India Great Joins San Francisco Unicorns for 2026 Season
Ravichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian cricketer, has signed a contract to play for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC), the team announced on Saturday.
MLC, modeled after the highly popular Indian Premier League (IPL), is an annual Twenty20 tournament designed to expand cricket's reach within the United States market.
Ashwin's Career and Retirement
The 39-year-old allrounder retired from international cricket in December 2024. Over his career, Ashwin played 106 Test matches for India, taking 537 wickets and scoring six Test centuries.
The Unicorns' announcement highlighted that Ashwin will be the first India-capped player to compete in the league, which is a monthlong tournament commencing on 18 June.
Experience and Impact
Ashwin is a spinner who has made 65 appearances in T20 international matches. In the IPL, he represented his hometown team Chennai Super Kings as well as several other franchises.
“Signed for his world-class spin bowling and strong tactical acumen, Ashwin brings the Unicorns a significant leadership asset on and off the pitch, as well as being a household name set to thrill Major League Cricket and resonate strongly with the Bay Area’s large South Asian community, further strengthening the franchise’s connection to one of cricket’s most passionate fan bases,” the Unicorns said in their announcement.
“My absolute focus is to help this franchise win games and push for its first championship, while also putting on a spectacular brand of cricket for the Bay Area fans,” Ashwin added.
League Structure and Teams
Major League Cricket consists of six teams: the San Francisco Unicorns, Los Angeles Knight Riders, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, MI New York, and Washington Freedom. However, matches are held at only three venues: Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas; the Oakland Coliseum; and Knight Riders Cricket Field in Pomona, California.
Several MLC teams have ownership links to IPL franchises. Additionally, there is growing interest from American investors acquiring stakes in IPL teams, indicating a reciprocal relationship between the leagues.
Cricket's Growing Presence in the US
Cricket has been included in the Olympic program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, further boosting the sport's profile in the United States.
