MLC 2025: MI New York Win Second Title in Five-Run Final Against Washington Freedom

MI New York won their second Major League Cricket title on 13 July 2025, defeating Washington Freedom by 5 runs in a thrilling final at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas. MI New York posted 180/7, with Quinton de Kock's 77 providing the backbone of the innings. Washington Freedom came agonisingly close — finishing on 175/5 — but could not find the boundary they needed in the closing overs. The defining moment of the final came in the last over, bowled by 22-year-old American Rushil Ugarkar, who defended 12 runs to seal the win for MI New York.

The Final: Quinton de Kock's 77 Sets the Target

MI New York's innings was built around a controlled but attacking display from Quinton de Kock, whose 77 across the middle overs provided the platform for a late-innings acceleration that lifted the total to 180/7. Washington Freedom's chase began catastrophically — Trent Boult dismissed both Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous in the first over of the reply, leaving Freedom at 2/2. Rachin Ravindra (70) rebuilt the chase, giving Freedom a genuine chance entering the final over, but Ugarkar's composure under pressure was the deciding factor.

Rushil Ugarkar: A Homegrown American Moment

The most celebrated element of MLC 2025's final was not a global star but a 22-year-old American player. Rushil Ugarkar — born and raised in the United States — bowled the final over with 12 needed, kept Washington Freedom to just 7, and secured MI New York's title. For USA Cricket and MLC, developing American-born players to perform in decisive moments is the long-term goal; Ugarkar's final over was a visible demonstration of that progress. The MLC was founded in 2023 specifically to grow cricket in the USA; the presence of an American in the game's defining moment of 2025 was its most meaningful achievement in three seasons.

MLC 2025 Tournament Highlights

MLC's third season (2025) continued to attract high-profile international talent as overseas picks alongside a growing pool of American-born players. Xavier Bartlett (San Francisco Unicorns) led all wicket-takers with 18 scalps. Monank Patel (MI New York, USA international captain) was the tournament's leading run-scorer with 478 runs — a significant performance for a player who has become the face of cricket's growth in America. Mitchell Owen (Washington Freedom) was named Player of the Series despite his side losing the final.

MLC and Cricket's Growth in the USA

Major League Cricket was launched in 2023 as part of a broader push to establish professional franchise cricket in the United States — ahead of the country co-hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup with the West Indies. The six franchises — MI New York, Washington Freedom, San Francisco Unicorns, Texas Super Kings, Seattle Orcas, and LA Knight Riders — are modelled on the IPL's franchise structure, with overseas player slots and a salary cap. The 2025 season was MLC's third, and the league's viewership, attendance, and social media reach grew across all three seasons as cricket's American audience — driven by immigration from cricket-playing nations — expanded.