San Francisco: Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has signed with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming fourth season of Major League Cricket (MLC), marking a significant step in the league’s growing global appeal. With the move, Ashwin becomes the first former India national cricket team international to join the tournament.
Ashwin retired from international cricket in December 2024 and called time on his IPL career after the 2025 season, following a brief return with the Chennai Super Kings. The 39-year-old recently featured in an exhibition match in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, where he was impressed by the response from cricket fans.
“This will be the first time I’m playing a T20 league outside India. The reception from the Asian diaspora showed the potential American cricket has,” Ashwin sad.
The move comes as the United States pushes to establish itself as a major cricket destination ahead of cricket’s return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after a 128-year gap. Ashwin had earlier signed for the Big Bash League with the Sydney Thunder but missed the season due to knee surgery.
MLC chief executive Johnny Grave termed Ashwin’s signing a landmark moment, noting that attracting a player of his stature highlights the league’s rapid growth since its launch in 2023.
The USA cricket ecosystem already includes Indian-origin players such as Monank Patel and Harmeet Singh, both former India Under-19 representatives now playing for the United States national cricket team.
The Unicorns, who finished runners-up in 2024 to Washington Freedom, are still chasing their maiden title. The six-team MLC 2026 season begins on June 18 across Texas, Los Angeles and Oakland, with the final scheduled for July 18 at the Oakland Coliseum.
Ashwin believes his participation comes at a crucial phase for cricket’s global expansion. “We are at a crux point where the sport is trying to globalise. The next decade will show how many people engage with the game,” he said.
Source: ESPN
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