In a significant move for American cricket, veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has signed a contract with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season in 2026. This marks Ashwin’s first major franchise league appearance outside of India since retiring from international cricket in December 2024.
The 39-year-old expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, “Just looking at the reception that the Asian diaspora was able to bring for that game just showed me what the potential of American cricket could very well be. It’s very exciting.” Ashwin’s move is seen as a testament to the growing stature of the MLC, which launched in 2023. MLC chief executive Johnny Grave commented, “This will be the first time he’s played in a major global franchise competition outside of India. And for us to be the first league to attract a player of this calibre is a testament to how the league’s developed over the last three years since it was launched back in 2023.”
Ashwin had previously been slated to play for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League for the 2025-26 season but was sidelined due to a knee injury. He noted the burgeoning interest in cricket among young people and the broader community in the United States, particularly among the settled diaspora, as a key motivator for his decision.
Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is also generating considerable buzz. Experts at ESPNcricinfo have been sharing their predictions for the upcoming season, including discussions on potential top performers and team strategies. Notably, the opening match of IPL 2026 saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secure a dominant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), with strong performances from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. The match also highlighted the impressive debut of Jacob Duffy and raised questions about SRH’s bowling attack.
Fans seeking comprehensive cricket coverage, including live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, news, and expert analysis, can find it on the ESPNcricinfo app and website.
