think there is a more experienced player than him. Just to see him really passionate and teach every single person is great. There are people playing Test cricket in the team, a lot of T20 cricket. That’s his job, seeing other people achieve their potential. He is passionate about Mumbai Indians as well. He has been with them for 10-15 years. They really appreciate him and what he is doing for us is really important. That’s how we are going to get better. On Dewald Brevis lighting up the tournamentI think he is going to be the next son of Mumbai Indians. Nice to see him part of the team in the IPL and of MI Cape Town. Unfortunately he was left out of the team because of team selection. He was working really hard. He had a conversation with MJ (Mahela Jayawardene) about him walking across and getting LBW walking across the stumps. We could see it in the dressing room that he really wanted to play. He really wanted to perform. Getting that opportunity in the game before, batting with responsibility, we couldn’t have asked for anything better especially with Polly going out. We’ll see how good he is in the next couple of years. Positives for him on and off the field On the field, the influence of the senior players onto the junior players. For example, with Nosthush, whenever we have given him the ball, he has taken responsibility. Even with Tim David bowling the last over in the last game, we knew it was a big match-up with David Miller. But he being the senior player, said he would take the responsibility. For me, that is big. All the guys can see it is all about the team. At the end of the day, it is about winning games and winning championships. Off the field, the opportunity to bring my family here, spend time, roam around America, get the know the local guys, see the culture, eat some Texas barbeque. On helping spread cricket in America There are a lot of Indians in America. They know their cricket and they have a lot of friends too. So I am confident that a lot of Americans are going to understand cricket in no time. The facilities have been brilliant as well, especially here in Dallas. Really enjoyed it. The pitches have something for the bowlers and the batsmen, that has brought about good cricket games so far. The atmosphere is like South Africa. The ground is dug under and everybody in the crowd is over you. You just enjoy that vibe. Sometimes it feels like the IPL too. The tournament has definitely surprised us. We have really enjoyed it so far. Parting thoughts on wanting to win MLC 2023 It's very special. The Mumbai Indians owners really want this trophy in their case. Looking forward to getting my hands on it tomorrow.
30 Jul, 2023
Grand stage set for MLC's inaugural Championship Final match
Mrs. Nita Ambani, MI New York Team Owner, to attend landmark occasion for cricket in the United States. Satya Nadella, Seattle Orcas co-owner and Microsoft Chairman and CEO, to deliver first ball. Grand Prairie Stadium will welcome cricket enthusiasts and fans from across the nation Sunday for the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) Championship Final. The Seattle Orcas and MI New York will battle to claim the MLC title and make American cricket history on a day that will feature a spectacle on- and off-the-field for fans to enjoy starting at 7:30 p.m. The championship match will also have Mrs. Nita Ambani, Team Owner of MI New York and Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft and Co-Owner of the Seattle Orcas, in attendance.The historic match at Grand Prairie Stadium is sold-out and will be followed worldwide by millions of fans of the world’s second most popular sport. The match-up will feature two teams stacked with the world’s best cricketers and America’s strongest domestic talent, led by Seattle Orcas captain Wayne Parnell and MI New York captain Nicholas Pooran.Fans can look forward to a spectacular evening that will feature pre-game parachutists from the All Veteran Group, an innings break drone show and post-match fireworks. The first ball for the championship match will be delivered by Satya Nadella, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft and Co-Owner of the Seattle Orcas.“We are delighted to have Orcas co-owner Satya Nadella here in Texas tonight alongside all of our ownership group supporting Seattle in the first-ever Major League Cricket Championship Final,” said Soma Somasegar, co-owner, Seattle Orcas. “It has been an incredible journey for our Seattle Orcas “pod” in this inaugural Major League Cricket season. We’re thrilled to be competing in this historic occasion and the Orcas team will leave it all out on the field to win the trophy for Seattle.”In attendance at Grand Prairie Stadium supporting MI New York will be Team Owner Mrs. Nita Ambani, the Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and owner of Mumbai Indians, one of the biggest cricket clubs in the world. Ranked as India’s “Most Powerful Woman” by Fortune India and the first Indian woman to be elected to the International Olympic Committee, Ambani is an educationist, philanthropist, businesswoman, patron of arts and sports, and champion of women and children’s rights.“This season has been a great opportunity to help develop cricket in the USA and showcase the MI brand of cricket in a new geography,” said an MI New York spokesperson. “It is a massive source of pride and joy to have our team owner Mrs. Nita Ambani, the most passionate supporter of the sport, attend the final in Dallas and cheer the team on.”The Seattle Orcas secured their spot in the championship match after winning the “Qualifier” match Thursday evening, having finished top of the round-robin group stage with four victories and only one defeat. Seattle’s superb batting performances included notable knocks by Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock and Nauman Anwar.MI New York advanced to the championship match after battling through both the “Eliminator” match (d. Washington Freedom) and the “Challenger” match (d. Texas Super Kings) to claim their spot in the historic occasion, with Trent Boult the stand-out star for New York with the ball.“Tomorrow will be one tough game,” said Wayne Parnell, Captain of the Seattle Orcas. “We have to lock up and start again. It is about which team can soak up pressure the best and play really good cricket. That team is going to win. For us it's about locking up tomorrow and being ready to win.”“For the last four games, we have prepared our minds and bodies and we have been prepared for the finals for a week,” said Nicholas Pooran, Captain of MI New York. “Tomorrow is a big game and we as a group are ready.”Fans can watch the game live in North America on Willow TV
30 Jul, 2023
MI NEW YORK STORM INTO THE MLC 2023 FINAL
Try saving some of those nails. Try saving your vocal chords. Try not running around waving the Blue and Gold. We. Have. Booked. Our. Date. With. History. Oh this was a comeback for the ages. A bounce-back from a point where our backs were well and truly against the wall. And it’s always special pulling off these heists against the Super Kings, even more so when the stakes are this huge and the reward is a spot in the maiden MLC Finale. With Trent Boult swinging it into our kitty with more ‘Four’ce and with each of our batters just churning out short, quick, sweet cameo after cameo, we’ve put in that complete team performance to carry us through. This is what team sport is all about. This is what stepping up in the play-offs is all about. This what the MI Family is all about. Three games, three four-fers, the genius that is Trent BoultA four-wicket haul in a T20 is rare. To do it twice is mastery. To do it in three successive games on a stage as big as this is pure genius. That’s Trent Boult for you. du Plessis c Brevis b Boult 6(9) – undone by the outswing of the new ball, getting a leading-edge to point Santner c Pooran b Boult 6(3) – a back of a length delivery that seamed away now, nicking off to the keeper Conway c Brevis b Boult 38(35) – his customary strikes at the death, getting rid of the set batter with a short ball Savage b Boult 6(2) – yep, Boult was savage. Undone with a top knuckle ball The constantly improving Shayan JahangirIf ever there was an award to be given out for the most-improved USA player through the MLC, Shayan’s winning it hands down. In the league stage game against the Texas Super Kings, he’d tried to anchor through the innings but fell at the wrong stage. But he’s more than made up for it here in the qualifier. An 18-ball 36 at the top of the innings, when the pitch wasn’t at its best and the other batters in Slade van Staden and even Nicky P found the going tough. The Tim David treatment to a chaseWhy worry when Tim’s out there? The asking rate touched nearly 11 at one point. Dewald Brevis was on 16 off 22. Tim on 7 off 12. Safe to say they were looking scratchy and the momentum was nowhere to be found. But come the time-out, some button somewhere clicked. Some switch went on. With sheer muscle behind this hit, Tim smoked Mitch Santner down the ground for a six, and then followed it up with three more off four deliveries against Mohammad Mohsin to resurrect MI NY’s chase. Easy Wiese34 runs | 24 balls. While Brevis was doing it in boundaries from the other end, with Tim’s sweet form rubbing off on him, David Wiese was more than happy to do it in twos. His experience of being around and his cool head were well and truly on display, as he refused to panic, brought the equation down to a-run-a-ball in the last two overs, and made full use of a dropped chance to smash a half-tracker over cow corner to kill the game. It was only fair that DB, who’d hung it out through the tough period got to apply the finishing touches, and stamp our arrival into the grand finale. It's a Sunday in the USA, an early Monday morning if you happen to be in India, but you better save the date. MI New York vs Seattle Orcas for the maiden MLC title. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be historic. The tickets have already been sold out. You’ve done superbly to break the odd-match jinx. Let’s get all the Blue we can, and go for Gold!
29 Jul, 2023
“DB’s skillsets tailor-made for no.4. The character is now matching the talent.”: Robin Peterson
It’s a proud moment for any Head Coach to lead their side into the final, and more so in the inaugural season of something historic. But Robin Peterson, being the humble team man he is, was happy to stay in the background, as he attended the post-match press conference and answered a whole array of questions. Excerpts .. Reasons behind dropping Monank Patel for Slade van StadenHe might not have played a T20 game, but he has played a lot of age-group cricket at a level just below. He has played this format before on quite a few occasions. We just make our team selection based on what the team requires. It could be that for the final. We have to sit down and discuss. Monank was gracious. He is a great team man. You saw him running drinks and add value. On the grand comeback of Dewald BrevisBrevis, probably, if you look at his history, his skillsets are tailor-made for batting at four in a T20 team. What we are seeing now is his development. The character is matching the talent as we saw in the last two games. He is only 20 years old, don’t forget that. Being exposed to high level cricket and creating reference points will go a long way for him, even in the IPL in the future. On Brevis’ gesture to the dugout after winning the game I didn’t see that gesture. DB is a team player. It had something to do with the teammates and the dugout. He started the tournament, then missed out, and came back through injury. You can see what it means for him to represent this franchise. Thoughts behind Nosthush Kenjige not bowling a single overJust tactics and strategy. We didn’t think that Nosthush wasn’t going to bowl at all today, it’s just the way the game panned out. You have to give Nicholas Pooran a lot of credit. He has been very clinical and cool about what he was doing. He could have easily bowled Nosh because of how well he has bowled, but he discussed it with Nosh and they were on the same page. Tim didn’t bowl too bad a last over, so we’ll take that. On what clicked for MI NY in the last two games I don’t think anything has changed. We have kept things simple in the background. The guys set some goals at the start of the tournament, winning the tournament and getting to the final was one. They have created that environment behind the scenes. They are just one step away from the goal they have set for themselves. Hopefully things can come together and we can have a perfect game come Sunday. On the plans to stop Heinrich Klaasen in the finalHe did win that game of cricket. Take nothing away from him, he is a fantastic player and has grown leaps and bounds in the last 12 months. When you run into an opponent who has something between his teeth, he doesn’t let you go if you don’t take your chances. That’s what he did to us. He didn’t give us a sniff when we dropped him. But Finals cricket is different altogether. Different pressures, it is a one-off, you make a mistake and you are out. We all treat it as such. Two good teams playing in the final at the end of the day. His coaching mantra and reasons for success Nothing out of the ordinary. I just be myself as a coach. I like to have chats with the players and make them believe in themselves. I like to make them feel comfortable in the environment that helps them perform to the best of their abilities. Firstly we have fantastic senior players. We have lost Pollard, Rabada, Behrendorff went home, and yet the group is still connected. Pollard, to his credit, wants to stay here with the boys till the end. The players make the environment, led by the seniors. It has been a fantastic team to be a part of to be honest. On whether things got tense in the dressing room during the chase I don’t think there was any tension. We said that we were only three shots away from winning the game and that’s exactly how it panned out. Tim David hit three sixes and broke the back of the chase. We were calm. We always trusted the six-hitting capacity of Tim David and Dewald Brevis who were at the crease. We always trusted that if they got a sniff, they would take it, and that’s exactly what happened.
29 Jul, 2023
Hurdle 1, cleared. DB smashes, TB foxes, and we are into Qualifier 2
The big hour, the big game, and we have just stepped it all up, so very efficient, so very seamlessly. The MI Family winning mentality was on display big time at Dallas, and it was a delicious treat. With our usual skipper Polly injured, Nicky P took up the mantle, shrewdly shuffled the bowling around, and strangled. From DB to TB, it was time to paint the Grand Prarie in Blue and Gold! Top Bowling, TBThey say champions just crave the big stage. They say champions know to identify the big moments. Well, ask Trent Boult. Even among champions, he is in the peak stage. Defending a there-and-there-abouts total of 141, he was on the money right from the beginning, trapping Matthew Short LBW in his second over. The turning point though was the foxing of the dangerous-looking Glenn Phillips off a slower delivery to break Washington’s back, before coming back, and making sure he did, cleaning up Marco Jansen and Akeal Hossain, both off brilliant catches from David Weise, killing all possibilities of a scare. The rise and the rise of Nosh and his mysteryGous c Tim David b Nosthush Kenjige 24(25). Mukhtar Ahmed run out (Nosthush Kenjige) 19(19). Pienaar lbw b Nosthush Kenjige 4(4). In a span of three overs, our man produced a slower delivery that a set-Gous misread, an absolutely stunning direct hit from backward point, and a dead-straight arm ball to pin Pienaar plumb. If Freedom thought they’d seen out the danger in Boult, ah, well, they were in for a shock! USA, take a look at the no-look striking-machineLet’s rewind a slight bit. MI New York were in a spot of bother 41/3 in the tenth over. Dewald Brevis, back in the XI, and back in the middle-order, took his time at the start, getting his eye in with 15 runs off his first 16 balls. His first signs of cutting loose came in the 12th over with a four and a six off Moises Henriques. The bugle was sounded. A six came off each of the next four overs, and with Tim David giving him good company, the tables had turned. The momentum was ours. Woohoo. Let’s say it and say it together: WE ARE INTO THE SECOND QUALIFIER. And while we wait for the next few hours to see the result of the first qualifier and who we face, let’s celebrate quickly, for we need to put everything behind us and gear up to take the ground in just under 24 hours!
28 Jul, 2023
Brevis credits friend Tilak and coach Mahela Jayawardene for stellar 57-run knock
57 runs. 41 balls. Four fours. Three sixes. It started with a bit of caution after having lost two early wickets. It went onto a watchful counter-attack. And in the end, it was some monster hitting. Dewald Brevis, after lighting up the big stage, was at the post-match-press conference, hitting a few questions out of the park. Excerpts .. Thoughts on his approach during the inningsTo be honest, I just told myself to be calm and be myself always. I just want to mention Mahela Jayawardene, he had a chat with me a few days ago and he asked me to have a suble moment with my trigger. When that came off I was smiling and I felt good out there. The wicket was interesting, but if you just focused to play straight, it worked out. On performing at the big stageEverything worked out. You always want to play to contribute, but you wait for your opportunity and everything works. To be able to come back and contribute for the team, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. On having the franchise’s backing even off the fieldIt is very important to have the backing of the franchise and to represent them in the IPL, the SA20 and now this. I didn’t want to be in another shirt. Such an amazing feeling to be able to contribute for your team. I have to mention my friend, Tilak (Varma), he is somewhere in Barbados now. He always tells me, when he plays, he’s going to win the next game. Always important to enjoy and give as much as you can so that you can put in a nice performance for your team. The atmosphere and the reception to cricket in USAI love it in America. It has been great. Have enjoyed off the field too. It is a beautiful country and has a lot to offer. When the sun starts to set, it is a great atmosphere, has a great vibe and is one of the finest fields to play in. I hope all of America picks it up because I think cricket is much better than baseball and much more entertaining. Thoughts on the next gameI won’t make any assumptions of tomorrow. We just have to stay in the moment. Things can change and you just play the ball. You can just give your best and look to make the best out of every single ball. On how the team decided the par score todayA game of T20 is going to change all the time. You just have to be positive and look to attack. You have to adapt. You and your partner out there have to speak to each other. And then it is your thoughts by yourself when you are at the other side. I am always in the moment. The players have chats at time-outs. We left a lot of runs out there today. We could have added 20 more runs easily. On the influence of AB de Villiers in his gameHe has always been my role model growing up. We have had good chats growing up. We speak on WhatsApp and he really just helps me on the mental side. I see a lot of his videos on how he goes about his batting. I am a visual learner and I like to see his bat swings. You then develop by yourself. To listen to how he went about things really helps. He gives small little inputs on how I need to develop myself. He just wants to put me in the right direction basically.
28 Jul, 2023
MINYvTSK | Challenger: Time to be ruthless and book a Sunday date
No time to breathe. No turnaround time. No time to look back and savor the victory. And tell you what, we love it! Bring it on. The momentum, the confidence is well and truly in our dugout, and before we know it, with just a night’s sleep in between, we’d be out again, carrying on right from where we left. Same ground, same pitch, and in front now – we have it – are the Texas Super Kings, who are coming off a pretty one-sided loss. Despite the absence of our regular skipper, our leader, our legend, Kieron Pollard, who sustained an injury while fielding in the last league game, the middle-order stepped up beautifully to the challenge. Young Dewald Brevis and the ever-reliable Tim David refused to let the absence be felt.We are checking a new box every game, peaking slowly but surely. This is our territory. This is where the MI Family rises. This is our moment. Let’s make the Sunday evening reservation, shall we?What: MI New York vs Texas Super Kings When: July 28, 2023 | 7:30pm local time (July 29, 6:00am IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, TexasWhat to expect: The MLC has confirmed a full house. The history in the MI vs Super Kings rivalry across different leagues doesn’t need reminding. When Blue and Yellow come together, it’s just Red hot. What you need to do: It may have been a trend in this tournament where we win a game, lose the next, win the one after that, and so on. The play-offs are all about reversing these trends. And we need you to pull put something new to reverse this odd-match jinx. Quickly.
28 Jul, 2023
Relive MI New York’s road to the MLC 2023 play-offs
It’s been a solid ten-day roller-coaster. MI New York has seen it all: thumping wins, brutal batting performances, opening bursts with the new ball, death overs masterclasses, close finishes, heartbreaks, everything! And we are into the first eliminator as the caravan heads back to Dallas, Texas. As we build up to it, let’s relive the five games thus far .. On the wrong side of the result in a high-scoring thriller vs San Francisco Unicorns After having the opposition well under control at 50/4, we let them off the off, thanks to a 129-run stand between Corey Anderson and Shadab Khan that took them to solid total of 215 in their 20 overs. MI NY started off slowly, but our finishers-supreme in Tim David and skipper Kieron Pollard went on a rampage towards the end, but alas, fell 22 runs short. More OneFaMIly dominance vs the Knight RidersA proper one-sided finish to stamp our first win. After setting the LA Knight Riders a target of 156 to win, thanks to Tim David (48 off 21) once again providing the burst at the death and Nicholas Pooran anchoring the innings, Nosthush Kenjige, our domestic star, triggered the collapse by trapping in his LBW flair off the very third ball. And then it was a procession, with all our five bowlers claiming two wickets each as LAKR were shot out for 50 in just 13.5 overs. A heartbreak in the next El Clasico vs Texas Super KingsHaving restricted TSK to a pretty modest total of 154, thanks primarily to Kagiso Rabada’s early and then Trent Boult’s late strikes, our batting didn’t get off to the best of starts. Shayan Jahangir did his best to try and play through the innings, but despite quick cameos from the ever-reliable Nicholas Pooran (19 off 15) and the ever-ready-to-finish-games Tim David (24 off 19), we just couldn’t get going, ending up losing by 17 runs. A positive shift to Morrisville gets top-order firing vs Washington FreedomThe change in location brought us good luck and a new-found motivation for the game. Morrisville saw the smashes and the sharp wickets that MI NY had in store for us. Our domestic players Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel brought their A-game to slam a solid 65 runs in the powerplay. Polly showed us his skills, never a boring moment with him, as he finished the game early with 27 runs to spare. We were back on track and ready for our final fight. Denied the top of the table spot by a rampaging Klaasen vs Seattle Orcas With a play-off spot almost certain thanks to our super NRR, we entered the final match for MLC 2023 against the Orcas. With 7 smashing sixes and 3 stunning fours Pooran made us proud with his 68 of 34 balls as MI NY put up a strong 194/8 on what has been a chasing wicket. Although Heinrich Klaasen kept Seattle’s asking rate in check in the chase, which included a 26-run over against Rashid Khan, it was Boult’s spell that nearly swung it back in our kitty. In a three-run, three-wicket 19th over, he was just unplayable. Sadly, Klaasen was in the mood, got to his century, got his side home, and we had to settle for the fourth spot. Right then, we have three games in our radar, each one a must-win, each one where Polly and Co. will bring their ruthless attitude to the fore. The MI Family knows to win, and let’s aim to get the maiden MLC in our kitty too, shall we?
27 Jul, 2023
The Eliminator | MINYvWF: Knockout time, mission 1/3
So you say you’re in Dallas? And you’re suddenly finding it hotter than usual? Yep, yep, it’s that time of the league. It’s the final leg. It’s the win-here-or-go-home zone. Every eye is on the title. Every road is leading in to the Grand Prairie. Every move is set to create history. Okay, that’s the big picture. Let’s keep our eyes firmly on the road, which has had its fair share of easy smooth segues and some bumps en route to the playoffs. Next hurdle: Washington Freedom, the team we breezed past a couple of matches ago. That’s still fresh. The wounds that Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard inflicted with their batting must still be fresh too. It was the game where our top-order found its rhythm. We’ve checked all boxes. All that remains now is getting it fully right, in sync. And in many ways, it’s actually good pressure. There’s no room to relax, no room to leave it to tomorrow. THIS IS IT. Three games, three must wins. What: Washington Freedom vs MI New York, The Eliminator When: July 27, 2023 | 3:30pm local time (July 28, 2:00am IST)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: The pitch here in Texas in the first leg was a true sporting wicket with something in it for everyone. It also wasn’t a bat-second pitch like the one at Morrisville. Expect the same. What you need to do: The boys know what needs to be done. The equation for all of us is crystal clear too. Let’s pray, shout, scream, cheer, egg on the boys, and leave nothing to chance, please.
27 Jul, 2023
INTO THE ELIMINATOR!! Klaasen ton pips Boult death-overs masterclass
Bitter-sweet. Not the dreamy way we’d imagined of us storming into the play-offs, with us ending up on the wrong side of this cliffhanger of a game. But a Q nevertheless. And what a fight it was! From a point where the game looked dead and buried, to clawing up, sending a serious scare. W W wd 0 W 2 0 -- Bowled, Boult! Here’s how it stood: Seattle Orcas needed 27 runs off 24 balls with six wickets in hand. Morrisville’s chasing-ground reputation was once again coming right to the fore. With Heinrich Klaasen in the mood and batting on 90 off 36 balls, it only looked like a formality. Not to our man. Mind you, with Trent Boult, you expect miracles. Oh and his 18th over was something. Dwaine Pretorius fell off the first ball to an outside edge to the keeper. Imad Wasim was cleaned up with an absolute beauty, a slower dipping yorker that snuck under his bat. And poor Harmeet Singh just couldn’t figure out the deception as he went through with his shot early, only for his off-stump to be pegged back. Three runs, two wickets, and the game was well and truly back in the balance. Klaasen’s KlassSeattle’s innings was a one man show. In a stiff chase of 195, he took no time to settle in. With Nauman Anwar the only other contributor really as seven of the other Orcas batters got single-digit scores, Klaasen kept the scoring-rate well under check. The 16th over against Rashid Khan turned the tide firmly, with HK smashing him for 26 runs, including three sixes and a four. Even when things got tricky towards the end, he was able to keep finding boundaries at regular intervals, becoming MLC’s first centurion in the process!Another Pooran-Polly showAs if celebrating his move to number three, Nicky P, just continued from where he left off the other night against Washington. 68 runs | 34 balls | 3 fours | 7 sixes. Everything sweeter than the previous hit. And with skipper Polly tonking coming in at number five and ensuring the momentum doesn’t drop with an 18-ball 34, the platform was laid for MI New York to finish big. Right then, here’s how it stands: the MLC caravan heads back to Dallas, where MI New York will face the Washington Freedom in the first Eliminator on Thursday (July 27) in an afternoon game. It’s going to be red hot, literally!
26 Jul, 2023
“Tough to be on the wrong side of the result, but a great game”: Trent Boult
4/31 with the ball and 20 off six with the bat. It’s not everyday that you have a performance that’s as complete as this. So on Trent Boult day, he came up for the post-match press conference, and spoke on his performance, cricket in the USA, and his good friend, Corey Anderson. Excerpts .. His thoughts on the gameIt was a great game. Credit to Seattle for getting over the line. Amazing innings by Klaasen over there and it was exciting at the end. Great way to finish the league stage. Tough to be on the wrong side of the result but to come here and put on a show in North Carolina was a big thing. On the challenges of playing cricket non-stop as a bowlerI love to get wickets on every ball at the top and at the end. Having played for a while now, there is a lot of footage of what I like to do. Guys have an understanding of what I am trying to do. The wickets have been pretty good. They have been pretty slow and have allowed guys to play their shots. It’s just the challenge with playing around the world. Bad bowlers fade out and good bowlers learn new tricks. On the response cricket’s gotten in AmericaFirst of all, lot of excitement coming here in the first place. Didn’t see myself playing cricket in America. Some great crowds, great grounds. It has been advertised everywhere. The balance between local and international players has been exciting. I am thinking this has been amazing with so many people watching. It only has room to grow here, so it’s exciting stuff. On Corey Anderson moving to USA and headlining USA cricketCorey Anderson is the worst man on the phone in the world. Very good friend of mine. He has a beautiful little family here and has chosen to make the move and represent his cricket here. The guy is a classy player with a lot of power. We saw it in the first game and is a big name for USA cricket.
26 Jul, 2023
Match 5 | MINYvSO: Let’s go get pole
Facts first. With the Texas Super Kings having chased down their target against the San Francisco Unicorns last night, three teams have gotten a Q against their names. MI New York don’t have it yet, but it’s going to require a mathematical miracle for us to not be in the play-offs. One foot’s there. The other’s a millimeter away. And a win over Seattle will comfortably put us at the top of the table. Okay, into the specifics now. We have four points, but thanks to two thumping wins, our NRR of +1.319 is something everybody outside is envious of. The Orcas are coming off a very close loss against the Knight Riders, but with three wins off their first three games, are still table toppers. That’s what we are out to reverse. Everything just clicked against for us against Washington Freedom. Our top-order troubles were sorted. Our death bowling clicked. Our batting, well, that was always sorted and clicking. It’s just about sticking to the basics, keeping our eyes on the road, and using our Morrisville form one last time. What: MI New York vs Seattle Orcas When: July 25, 2023 | 5:00pm local time (July 26, 2:30am IST)Where: Church Street Park, Morrisville What to expect: Another batting beauty where chasing down totals is the norm, which makes the toss all the more important. Seattle, with a top two finish guaranteed, could in fact look to experiment with their squad too. What you need to do: Here’s the target: A top of the table finish. You know you are our impact sub. You know what you’ve done to get us here. You know what you need to do to get us- there. One last time from Morrisville, let’s grab every ounce of momentum.
25 Jul, 2023
A stunning win with 27 balls to spare - Pooran, Monank headlined!
We are back, and how! There are wins, and then there is this, one that has given our already-great NRR another boost, leaving MI New York with a solid chance of making it not just to the top four, but into the top two. The top-order announces itselfOver the last three games, one point of concern was the misfiring top-order. Not tonight. Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel came out all guns blazing, and milked 65 runs off the powerplay. Saurabh Netravalkar was in for special treatment, as the duo smashed him for two fours and two sixes in the fourth over. All thoughts of a possible change up top were put to bed, firmly. Nicky P does a Nicky POh it was a masterclass. He defended the first ball he faced, tried to cut the second but misses, tapped his third down to long-on. That was it. That was all the watchful defence you were getting out of him today. Obus Pienaar came into the attack, and Pooran went ballistic – 4, 6, 6, 4 (leg byes), 6. And the momentum never dropped. With Monank giving him solid support, and then skipper Polly in a mood to finish it quickly as well, the carnage ended with the game being sealed with 27 balls to spare. The bowlers set it upAll said and done, it was a super effort from the entire bowling group to keep Washington Freedom to 160 on what has been a high-scoring pitch. All the five bowlers were in among the wickets, and never let their batters run away with a bad over. Nosthush Kenjige, in particular, added another feather to his hat of mystery, absolutely strangling the batting and sneaking in figures of 1/19 in his four overs. Right, let’s state it again, our train is firmly on track and is all set to hit the top gear. Talk about peaking at the right time. MI NY currently sit at number three on the points table with the added advantage of playing the last league game to know what the equation ahead of us exactly is. Let’s not take this foot off the gas!
24 Jul, 2023
Match 4 | MINYvWF: Momentum time in Morrisville
It officially is time to step on the gas. A new venue, a new city, a new pitch, and hopefully, newer fortune to storm into the play-offs. The good thing though, is that with all the other teams having played one game extra, we know exactly what we need to do. And we know how to get it done. Against TSK and the Unicorns, the results might not have gone MI New York’s way, but we were always well and truly in the game. One good over with the bat, and perhaps one lesser bad over with the ball could have put the match in our pocket. Anyway, let’s look ahead. Up next are the Washington Freedom, who’ve qualified for the play-offs, and are on some sort of a roll having won their last three games. With two teams on six points and two on four, the race is heating up. Our advantage: One extra game, and an NRR better than most. What: MI New York vs Washington Freedom When: July 23, 2023 | 5:00pm local (July 24, 2:30am IST)Where: Church Street Park, Morrisville What to expect: If the last three games are anything to go by as a trend at Church Street Park, this is a chasing ground. The pitch here is a belter, the boundaries are small, and the openers should have it easier as compared to Texas. What you need to do: Do or die. Now or never. It’s that time. MI New York needs every ounce of your support. You’re taking us to the play-offs ..
23 Jul, 2023
Slade van Staden joins MI New York
MI New York have announced the signing of Slade van Staden for the remainder of MLC 2023. The 20 year old, South African-American cricketer played a season of Minor League Cricket in 2021. He replaces Saideep Ganesh in the domestic U-23 category, who had earlier been ruled out for the season.
22 Jul, 2023
There’s something for everyone in Morrisville: Come, show your love for MI NY
Howdy! Welcome to Morrisville, the land for MLC’s second leg. The land of the business end. The land where we find our momentum and get on a winning roll. Morrisville, a culturally rich town situated in North Carolina, is just a 2-hour flight from New York. The city is home to exciting attractions like the RDU observation park, Lake Crabtree County Park, Ryder Brook Golf Course, apart from a diverse range of eateries. And of course, there’s Church Street Park. For the cricket loverMorrisville has hosted a number of games at Church Street Park including Minor League Cricket and ICC Americas Sub Regional T20 World Cup Qualifier. It is also a popular training spot for both the USA Men’s and Women’s cricket teams.The stadium has been renovated in recent times and studded with new features including added cricket pitch lanes, which can now accommodate around 3000 individuals, new grandstand bleachers, LED-lit practice pitches, and nets. For the commentators, an elevated booth with camera platforms has been created and the infrastructure for tv broadcasting has been upgraded. Don’t worry, they are not leaving you hungry. There will be food trucks offering beverages and meals to keep you in good spirits. All you need to do is just arrive. Entertainment is assured. For the avid outdoor enthusiast Interested in doing something else over the week, other than watching the MI NY matches. Morrisville has got you covered. Catch a round of golf at the Ryder Brook Golf Club. You can recover from the bustling city and catch some exciting views of Vermont’s highest peak. Additionally, Triangle Rock Club is an enormous facility that houses a 55-foot climbing gym. This rock-climbing gymnasium offers all the challenges of climbing and bouldering, but indoors. For families Interested in a family outing? One can come enjoy the views from RDU Observation Park which offers unobstructed views of the airport runways and the traffic control tower. Do you miss the greens of Central Park? Head to Lake Crabtree County Park to get your bit of greenery in the middle of the city. Bordering the 520-acre lake, the park highlights adventurous hiking trails, tracks for mountain biking, play areas for children, and boat rentals during the season. There is something for everyone in Morrisville. If you happen to be around, make sure you hop in wearing your Blue and Gold, and be our 12th man in the squad, cheering us along as we make our bid to storm into the play-offs.
21 Jul, 2023
A valiant fight, but heartbreak at the hands of TSK
So DJ Bravo ended up having the final laugh. Kieron Pollard misread a googly off Mohammad Mohsin and was trapped LBW first ball. Bravo walked over and clapped our skipper off. If we ever needed the fire in our belly to be stoked, here it was. We might have lost this battle, but the war is still to be won. And we are super pumped. The Magic Khan is hereRashid Khan arrived, and it was down to him to get rid of the dangerous-looking Devon Conway, who was threatening to run away with the game. He cleaned him up, triggering a mini-collapse where Trent Boult piled on too with a couple of wickets, as the Super Kings slipped from a prospective 165 to end up at least 10 runs short. Top-order worriesThe new ball continues to be a nemesis. Chasing a modest 155, Monank Patel – sent up as an opener – fell for a duck in the second over. Steven Taylor came in at number three, but just couldn’t get going. Shayan Jahangir (41 off 38) tried to play anchor, but couldn’t see us through either. The derailing run-outA misjudgement in wanting the second run, and then not going too hard to try and get it saw Nicholas Pooran fall inches short of his ground while trying to make it back in for the second run. He was looking really good. In fact he was picking the spinner really well, stepping out and tonking a massive six too! Ah…Once again, it’s down to the Tim show!Having received a promotion, Tim David walked in at number five with the asking rate touching 12. As usual, he was happy to knock the singles around for the first ten deliveries, got going post that with a four and a six, making his intentions clear. With 21 needed off the final over and him around, there was enough hope. Alas. He miscued. And there went our hopes. It’s okay. It isn’t the end of the world. We still have two league games, and winning them should guarantee a play-off spot. A change in scenery as the action shifts to Morrisville could just be the tonic we need to find consistency. And given the MI Family’s history, come the business end, we know how to crank it up. Bring it on!
18 Jul, 2023
“One big over would have put us in control”: Head Coach, Robin Peterson
It’s a tough loss. This felt like a proper cat and mouse game, but in the end, ending up on the wrong side really hurts. MI New York’s Head Coach. Robin Peterson, came out for the post-match press-conference, and was asked an entire range of questions. Excerpts .. On the Kyle Phillips situationAny player that is drafted, you want to make sure there is a duty of care towards that individual. He isn’t with us currently. I’m sure the ICC are trying to find ways to remedy his situation. We would have loved to have him as a part of the tournament and our squad. Unfortunately that’s not the case. He has some work to do and we will be in touch with him. Expectations from MorrisvilleA lot of the tournament is unknown for everybody really. We are just interested to know about the surface as cricketers. It has an impact on how we select our team and how we strategize. We believe it is a good surface to play cricket on, it is consistent and has a bit of pace. We will know only when we get there though. It has been a great experience playing here in Dallas so far, I am sure in Morrisville it is going to be the same. On the experience of working with USA playersI think we’ve just got to believe in the players. They’re playing in front of fans and crowds for the first time in their careers. We have a duty of care to help these players develop and become something special for MI New York going ahead. A lot of our international players are fond of the American players and try and interact to give them some knowledge. Until you have come up with solutions, a lot of these games will have reference points. A guy like Shayan Jahangir, he stuck to his script. He played beautifully. With time, he will add a lot more strokes to his game and be more aggressive. Immensely proud of him and he will be a better cricketer in the future. On leaving Nosthush Kenjige out of the sideFirst, you have to try and win the game. Rashid coming in, he is a world class spinner. You can’t leave someone like him out. Nosthush bowled beautifully. He is a developing bowler. We are incredibly proud of his performances last night. He is pretty much a student of the game. He understands that he missed out today because of strategy. We brought in Steven Taylor, a leftie to deal with Santner. He also bowls off-breaks which worked. He was able to control a lot of their top players, what we picked him to do. Just a tactical change for strategy. We explained it to Nosh, and he understands. As long as a player understands that and is on board, he knows he has a massive role to play for the franchise going forward. On the development of local USA playersI think you have to win and develop at the same time. It’s a job we have to do. Players from Associate nations need to become used to the grind and the pressure to perform. It’s a part of their development in this league. We do have a keen development angle and at the top of our mind, we just want to win. On Shayan Jahangir’s inningsHe stuck to his script. He did what he could. He just ran out of steam when he was trying to find the fence. Like I said, he stuck to the gameplan. These place will start creating reference points in such games. Big rivalry against the Super Kings. We are proud of him. He showed character and this innings will stand him in good stead going forward. The thoughts at the halfway stageAt one point we were pretty confident of controlling the game. We felt we were one big over from totally controlling the innings. But they have good bowlers and a good captain who knows how to shift their bowlers around. The run-out of Pooran and then Pollard soon after rips the heart out of any run chase. Credit to the Super Kings. They played a very basic game plan and stuck to it. Hard losing Polly first ball, when you fit your game plan around players like him. On how much backing a player deservesIt's a short tournament. You want to give people confidence by giving them opportunity and sound advice. Sometimes you have to make changes. It’s a pity it is not a ten game tournament. That would have been totally different. When you are pushed in a corner like us at the moment, you have to look at different combinations that could work for us and service our needs to qualify. The wicket-keeping options after Nicholas Pooran goes for national dutyWe have Monank Patel who takes the gloves. Shayan is a backup keeper too. They have both been training behind the scenes. We will decide on that.
18 Jul, 2023
OUR FIRST MLC WIN! A 105-run thumping set up by Tim and bowlers
The wagon is on track. We are officially marching on, and how. Not only do we have two points against our name, the margin and the extent of our win has ensure MI New York has the best NRR among the six teams. Not every day do you get the opposition all out for 50! Let’s relive .. Five bowlers used, wickets equally sharedPeak equality this. LAKR were never in the game. Nosthush Kenjige opened the bowling, struck off the third ball itself to trap Martin Guptill LBW, and Kagiso Rabada, from the other end picked up two in one over to reduce them to 2/3. It was a procession after that, with nine of their ten batters ending up in single digits. When skipper Polly got a tickle on the dangerous Andre Russell’s top-edge off a bouncer, the final nail was laid. Tim doing Tim thingsAgain, he’s spoiling us. Coming in to bat at number seven and in the 13th over with the team in a spot of bother at 77/5 and none of the batters being able to get going, Tim David couldn’t care less. It was almost as if he was batting on another wicket, against another bowling attack. He took his time at first, picking up five singles off his first seven balls. And then just went wild – ending up with 48 off just 21 balls with four fours and four sixes, lifting MI NY to a strong 155. Pooran once again plays consolidator Much like the previous game, the top-order found it tough against the new ball. Dewald Brevis looked in the mood, smashing two fours and a six early on, but fell soon after, as did Shayan Jahangir, Monank Patel and Hammad Azam. It once again was down to Nicholas Pooran to curb his natural instincts and play the situation, rebuild, and rebuild he did. He took his time, played out the tougher bowlers, and was happy to nurdle singles. It was his foundation that Tim exploded off! So, just like we’d mentally prepared ourselves in our buildup, and just like Mumbai Indians had all those years ago secured their first win in the IPL over the Kolkata Knight Riders, MI New York have repeated history, doing the same over LA Knight Riders. Everything is perfectly in place for an MLC history that’s just as rich as well!
17 Jul, 2023
“Feels unreal to have such good teams, managements and players in the US”: Nosthush Kenjige
He opened the bowling, got the big fish in Martin Guptill for a duck, and derailed the LA Knight Riders’ innings. In the post-match press-conference, Karnataka-bred Nosthush Kenjige answers a whole range of questions posed to him. Excerpts .. Thoughts on finally having a cricket league in the USAIt’s been unreal to get the tournament started. We were looking forward to it for the last one-two years and to have such good teams and such good managements, it feels unreal. To have such good cricketers playing here, this is what we wanted from the USA cricket point of view. Couldn’t have asked for more. On having to open the bowlingWhen I was told that I would be playing today, I knew I would bowl in the powerplay. However, I wasn’t sure which over I’d bowl. But when you have a captain who has played so many games all around the world, you need to be ready. I trusted his plans and just did my part for the team. When did he get the message?I didn’t play the first game and we didn’t do well. I was excited. It was a responsibility. It feels unreal because my family and friends are here. I was told last night that I would be playing but they didn’t confirm it. Impact of the MLC on the local USA playersThere is a lot of responsibility on the local guys. A lot of kids look up to us, they see us practice and they want to play for the country. On seeing us play with the superstars of the game motivates them more. It is a responsibility for us to do the right things even when nobody is looking. Thoughts on the MI NY development structureIt’s been six days since we joined together as a team. On the first day itself there were values laid down which said what we were looking forward to do in the tournament. One or two points that resonated with the cricketers, was becoming better players and winning the trophy. The development part is a huge factor too. Having Pollard, Tim David, Boult, Rabada, just being around them and seeing how they go about their preparations, seeing how they read the situations of the game, learning from them, being in the same dressing room, is really helpful. You cannot ask for anything more as a cricketer. Until now you’ve just seen it on TV. On adjusting from ODI to T20 cricket after the World Cup qualifiers I think it is more of the mindset for the bowlers. In 50-over cricket it is more over to over. Here is it ball to ball, because it moves so quickly. This is just our first win, we have a long way to go, and hopefully we will be able to carry on with our momentum. On going to Carolina for the next legWe are definitely looking forward to going to Carolina. It has been a big base where we have enjoyed good support for USA. There are passionate fans there and they will come out in big numbers. Excited to go there and them come back to Dallas after that. On sending out a message to the national selectors It is just about what I can do with the bat, ball and on the field. It is best to leave performances on the field and I know I will get an opportunity and I just have to be ready for it.
17 Jul, 2023
Match 3 | TSKvMINY: IPL’s El Clasico, MLC’s ____?
Celebration time’s over. We may have pulled off the most comprehensive of victories, but that’s it now, it’s time to move on. Matches are coming thick and fast, and after the Knight Riders, there’s some more of the IPL feels, with the Super Kings up next. They are the local boys! TSK – in terms of the points table – are pretty much on par with where MI New York are. And they are coming into the contest having played a game just a day earlier. But they’re coming off a very close loss where DJ Bravo nearly pulled off something special. Speaking of special, our Tim David, actually did pull it off. While our bowling did recover from the first game where we conceded over 200, it’s the turn of the top-order now to strengthen our campaign further. In both games thus far, the new ball has been a challenge for the batters, and with this being our last game in Texas until the play-offs (which we are surely coming back for!), the top three would be desperate to get into rhythm. What: Texas Super Kings vs MI New YorkWhen: July 17, 7:30pm local time (6:00am IST, July 18)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, DallasWhat to expect: Surely some of the IPL and the SA20 rivalry is going to seep in. Blue vs Yellow is always Red Hot. And you don’t need to do much to rile up the frenmies in Pollard and Bravo on the ground. What you need to do: Every. Single. Thing. You. Did. Vs. LAKR. Every. Single. Thing.
17 Jul, 2023
Match 2 Preview | LAKRvMINY: Lots of history, and the similarity of wanting to bounce back
They go back a long way. From the IPL to the ILT20 to the MLC, this match is about two proud teams, two proud cities, two proud sporting legacies. Riding the similarity thread, both these teams are coming off defeats in their first game. While MI New York got quite close, thanks to the late hitting from Kieron Pollard and Tim David, to reduce the hit it took on the net run-rate, LA Knight Riders, had a pretty rough night against TSK in the tournament’s opening game, losing by 69 runs, thereby now having an NRR of -3.450. Let’s focus on us. We had a wonderful powerplay, and a strong finish with the bat. It’s the middle overs that need a bit of sorting out. Batting against the new ball wasn’t easy, and in the four games thus far, that’s been a trend. Under lights now, it might not after all be a high-scorer. For the trivia buffs, the first IPL match the Mumbai Indians won in history was against the Kolkata Knight Riders. And we know how the rivalry panned out after that, becoming the most-skewed win-loss ratios in our favor. It’s time we did something similar at MI New York! What: Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New YorkWhen: 7:30pm local time (July 16) | 6:00am IST (July 17)Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas What to expect: Let’s just say some extension of the #OneFamily dominance over the Knight Riders. It’s coming into America! What you need to do: Well, double the efforts. Double the cheering. Double the fandom. Double the shouting. It’s time to romp on the winning horse.
16 Jul, 2023
MINYvSFU report: Pollard smashes, David tonks, but 216-run target too steep
A minor blip, nothing more. A high-scoring encounter, and our batters really tried, but alas, coming close wasn’t enough. We started off in style with the ball, finished in style with the bat, but in those middle overs, lost our way a bit. The Polly showOh we know how much we’ve missed these. Although the asking rate was touching 15rpo, there was hope. In fact there was more than hope, there was the belief that Pollard would take us over. He’s spoilt us over the years in the IPL with his takedown of bowlers. Walking in at 64/3 in the ninth over, he didn’t have much of a choice. Time wasn’t a luxury. Ah, he didn’t need it. He started off his rampage right from the start – four fours, two sixes, in a 27-ball 48. Tim, Tim!It started off as a support act to Polly. 1 off 4. 7 off 9. 13 off 13. But after the skipper fell in the 18th over, David just went into beast mode. 60 runs were needed off the final two overs, Haris Rauf was bowling the 19th, and he was in for some special treatment. Two massive sixes and a flat one-bounced four into deep mid-wicket, before tonking another couple of maximums against Marcus Stoinis in the final over. A dream startIt indeed was the perfect start we could have hoped for. After the Unicorns opted to bat first, our bowlers had them on the mat at 22/3, with Rabada and Boult combining to send their top three in Finn Allen, Matthew Wade and Stoinis back. Their skipper, Aaron Finch, didn’t last long either. It soon became 50/4. However, sadly, a rearguard came. Corey Anderson and Shadab Khan didn’t just rebuild. They counter-attacked, and how. 91 off 52 for the former. 61 off 30 for the latter. And together, they’d taken SFU to a whopping 215-run score. Again, just to reiterate, this is just the beginning. In a short tournament such as this, matches come thick and fast, and we need to ensure we brush this off and get on the winning horse. We know the MI spirit. We know the MI brand of cricket. In Polly and Co., we trust fully. Against LA Knight Riders in less than 48 hours, we will be back. OH, WE WILL BE BACK.
15 Jul, 2023
“Polly and I believed if two guys could chase this, it was him and me”: Tim David
Everything comes quick and fast in the MLC. So pretty quickly after a heartbreaking loss, Tim David was at the post-match press-conference, where he spoke about the game, his innings, the conditions, and the impact rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in the business is set to have on USA cricket. Excerpts .. Thoughts at the half time?We had a really good start. We had them at 4/50 just after the powerplay and we gave them the opportunity to build the partnership. We saw it throughout the game that it was hard against the new ball but once you got a partnership and the ball got softer, it got easier. Above par. But fair play to their batters. Shadab and Corey played a good innings. On the batting conditions and conversations with PollardWe thought we could get it right until Pollard got out. It is tough for a new batter coming in. There was a good breeze from one end and that was also the longer boundary. It was really tough to score at that end. When you’ve got Haris Rauf bowling, who is one of the best death bowlers going around, it is pretty tough to score off him. We were just trying to get what we could out of that end. It was a tough ask when you’ve got that many runs to score. But Polly and I believed that if two guys could do it, it was me and him. We had conversations out there, but couldn’t get over the line.Impact of the MLC on USA cricketAssociate cricket is tough. People just look at the World Cup qualifiers. Boys are playing four, five ODIs in a week. It is pretty tough physically. You don’t have the luxury of the better hotels and food available, and the support staff around you. Playing Associate cricket in the early part of my career was a huge learning for me because I knew what I had to do to prepare. I was lucky when I was playing in the Big Bash, I had the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with the experienced international players. If you are willing to learn off those players, like I am sure the local USA players have. Few games in the first game, but they will get pieces of gold from the experienced players. You look at the squads, the who’s who of international and franchise cricket are playing here in this tournament. It is an amazing opportunity for those trying to learn and improve. On player fatigue just after the World Cup QualifiersAs you get to international and professional cricket, you’ve got to be ready to go when the opportunity comes. It is tough. You see a lot of guys coming in from different series, it might be something they aren’t used to. The guys who stand out are the guys who will perform well. These are high quality games. On his strategy after walking out to batWe had to score pretty quickly. It is tough to walk out and hit the ball straightaway. So I gave myself a little bit of a chance to get in. I wanted to give myself a chance in the match-ups. It probably happened a little bit too late for us today. We saw Polly taking it down from one end. You would have seen that most sixes were hit from one end. The strategy was to play good shots and then it became obvious that we just had to go for it. On the learnings for the next gameI think the positive at not playing your best is you know where you can improve. Some really good individual performances. Being a short tournament, there are limited opportunities but everyone is ready to put in a winning hand. It is going to be high quality, cutthroat. We’ve only got four left and we need to get cracking on the points board.
15 Jul, 2023
Match 1 Preview | MINYvSFU: Pollard vs Finch battle to kick things off
An American cricketing revolution, the rise of a new dawn, a sold-out opening game, lots of anticipatory buzz on the streets. That’s enough buildup. It’s time to hit the ground. It’s time to put on that Blue and Gold! “Winning mentality”Over the last 16 years, through five IPL titles, through two CLT20 wins, the WPL title in our maiden season, the inaugural editions of the SA20 and the ILT20, there was one common thread – we play to win. With MI New York now at the cusp of opening itself to the world, this is one thing our skipper, our legend, Kieron Pollard, couldn’t stress on more. “Domestic players most important in franchise cricket”The MLC has a rule of having a minimum of five USA players in the XI, and MI NY has five capped players in our squad to fill up these slots. Pollard said scouting domestic talent was something that made the MI franchise stand out historically. The first USA-born player to be picked up in the Draft this year was by MI New York, in the form of Steven Taylor. Right then, Aaron Finch’s San Francisco Unicorns are our first hurdle to clear. With the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Haris Rauf, Liam Plunkett and Qais Ahmed in their squad, they are one proper potent bowling unit. But don’t be worried. The no-look hitter in Dewald Brevis, the hottest finisher in town, Tim David, the leftie dynamo, Nicholas Pooran, and obviously, the calm head and massive sixes of Kieron Pollard, are just the challenge they’d be trying to avoid. What: MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns When: 14th July 3:30 PM CDT, 02:00 AM IST (15th July) Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, TexasWhat to expect: Small boundaries, a lightning quick outfield, a flat deck with lots of runs. Still, trust Trent Boult to find swing, trust Kagiso Rabada to find bounce, and trust Rashid Khan to bamboozle batters left, right and center. What you need to do: Let’s tell you the drill: put on your blue, bring out your cheering partners, and shout your lungs our to show your love and support! What they said: “Words cannot describe the connection with the MI franchise. The brand believes in the winning mentality and that is what I have put in myself. It was match made in heaven. It has reaped the awards of winning championships. Now this is a time of transition to help others achieve this level of greatness and I am happy that I am in a position now to influence that change.” – Kieron Pollard, skipper MI New York
14 Jul, 2023
“Both MI and me have a winning mentality. It’s a match made in heaven,” says Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard and the MI Family. If ever you’d need an example of a solid, long-standing relationship, it’s this. Having come into Mumbai Indians as a 22-year-old in 2010, to having retired in 2022 and become the batting coach for IPL 2023, to leading MI Emirates with good success in the inaugural season of the ILT20, to now doing the same at MI New York in the upcoming MLC, he’s been the one solid presence in the MI Universe. At the captains’ press conference before the tournament kicks off, he spoke about a bunch of stuff, from his MI bond, to the scouting, to cricket in the USA, to the local talent at MI NY. Excerpts ..On the local American cricketers in the MI New York sideFor us, from an MI perspective, we look at talent and their development. When you go around the world with cricket tournaments, the most important people are the domestic players. When you are able to identify the cream of the crop and give them the opportunity to now rub shoulders with guys who have played cricket around the world, it gives the knowledge to become better cricketers. Hopefully the guys at the end of this tournament become better cricket and the development of cricket in the USA starts here with us. On the KP-MI bondWords cannot describe the connection with the MI franchise. The brand believes in the winning mentality and that is what I have put in myself. It was match made in heaven. It has reaped the awards of winning championships. Now this is a time of transition to help others achieve this level of greatness and I am happy that I am in a position now to influence that change. Hopefully they can take it forward. On MI NY’s scouting strategy Overall, Mumbai have a lot of scouts going around looking at talent. That’s why we were able to acquire most of the international players, some we have played with and some against. But we have a solid plan as a franchise on how we want to develop talent around the world. It is something that started a couple of years back. When we get into a franchise tournament, it becomes easy now when we know the local players. We have our plans in place and we continue to roll on. Hopefully by the end of this tournament, we will see other players, and hopefully by next year, we have some fresh faces in our camp as well. On why the MLC is likely to be more successful compared to other franchise tournaments tried in the USA in the pastI think the influence of the IPL franchises. The IPL has proven to be a successful tournament over the years. When you get these guys to sign in to a tournament like this, you know they will put in a hell of a lot into marketing the brand. It is a new venture in America as well, and they know how to get things on the ground. So I’m guessing, the backing of the bigwigs to market it properly and having some of the best players in the world participating in it, is going to help it big time. In the CPL, we have one or two games played here. Only when you play against India, because of the Indian community, you have crowds coming in at Florida. This is the start of something bigger, better and everyone is serious in growing the game in America. Hopefully, this will continue for the future generation. On what the youngsters in the team can look forward to For us, in our franchise, we look to develop them. We are all equal. We all get to share knowledge and get better as individuals. They can see what we have done to have been on this stage for so long because they want to be there. Just helping them with understanding cricket and different scenarios. We worry about this development. We want to make them as comfortable as possible. The franchise includes our families when we do things. They make it comfortable, and when you are comfortable, you open up as an individual and the learning takes place on both fronts.
13 Jul, 2023
MLC Trophy unveiled in a dazzling event
Major League Cricket (MLC) added another momentous moment to a historic week for cricket in America, with the MLC Championship Trophy unveiled today in Dallas. The captains of the six MLC teams gathered for photos and a media conference ahead of MLC’s inaugural season, which starts this week. A photo shoot with the team captains took place at the newly-completed Grand Prairie Stadium, followed by a media conference at Hillwood Corporate Offices in Dallas. MLC co-founders Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan and all six team captains came together to celebrate the future of cricket in the United States ahead of the sold-out inaugural match between the Texas Super Kings and Los Angeles Knight Riders this Thursday evening at Grand Prairie Stadium.The highlight of the event was the grand unveiling of the new MLC Championship Trophy. Designed and produced in America by the renowned Bennett Awards, out of California, the trophy is a stunning embodiment of the modern era of cricket in the United States. Its contemporary design in bronze metal pays homage to the sport's rich heritage while emphasizing the forward-thinking vision of Major League Cricket. The Trophy's dynamic shape captures the spirit of innovation and progress, symbolizing the growth and potential of cricket within the American landscape. During the media conference all eyes were on the six team captains as they took the stage. Captains in attendance included international stars Kieron Pollard (MI New York), Sunil Narine (Los Angeles Knight Riders), Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings), Aaron Finch (San Francisco Unicorns), Wayne Parnell (Seattle Orcas) and Moises Henriques (Washington Freedom).
13 Jul, 2023
MLC FAQs: Everything you need to know about the American cricket revolution
Revolution. It’s not a term to be thrown around lightly. In the context of the American cricket ecosystem, what’s waiting to happen is a revolution and a half! MI New York is here. The Major League Cricket (MLC) is here. As we get ready to get cracking for the next three weeks and hit the ground, this is your cheat sheet for all the doubts you might have. Wait … What’s happening in the USA?Professional cricket is officially being launched in the USA. In a first-of-its-kind franchise tournament, six teams will battle it out in a three-week-long tournament. With the goal of bringing world-class cricket to the USA, the MLC has partnered with USA Cricket to enhance competition and develop skills across the country.Who’s playing then? What’s the format? Six teams – MI New York, Texas Super Kings and LA Knight Riders are extensions of their IPL franchises. Washington Freedom, San Francisco Unicorns, and Seattle Orcas are the other three. Each plays the other once, which translates into a five-team group stage, followed by the IPL-style play-offs (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final). So home and away format then, right?Nope. All the matches are set to be played across two venues in a caravan format. The Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas plays host to the first leg (three MI NY matches) and the play-offs before the action moves to Church Street Park, Morrisville for the second leg. Okay, tell me more about MI New YorkAfter Cape Town, Abu Dhabi and the entry into WPL, the MI family expansion has reached the US. The exciting city and most international city of New York is where the new team comes from. The city is known for its sporting teams right from the NY Mets, the NY Jets, the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets. It’s time we add MI New York to that list! And our star-studded team will make you fall in love with it. Kieron Pollard is back in action as the skipper for the team. We boast of Steven Taylor, a true blue homegrown talent. Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, Kagiso Rabada from the MI metaverse converge to make this all the more special. I’m already excited. When’s it starting? When are we playing? And the timings?Save the dates because we have an action-packed set of games coming up for you … And if you happen to be watching it from India or the eastern part of the globe, don’t forget to bring your favorite midnight snack because we are going to have to stay up late with these times. Or maybe an early morning breakfast packed with some sixes and fours from our batting order!14th July | 15:30 PM CDT, 02:00 AM IST (15th July) | Grand Prairie StadiumMI New York vs. San Francisco Unicorns 16th July | 19:30 PM CDT, 06:00 AM IST (17th July) | Grand Prairie StadiumLos Angeles Knight Riders vs. MI New York17th July | 19:30 PM CDT, 06:00 AM IST (18th July) | Grand Prairie StadiumTexas Super Kings vs. MI New York 23rd July | 17:30 PM CDT, 04:00 AM IST (24th July) | Church Street Park MI New York vs. Washington Freedom 25th July | 17:30 PM CDT, 04:00 AM IST (26th July) | Church Street Park MI New York vs. Seattle Orcas Right. Let’s get into the specifics now. What’s the local-overseas ratio? In a move that’s set to bolster the USA players and allow a large number of them to rub shoulders with the international superstars on the field in crunch moments, thereby providing them a gold mine of experience, a maximum of six overseas players are allowed in every playing XI. And among the minimum of five local USA players on the side, a rookie/under-23 player is mandatory. Tell us about our local playersThe American National Team skipper Monank Patel, is also an integral part of MI New York. We have also got the very special Steven Taylor, who made history as the first USA-born player to be picked in the Draft. And You might have seen Sarbjeet Ladda before in his brief stints with the competitive franchises of Delhi Daredevils (2010), Kolkata Knight Riders (2011-13), and the Gujrat Lions (2016-17). Among the others, there’s a former engineer, a Bengaluru-bred all-rounder, and a local Queens-born lad.Finally, where do I follow it?If you’re watching it from India, the Viacom group has bagged the broadcast rights, which means JioCinema will stream digitally it and Sports18 will be your go-to broadcast channel. For all other exclusive MI NY related content, previews, reports, player features, videos, scorecards and stats, hop onto the minycricket.com website and follow all its social media handles.
12 Jul, 2023
Dewald Brevis: “My blood is blue. I’ll run through a wall for MI”
When your goosebumps cannot stop exploding, you know you’ve heard something special. Dewald Brevis, already a special person in our MI universe, is on a mission to get is tearing up. “It feels like my blood feels blue, the way I've been taken care of, it's a big thing for me,” said Brevis in an interview with Cricbuzz. “The MI family makes me feel like I belong. They backed me at a very young age after the under-19 World Cup and gave me a platform. And I'll always be grateful to that. I'll always be true to that. So, I'll run through a wall for them. And the bond is very special.”Rewind to 2022. The under-19 World Cup is in progress. There’s a certain batter who’s giving major AB de Villiers feels with his batting. He’s lapping the ball around, playing reverse-scoops, slogging them deep over cow corner. He’s only 17. A few days later, at the IPL auction, he triggers a proper bidding war. CKS and PBKS want him. From his base price of 20 lakhs INR, they raise him to 1.6cr INR. Mumbai Indians jump in, Punjab withdraw, but CSK don’t relent. Not until 3cr INR, and not until he becomes the highest-paid under-19 player. He is Dewald Brevis. And he is ours. It has to be one of our better wins over CSK! And immediately in his first season, he showed us just why all the hype around him made sense, smoking Rahul Chahar for four consecutive sixes, each one longer and fiercer than the previous one. He continued his good work a few months later at MI Cape Town, and announced his arrival to the world some more with a stunning, once-in-a-lifetime knock of 162 off just 55 balls in South Africa’s domestic T20 circuit.However, come IPL 2023, with Mumbai Indians having found a set combination, he was forced to warm the bench for the entire season. But Brevis, being Brevis, used the time spent on the sidelines to work on his game with Head Coach, Mark Boucher. “It's tough dealing with your emotions when you are not playing. It can be tough. But I worked on a lot of things with coach Mark Boucher. It's been a year for me playing at a higher level, if the opposition analyzes me as a batsman, it's important to have a few tricks up my sleeve to foil their plans,” he said. Even Robin Peterson, General Manager at MI Cape Town and the Head Coach at MI New York, sees the difference in Brevis’ game. “I think at the U19 level because he was so much better than everybody else that he could just thrive on talent and instinct. He didn't need to think too much. He could just play and intimidate opponents at his age group level. The minute he went up, he was competing with men basically as a schoolboy," said Peterson. "Now he talks a lot about visualization around his game. His recovery and getting his body ready to perform at its optimum. He understands part of your mental prep is understanding the opposition, you coming up against the conditions you are playing in, how they may try and combat you. These are conversations that he has on a regular basis which he might not have had a year ago." Brevis now is with the MI New York camp for the inaugural MLC season, and surely, SURELY, he’d be dying to get out there onto the cricket pitch and show the world his progress. Trust us, we are dying to see him tonk them into the stands with that usual swagger, without bothering to look up.
11 Jul, 2023
Pizza, Statue of Liberty and MI New York
Mumbai. Cape Town. Abu Dhabi. New York. The sea. The sand. The hustle. The dreams. Our thread gets longer. The #OneFamily gets bigger. We’ve come to America. You can’t come to New York and not indulge in the local pizza. It’s Mumbai’s Vada Pav equivalent. Introduced to New York somewhere in the early 1900s, this is now the staple. Hand tossed, thin crust, cooked in large iron ovens, it’s the perfect blend-in dish for the countless cafes around town. Quite similarly, you cannot come to New York and not visit the Statue of Liberty. Symbolising freedom and the abolition of slavery following the American Civil War, this copper statue stands tall in the New York Harbor. At 305ft, giving the tourists the opportunity to go right up to the crown and have a bird’s eye view of the city, it’s become synonymous with the Spirit of New York. That’s what we want to be. Cricket – finally – is being launched in the United States of America. It’s the start of a revolution. When Kieron Pollard and his troops walk out to mark the start of something historic in the annals of USA cricket, let’s save the date: 13 July, 2023. Let’s mark it in Blue and Gold. With the MI brand of cricket and oneness, let’s make MI New York a part of the city’s DNA. When Rashid Khan foxes batters in every way possible, Tim David finishes games that were meant to be dead and buried, Trent Boult churns out his magic with the new ball, Kagiso Rabada cranks up the speed gun, Dewald Brevis tonks them onto the roof without bothering to look up, and skipper Kieron Pollard marshals everyone around, try stopping the entire American continent from loving their cricket! This is MI city. This is MI team. This is MI Family. We are MI New York.
11 Jul, 2023
Willow TV to broadcast MLC across North America in long-term partnership
Major League Cricket (MLC) announced today that its historic inaugural season will be broadcast live on Willow TV in the United States and Canada this July as part of a landmark five-year partnership.The long-term media rights agreement with Willow TV brings the transformative T20 franchise competition, featuring many of the world’s top players competing in the United States for the first time, to North America’s premier cricket channel. The broadcasts on Willow TV will feature a world class production, with a 30-camera set-up for the matches at Grand Prairie Stadium in North Texas and Church Street Park in North Carolina. The broadcast for Major League Cricket’s sold-out inaugural match, between the Texas Super Kings and Los Angeles Knight Riders, will be shown live on Willow TV this Thursday, July 13, starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Six teams will compete in MLC’s inaugural season from July 13-30: the Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings and Washington Freedom. Further details on the broadcast schedule can be found at Willow.TV.Willow TV, the premier broadcaster of cricket in North America for almost 20 years, holds the rights to ICC broadcast and digital rights – including men’s and women’s World Cup events – along with iconic global cricket events such as the Indian Premier League and the Ashes. Founded in 2003 by Major League Cricket co-founders Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, Willow TV was acquired by the Times of India (TOI) Group in 2016, the largest publishing company in India and South Asia. Willow TV’s partnership with MLC will also see America’s new professional cricket league covered with content across TOI.com and Cricbuzz, providing extensive reach to cricket fans across the US and Canada.Vijay Srinivasan, Co-founder, Major League Cricket said:“American cricket fans have been watching the best cricketers in the globe on Willow TV for two decades, and now they can follow the same type of world class action happening here in the United States live on Willow TV. We are thrilled to partner with Willow TV over a long-term agreement that will showcase the world’s best players taking part in America’s transformative T20 competition.”Satyan Gajwani, Vice-Chairman of Times Internet, said:“Willow TV is the long-time home for cricket in North America. We are thrilled to add Major League Cricket to our portfolio of world class events and provide fans with the chance to watch T20 franchise action taking place in the United States featuring T20 cricket superstars that Willow subscribers love to watch.”The new cricket-specific venue in the Dallas-area, Grand Prairie Stadium, will play host to 12 matches in the groundbreaking American professional cricket championship, with seven matches also taking part at Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina.Superstar players set to take part in MLC include Afghanistan T20 captain Rashid Khan, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, South African internationals Faf du Plessis and David Miller, West Indians Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, Australians Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Finch, England's Jason Roy and New Zealand’s Trent Boult.
11 Jul, 2023
Launched: The maiden MI New York jersey
Mumbai <- handshake -> New York. The pride of the Blue and Gold meets the pride of a Peacock. The inaugural MI New York jersey to be donned by our squad as they take the field for the MLC is here. The wait is officially over. Lift the curtains. “The MI NY jersey has a peacock feather motif print in shades of blue complimented with strong gold graphics representing the Art Deco architecture of NYC & incorporating the letters M & I in the graphics. The peacock, India’s national bird, is a symbol of good fortune and royalty, and New York City is the Art Deco capital of the world,” said Monisha Jaising, the designer of this iconic jersey. Firsts are always special, and come July 15, this is set to have a special place in our already-rich Blue and Gold history. With a cricketing revolution waiting to happen in the USA, we are all set to do our part in scripting history. For all MI New York merch, hop onto our Shop section on www.minycricket.com, or click here.
08 Jul, 2023
Viacom18 bags MLC broadcast rights in India
After the super success of streaming the IPL and hitting record numbers, the Major League Cricket (MLC) announced its broadcast tie-up with Viacom18’s sports network. The multi-platform coverage will include live streaming on JioCinema and broadcast television coverage on Sports18, starting on Thursday (July 13). The six team tournament will mark the start of the first-of-its-kind cricket league in the USA, and is set to revolutionize the sport in the country. It will feature top-class international talent playing alongside America’s best players.“JioCinema continues to change the landscape of sports consumption, and with Major League Cricket, fans will watch their favorite T20 cricketers and cheer for teams affiliated to their favourite franchisees,” said Viacom18 Sports Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Acquisitions Hursh Shrivastava. “Indian viewers love T20 cricket, and we expect them to enjoy the action from the inaugural edition of the league across JioCinema and Sports18.“We are delighted to partner with Viacom18 and ensure that the world class T20 action Major League Cricket will feature is widely available in India, streamed on JioCinema and broadcast on Sports18,” said Vijay Srinivasan, co-Founder, Major League Cricket. “Our six teams feature T20 superstars fans in India love to watch, and there’s no better partner to showcase world class sports broadcasts in the world’s largest cricket market than Viacom18’s channels.”We, at MI New York, have a host of stars who cannot wait to kick it all off, as we take the field against San Francisco Unicorns on July 14.
07 Jul, 2023
SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: MI New York to kickstart its MLC campaign on July 14
The dates are here, the schedule is here, and it’s time once again for you to mark your calendars. Our MI Family’s fifth team is all set to kick things off in the Land of Dreams. The MLC – America’s first-ever professional franchise cricket league – announced its fixtures, and is set for a massive launch on July 13, 2023.The six-team, 19-match league which will see the world’s top cricketers compete across two grounds in the USA: the Grand Prairie Stadium in North Texas and the Church Street Park in Greater Raleigh. Our sister franchise, MI New York, is all set to hit the ground with in the league’s second match on July 14, 2023, with a red-hot clash against the team from the western coast, San Francisco Unicorns in Texas. This is to be followed by another couple of games at the same venue, against the IPL sister rivals in LA Knight Riders and Texas Super Kings respectively, before we head over to Greater Raleigh for the clashes against Washington Freedom and Seattle Orcas.Four teams would then make it to the play-offs at the end of the league stage, with the final set to be played on Juky 30, 2023 and the action moving back to Texas. MI New York schedule:Time (Local)DateVenueTeam 1Team 23:30 p.m.14 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)MI New YorkSF Unicorns7:30 p.m.16 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)LA Knight RidersMI New York7:30 p.m.17 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)Texas Super KingsMI New York5:30 p.m.23 JulyChurch Street Park (Morrisville)MI New YorkWashington Freedom5:30 p.m.25 JulyChurch Street Park (Morrisville)MI New YorkSeattle Orcas PLAYOFFSEliminator Match3:30 p.m.27 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)Seed 3Seed 4Qualifier Match7:30 p.m.27 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)Seed 1Seed 2Challenger Match7:30 p.m.28 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)Qualifier LoserEliminator WinnerFinal Match7:30 p.m.30 JulyGrand Prairie Stadium (Dallas)Qualifier WinnerChallenger WinnerYou know the drill, Paltan. Let’s send all our love, support and cheers across the Pacific. Let’s paint the Big Apple Blue and Gold, shall we?
14 Jun, 2023
Captain Pollard, Rashid, Boult headline MI New York 2023 squad
MI New York announce the signing of 9 international players, completing the roster of 18 players, featuring a strong core of experience, homegrown talent, and young players, a feature that is common across all the MI teams, in three different continents, four different countries, and five different leagues. In addition to the players, MI New York have also announced their line-up of coaching staff for the inaugural season.Mumbai Indians legend Kieron Pollard will captain the franchise and the roster also includes Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan and former West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran. They will be joined by New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult and the Aussie duo of the big-hitting Tim David and pacer Jason Behrendorff. The team will also feature rising South African star Dewald Brevis, pace sensation Kagiso Rabada and Namibian all-rounder David Wiese, who has previously represented South Africa as well. All the players except for David Wiese also play across multiple MI Teams – Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town and MI Emirates, forming a strong core for MI, globally.Mr. Akash M. Ambani, Owner of Mumbai Indians, said, “We are thrilled to unveil team MI New York in the upcoming Major League Cricket season. Stalwart Pollard is leading the team which has international superstars Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, and Kagiso Rabada. It is an extraordinary line-up of youth, experience, and power. Further, we have exciting talent in the form of Tim David and Brevis, while Jason Behrendorff and David Wiese are proven performers. Combined with the exceptional skills of our local US players, we are confident that MI New York will raise the bar of competition in the cricket ecosystem of the US. We are dedicated to providing our fans with the quintessential MI brand of cricket.”The schedule for the MI New York matchesCoaching Team:Former SA & MI player and MI Cape Town General Manager Robin Peterson will be the head coach, joined by Mumbai Indians legend Lasith Malinga, as bowling coach. J Arun Kumar and James Pamment will take charge as the batting and fielding coaches respectively. Both Arun Kumar and Pamment were a part of the coaching team as assistant batting coach and fielding coach at Mumbai Indians.#OneFamily of players:Kieron Pollard played for Mumbai Indians for 13 seasons in the IPL, and in the last season retired from the IPL to take on the role of batting coach. He continues to play competitive cricket across the world and leads MI Emirates, under whom Trent Boult and Nicholas Pooran played.Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, and Dewald Brevis play for Mumbai Indians, with Tim and Dewald joining their MI Cape Town team mates - Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada.Veteran all-rounder David Wiese has been a key part of Namibia’s rise on the international circuit, playing a key role for them in each of the last two T20 World Cups.#MI NewYork - USA Talent:At the MLC draft held on 19th March 2023, MI New York drafted 9 players - the first two USA-born players in the form of former captain Steven Taylor, all-rounder Nosthush Kenjige, current USA captain Monank Patel along with wicketkeeper Shayan Jahangir and fast bowler Kyle Phillip.The full list of local players Major League Cricket will be the first professional Twenty20 cricket championship in the United States. The inaugural season of Major League Cricket will kick off in the summer of 2023.The squad size can be a maximum of 19 players, of which nine can be overseas players. Maximum six international players are permitted in the playing XI, with five domestic players to feature in each match and ten domestic players on each roster at all times. The overseas players are direct signings by the franchises were not part of the draft.
14 Jun, 2023
Meet our first pick at MI New York - Steven Taylor
Homegrown, that’s how those involved with American cricket and the fans out there in the US like to describe Steven Taylor. A tall frame, strongly built, and a clean ball-striker, Taylor is the complete package.Born and raised in the southern state of Florida to Jamaican immigrant parents, it wasn’t a surprise when the young boy took an equal amount of interest in athletics, basketball and cricket while growing up. And even more unsurprisingly, cricket was what he chose as a profession. Into the MI New York side now in the MLC, he’s made his mark in the history books, becoming the first US-born player to be picked up in the Draft on Sunday (March 19).Early breakthrough: With his father as a coach, and former USA batter Mark Johnson a mentor, this left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, broke a number of junior cricket records growing up, and a was earmarked as one for the future. At 15, he travelled with the USA senior men’s team. At 16, he was playing T20 cricket.His first major stint at brushing shoulders the big cricketing countries came at the 2010 under-19 World Cup, and soon, followed it up with a stellar performance in the ICC Americas under-19 Championship, emerging as one of the top run-scorers and carrying the USA to victory with an unbeaten run in the tournament.Caribbean stint: One of the rare few American players to bag CPL contracts, Taylor was signed up by the Barbados Tridents for two seasons in 2015-16, followed by stints with Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Tallawahs in 2017 and 2018 respectively. This is where his wicket-keeping gave way to some useful off-breaks. A First Class stint came about as well in the 2017-18 season, with him turning up for Jamaica.Becoming one of the best USA batters: Drafted in straight from the under-19 World Cup, Taylor found himself in the ICC World Cricket League Division Four side, where his consistent run saw USA romp into Division Three. In 2013, he became the first USA batter to score a T20 century, smashing a 62-ball 101 against Bermuda.A short, but super interesting stint as the national captain followed, and Taylor started off by leading the USA to the WCL Division Four title, but quit soon after when he side couldn’t advance to the next round in Division Three. Nevertheless, he remains one of the mainstays of the American batting unit, someone the locals are super proud of, and someone they call their own!
20 Mar, 2023
USA captain Monank Patel, Steven Taylor headline MI NY’s picks in inaugural MLC draft
t indeed was a golden day in USA cricket history, with the Major League Cricket Draft kicking off. Over two hours, 54 local registered players were picked up by six teams, and the teams have the permission to sign overseas players directly.In the case of our sister franchise, MI New York, the focus was on forming a strong core of local talent. Steven Taylor, the big-hitting star batter was the team’s first pick in the draft. With over ten years of international experience and the exposure of playing in other franchise-based leagues like the CPL, Taylor – with his large physical presence – is going to be a real treat to watch on the field.Over the next nine rounds, the team also snapped up the current USA skipper, Monank Patel. Here's the list of all of MI New York’s picks over nine rounds:Round 1Steven Taylor Round 2 Hammad AzamRound 3Ehsan AdilRound 4Nosthush HenjigeRound 5Monank PatelRound 6Sarabjit Singh LaddaRound 7Shayan JahangirRound 8Kyle PhillipRound 9Saideep Ganesh
20 Mar, 2023
Know your MI New York draft picks
Following the announcement of the team, unveiling the team name and logo, MI New York drafted a very strong set of local players in the Major League Cricket Draft in Dallas, Texas on Sunday.MI now has cricket franchise in three different continents, four different countries, and five different leagues.The announcement on the addition of MI New York is attached above.At the MLC draft, MI New York drafted the first two USA-born players in the form of former captain Steven Taylor, all-rounder Nosthush Kenjige, current USA captain Monank Patel along with wicketkeeper Shayan Jahangir and fast bowler Kyle Phillip. The team also added a lot of experience with Hammad Azam, Ehsan Adil and Sarbjeet Ladda, the legspinner who has played for as many as three different IPL franchises in the past. The team picked promising wicketkeeper-batter Saideep Ganesh in the U-23 category as their final pick of the day.MI New York has a very healthy contingent of USA players, with four of them currently on tour in Namibia, while two other have also been a part of the squad in the past. Apart from the excellent local talent, the team has three other players who have extensive experience of being a part of franchise leaguesThe inaugural season of Major League Cricket will kick off on July 13 in Texas.A brief profile of the players below:Steven Taylor All Rounder Round 1 Draft PickHammad Azam All Rounder Round 2 Draft Pick Ehsan Adil Bowler Round 3 Draft Pick Left hand batter and right arm off break bowler Played 11 ODIs and 5 T20Is for Pakistan Played 3 Tests and 6 ODIs for Pakistan 1st US-born player to be drafted Right hand batter and right arm medium pacer Right arm fast medium bowler Former USA captain Played for Pakistan at 2010 U19 World Cup, where they reached the final Played for Pakistan at the 2012 U19 World Cup Highest run getter for USA in T20Is Played for Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL Played for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL Been a part of Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents in the CPL Was the 1st USA player to score a T20 century Nosthush KenjigeAll RounderRound 4 Draft PickMonank PatelWicketkeeperRound 5 Draft PickSarbjeet LaddaBowlerRound 6 Draft Pick Played 29 ODIs for USA Current captain of the USA cricket team Legbreak bowler Right hand batter and slow left arm orthodox spinner Right hand batter Been part of Delhi Daredevils, Gujarat Lions and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 3rd highest wicket taker for USA in ODIs Played 38 ODIs and 20 T20Is for USA Represented Punjab on the Indian domestic circuit Took a hat trick vs Canada in 2017 in the Auty Cup Highest run getter for USA in ODIs 4th highest run getter for USA in T20Is Shayan JahangirWicketkeeperRound 7 Draft PickKyle PhillipBowlerRound 8 Draft PickSaideep GaneshWicketkeeperRound 9 Draft Pick Wicketkeeper and Right handed batter in the top order Right arm fast medium bowler Right hand batter Played four ODIs for USA Played three ODIs for USA Under 23 pick for the team Made his international debut in 2022 Has been a part of Global T20 Canada Been a part of Barbados Tridents in the CPL
20 Mar, 2023
Mumbai Indians expand #OneFamily with New York franchise in Major League Cricket
Mumbai Indians will now have a cricket franchise in three different continents, four different countries, and five different leaguesMumbai Indians, owned by Reliance Industries Limited, today announced the proposed addition of a fifth cricket franchise – MI New York, to the growing MI #OneFamily, to be based in New York. The team will participate in the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) subject to completion of customary due diligence; negotiation, and execution of definitive binding agreements, and receipt of required corporate, regulatory and third-party approvals and compliances.Mrs. Nita. M. Ambani said, “I am thrilled to welcome our New York franchise to the growing MI Family! With our entry into the first T20 franchise cricket league in the US, I hope we are able to establish Mumbai Indians as a global brand of fearless and entertaining cricket! This is another new beginning for MI and I look forward to the exciting journey ahead."The MI #OneFamily, is committed to expanding and promoting cricket across the globe, continues to grow stronger every day. MI New York will be the fifth franchise after Mumbai Indians (IPL), MI Cape Town (SA20), MI Emirates (ILT20), and Mumbai Indians (WPL), in three different continents, four different countries, and five different leagues.Mumbai Indians are one of the most followed global cricket brands with close to 50 Million digital fans spread across the world, supporting and cheering their #Onefamily of teams, who play 6 months of cricket through the year in marquee franchise leagues across the world. Since 2009, Mumbai Indians have grown in 99% brand value (Brand Finance) and have been the preferred partner for brands across the globe looking to build and tell their stories to the world.Major League Cricket will be the first professional Twenty20 cricket championship in the United States. The inaugural season of Major League Cricket will kick off in the summer of 2023. Follow MI New York on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
19 Mar, 2023