LAKRvMINY report: 6, 6, 6, and a turnaround for the ages! We are into the playoffs!
By MI New York Media
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 Yore
If 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 130
We 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?
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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, 2026Say 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, 2026Meet 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
