When does Major League Cricket 2026 start and end?▼
MLC 2026 starts on June 18, 2026 with the season opener at Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas. The tournament runs for 31 days with the Championship Final on July 18, 2026 at Oakland Coliseum, California. A total of 34 matches are scheduled — 30 in the double round-robin league stage and 4 playoff matches.
How many teams are in MLC 2026 and who are they?▼
MLC 2026 features 6 teams: (1) MI New York, (2) Los Angeles Knight Riders, (3) San Francisco Unicorns, (4) Seattle Orcas, (5) Texas Super Kings, and (6) Washington Freedom. All six teams from the 2025 season return. Each team plays 10 round-robin matches before the top 4 advance to the playoffs.
Who are the defending MLC champions?▼
MI New York are the defending champions, having won their second MLC title in 2025 by defeating Washington Freedom by just 5 runs in a thrilling final. MI New York also won the inaugural MLC title in 2023. They are captained by Nicholas Pooran and owned by Indiawin Sports — backed by Reliance Industries (Mukesh Ambani's group), the same parent company as Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Where can I watch MLC 2026 in India?▼
MLC 2026 is expected to be available in India on JioHotstar (digital streaming) and Willow by Cricbuzz. Season 3 was broadcast globally to 90+ countries. Selected matches may also be available free on FanCode or Cricbuzz social channels. The official India broadcast announcement is typically made 2-3 weeks before the tournament starts in June.
What is new in MLC 2026 compared to previous seasons?▼
MLC 2026 introduces three major changes: (1) New venue — Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona, California replaces Broward County Stadium in Florida. (2) Oakland Coliseum hosts playoffs and the Final for the first time. (3) R Ashwin joins MLC for the first time — playing for San Francisco Unicorns in his first T20 franchise stint outside IPL. Season 4 also features the upgraded floodlights and expanded broadcast facilities at all three venues.
Will Indian players like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma play in MLC 2026?▼
No. The BCCI does not release current Indian international cricketers (Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, Hardik, etc.) to overseas T20 leagues outside of the IPL window. However, Indian-American USA passport holders like Saurabh Netravalkar, Harmeet Singh, Saiteja Mukkamalla, and Nisarg Patel are eligible and feature prominently. R Ashwin — now retired from international cricket — is the biggest Indian name playing in MLC 2026.
Is Texas Super Kings connected to Chennai Super Kings?▼
Yes, directly! Texas Super Kings is co-owned by Chennai Super Kings, alongside Dallas-based entrepreneurs Anurag Jain and Ross Perot Jr. This is why the team shares CSK's colors (yellow) and similar branding. The CSK management's cricketing expertise flows into player procurement and coaching for TSK. Captain Faf du Plessis is also a CSK legend from the IPL. TSK has made the playoffs in all three MLC seasons so far.
Who owns LA Knight Riders in MLC 2026?▼
LA Knight Riders is owned by Knight Riders Group — led by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Jay Mehta. The same group owns Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL), Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL), and other KKR franchises globally. The new home ground for the 2026 season is the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona — a purpose-built stadium named after their ownership group.
What is the MLC 2026 format?▼
MLC 2026 uses a double round-robin league format: each team plays each other twice (home and away), totalling 10 matches per team and 30 league matches overall. The top 4 teams advance to the playoffs consisting of 4 matches: Qualifier 1 (1st vs 2nd), Eliminator (3rd vs 4th), Qualifier 2 (loser Q1 vs winner Eliminator), and the Championship Final. Both winning sides of the earlier matches advance to the Final on July 18 at Oakland Coliseum.
Which team has the biggest India connection in MLC?▼
MI New York has the strongest India connection — owned by Reliance Industries (Mukesh Ambani), the same group that owns Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Their branding, colors (blue), and management philosophy mirror Mumbai Indians. Texas Super Kings is directly co-owned by CSK. LA Knight Riders is Shah Rukh Khan's KKR franchise. In total, 5 of 6 MLC franchises have direct Indian or Indian-American ownership connections.
Who is the captain of each MLC 2026 team?▼
Confirmed captains: MI New York — Nicholas Pooran (West Indies). Texas Super Kings — Faf du Plessis (South Africa). Seattle Orcas — Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe). San Francisco Unicorns — Matthew Short (Australia). LA Knight Riders and Washington Freedom captains are yet to be officially confirmed for 2026. Andries Gous leads Washington Freedom's batting lineup and could be named captain.
How has MLC grown since its 2023 launch?▼
MLC's growth has been exceptional: Season 1 (2023) — proof of concept, 19 days, limited audiences. Season 2 (2024) — expanded to 28 days, global viewership grows. Season 3 (2025) — breakout season: ticket sales up 53% year-on-year, broadcast to 90+ countries, 84% first-time buyers, digital engagement records broken. American Cricket Enterprises has invested $150M+ in US cricket infrastructure including 10 international-standard venues by 2030.
Can I bet on MLC 2026 matches from India?▼
Yes!
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What is R Ashwin's role in MLC 2026?▼
Ravichandran Ashwin has joined San Francisco Unicorns for MLC 2026 — his first T20 franchise league stint outside the IPL. Ashwin retired from Test cricket in late 2024 and opted out of his BBL deal with Sydney Thunder due to a knee injury. His inclusion in MLC is a major credibility boost for the league globally and especially for Indian audiences. His off-spin, big-match temperament, and batting lower down will be key for the Unicorns.
What venues are used in MLC 2026?▼
MLC 2026 is played at three venues: (1) Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas (7,200 capacity, 15 matches — including the season opener), (2) Oakland Coliseum, California (12,000 capacity, 12 matches — including ALL playoff matches and the Championship Final on July 18), (3) Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex, Pomona, California (5,000 capacity, 7 matches — brand new for 2026, replaces Florida venue).
Is MLC 2026 the biggest cricket event in US history?▼
By several metrics, yes. MLC 2026 is the largest sustained cricket event ever organised in the United States — a month-long, 34-match professional league with 6 franchises, globally broadcast to 90+ countries, with $150M+ investment behind it. The T20 World Cup 2024 (which included matches in New York and Florida) was a larger single-event, but MLC is the first sustained franchise league. The 2024 World Cup's success in the USA directly contributed to MLC's accelerating growth.