Ranking the 6 MLC 2025 squads from best to worst ahead of new season
After another exciting IPL season concluded at the start of the month, T20 cricket fans are in for more entertainment, with the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 set to begin tonight (June 12). Six teams will battle it out over a month of non-stop action to crown a champion on July 13.
The Oakland Coliseum, Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, and Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, will host all the MLC 2025 games.
All the teams will face each other twice in the round-robin stage, with the top four qualifying for the playoffs. MI New York won the inaugural edition of the MLC in 2023 before the Washington Freedom dominated the 2024 season to emerge victorious.
Despite boasting big names, the Los Angeles Knight Riders and Texas Super Kings remain the only franchises to miss the playoffs in both MLC seasons.
As we approach the start of the third MLC season, let's rank the six teams based on their squad strength, from best to worst.
# 1 Los Angeles Knight Riders
The Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) have undoubtedly been the most disappointing franchise in the first two MLC seasons. Despite boasting several match-winners on paper, they have struggled to gel together as a unit, finishing last and second-to-bottom in 2023 and 2024.
Yet, it is hard to dismiss their chances of being third-lucky based on the roster assembled for the upcoming 2025 MLC. Led by Jason Holder, LAKR are filled with game-changers and T20 stars across the board.
Some of the best West Indian superstars, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Andre Fletcher, and Sherfane Rutherford, being on the same team makes them a scary proposition.
Furthermore, the presence of Alex Hales, Spencer Johnson, Anrich Nortje, and Tanveer Sangha only adds more firepower to a lineup that, at its best, should be one of the title contenders.
LAKR squad
Adithya Ganesh, Ali Khan, Alex Hales, Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Corne Dry, Jason Holder (c), Karthik Gattepalli, Matthew Tromp, Nitish Kumar, Rovman Powell, Saif Badar, Sherfane Rutherford, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Sunil Narine, Tanveer Sangha, Unmukt Chand, Spencer Johnson
# 2 Washington Freedom
Defending champions Washington Freedom (WAF) should again be among the top contenders in the 2025 MLC season. The franchise retained most of the players from their title-winning campaign last year.
Yet, the loss of Aussie star Travis Head, who top-scored for them last season, could be a massive blow. His teammate, Steve Smith, will play only a handful of matches in the upcoming season.
Yet, with Big Bash League (BBL) star Mitchell Owen and seasoned T20 players like Glenn Maxwell, Glenn Phillips, and Mark Chapman, WAF should remain powerful with the bat. The ever-growing Rachin Ravindra and the impressive Andreis Gous complete a potent batting lineup.
The bowling department looks just as strong with the presence of Lockie Ferguson, Jason Behrendorff, Ben Sears, and Saurabh Netravalkar. However, WAF might be slightly thin on spin-bowling pedigree, with Obus Pienaar, Amila Aponso, and Yasir Mohammad as the front-line options.
Yet, the number of part-time spin options like Maxwell, Ravindra, and Phillips should make up for the same.
WAF squad
Glenn Maxwell (c), Mukhtar Ahmed, Steven Smith, Mark Chapman, Saurabh Netravalkar, Amila Aponso, Abhishek Paradkar, Yasir Mohammad, Lockie Ferguson, Jason Behrendorff, Ben Sears, Obus Pienaar, Ian Holland, Justin Dill, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Jack Edwards, Mitch Owen, Andries Gous, Lahiru Milantha
# 3 San Francisco Unicorns
Last season's runners-up, San Francisco Unicorns (SFU), retained most of their core players except Pat Cummins, Josh Inglis, and Matt Henry, all of whom endured sub-par 2024 campaigns. Led once again by Corey Anderson, the side has plenty of young talent with the bat in Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Cooper Connolly.
Tim Seifert and Matthew Short add experience and power to the batting lineup, with Romario Shepherd providing the finishing touches. Their MVP last season, Hassan Khan, along with white-ball stars Xavier Bartlett and Haris Rauf, form the core of their bowling.
Yet, the bowling depth, especially spin, could be a key area of concern that stops them from going all the way in MLC 2025.
SFU squad
Corey Anderson (c), Finn Allen, Matthew Short, Juanoy Drysdale, Romario Shepherd, Xavier Bartlett, Haris Rauf, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Tim Seifert, Callum Stow, Liam Plunkett, Brody Couch, Carmi le Roux, Hassan Khan, Cooper Connolly, Karima Gore, Hammad Azam, Achilles Browne
# 4 Texas Super Kings
Texas Super Kings (TSK) have replicated their IPL sister franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in terms of consistency without ultimately finishing the job. The franchise has finished third in both MLC seasons but failed to qualify for the final on both occasions.
Led by Faf du Plessis, TSK have a solid batting lineup with Devon Conway, Daryll Mitchell, and Donovan Ferreira. The late withdrawal of Mitchell Marsh could be a massive blow to their chances, with a batting lineup short on firepower.
Their bowling is well-served with Nandre Burger, Adam Milne, Noor Ahmad, and Akeal Hosein.
TSK squad
Faf du Plessis (c), Devon Conway, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Smit Patel, Donovan Ferreira, Milind Kumar, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane, Joshua Tromp, Nandre Burger, Akeal Hosein, Adam Milne, Noor Ahmad, Calvin Savage, Zia-ul-Haq
# 5 MI New York
MI New York (MINY) are one of only three teams to have qualified for the playoffs in both MLC seasons. Yet, after a sensational title run in 2023, the franchise lacked consistency last year and snuck into the playoffs with a fourth-place finish.
Yet, with the key retentions of Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, and Kieron Pollard, the side is not short of firepower. MINY also boast two gun all-rounders in Michael Bracewell and George Linde, with veteran keeper Quinton de Kock adding strength to the batting.
However, the absence of the Afghanistan star duo of Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai could spell doom. Depth could be another factor that derails MINY's campaign this season, with the side woefully short on pedigree in the bowling department apart from those mentioned above.
MINY squad
Nicholas Pooran (c), Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, Monank Patel, Nosthush Kenjige, Heath Richards, Ehsan Adil, Sunny Patel, Rushil Ugarkar, George Linde, Quinton de Kock, Michael Bracewell, Naveen-ul-Haq, Kunwarjeet Singh, Sharad Lumba, Agni Chopra, Tajinder Singh.
# 6 Seattle Orcas
After finishing runners-up in the inaugural MLC season in 2023, the Seattle Orcas (SOR) hit rock bottom with a wooden spoon finish last season. Unfortunately for them, the upcoming campaign could be similar, with a squad short of pedigree in batting and bowling.
Skipper Heinrich Klaasen and veteran batter David Warner must carry the batting lineup despite the presence of able middle-order batters like Shimron Hetmyer and Sikandar Raza. USA's Aaron Jones and medium-pace all-rounders Kyle Mayers and Gulbadin Naib complete the batting lineup.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Obed McCoy will lead the pace-bowling attack, while Raza must marshal the spin-bowling department, which is short on match-winners.
SOR squad
Heinrich Klaasen (c), David Warner, Aaron Jones, Steven Taylor, Shimron Hetmyer, Rahul Jariwala, Shayan Jahangir, Sikandar Raza, Gulbadin Naib, Ali Sheikh, Kyle Mayers, Sujit Nayak, Harmeet Singh, Cameron Gannon, Jasdeep Singh, Obed McCoy, Waqar Salamkheil, Fazahaq Farooqi, Ayan Desai.