Image: MI New York won the MLC title thanks to Quinton De Kock / © ESPNcricinfo
Claiming their second Major League Cricket (MLC) title, MI New York edged out defending champions Washington Freedom by 5 runs in a thrilling final at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, on July 13, 2025. In a match marked by explosive batting, disciplined bowling, and a nail-biting finish, MI New York posted 180/7 in 20 overs, powered by Quinton de Kock’s 77, before restricting Washington Freedom to 175/5 despite Rachin Ravindra’s valiant 70. Rushil Ugarkar’s heroic final over, defending 12 runs, sealed the victory, earning MI New York the 2025 MLC crown.
MI New York, batting first after Washington Freedom won the toss and opted to field, got off to a blistering start. Openers Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock put on 72 runs in 7.1 overs, capitalising on the powerplay to score 58 runs without loss. Patel, aggressive early, made 28 off 22 balls (2 fours, 1 six) before being caught by Rachin Ravindra off Lockie Ferguson in the 7.1st over. De Kock, however, stole the show, racing to a 29-ball fifty with 4 fours and 3 sixes, showcasing his trademark flair. His 77 off 46 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) kept MI New York’s run rate at a brisk 9.00, reaching 100 in 10.3 overs.
Tajinder Singh chipped in with a quick 14 off 11 (2 fours) before falling to Ian Holland in the 9.5th over, leaving MI New York at 92/2. Nicholas Pooran, the captain, added 21 off 17 (1 four, 1 six), forming a 56-run stand with de Kock for the third wicket. However, the innings hit a rough patch in the death overs. Ferguson struck twice in the 16th over, dismissing de Kock, caught by Glenn Maxwell, and Kieron Pollard for a duck, caught by Andries Gous, reducing MI New York to 148/5. Glenn Maxwell bowled Michael Bracewell for 4 in the 17.5th over, and Jack Edwards removed Tristan Luus for 2 in the 18.4th over, leaving MI New York at 166/7.
Kunwarjeet Singh’s unbeaten 22 off 13 (2 fours, 1 six) provided a late flourish, helping MI New York reach 180/7. Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3/21 in 4 overs, while Maxwell (1/46), Holland (1/14), Edwards (1/38), and Saurabh Netravalkar (1/31) each took a wicket. Despite a slowdown in the final five overs, where MI New York managed only 32 runs for 5 wickets, de Kock’s explosive knock ensured a competitive total on a pitch known for high-scoring games, though light rain loomed as a concern.
Chasing 181, Washington Freedom faced immediate trouble as Trent Boult struck twice in the first over. He dismissed Mitchell Owen for a duck off the first ball, caught by Monank Patel, and Andries Gous, also for a duck, caught by Pollard in the 0.5th over, leaving Freedom at 0/2. Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards steadied the ship with an 84-run third-wicket partnership. Ravindra, in scintillating form, smashed a 24-ball fifty (8 fours, 1 six), reaching 70 off 41 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes). Edwards contributed 33 off 22 (2 fours, 2 sixes) before Nosthush Kenjige trapped him in the 8.2nd over, caught by Pollard, with Freedom at 84/3.
Ravindra and Glenn Phillips kept the chase alive, adding 46 runs for the fourth wicket. Freedom reached 50 in 5.1 overs and 100 in 11.1 overs, maintaining a run rate of 8.75. Ravindra’s aggressive strokeplay took them to 114/3 by the 13th over, but Rushil Ugarkar turned the game, dismissing Ravindra for 70, caught by Pooran in the 15.2nd over. Phillips, unbeaten on 48 off 34 (5 sixes), and Glenn Maxwell (15 off 16) pushed Freedom to 169/4 by the 19th over, needing 12 runs off the final over.
Ugarkar, entrusted with the crucial last over, delivered under pressure. He bowled tight lines, mixing slower deliveries and off-cutters. Maxwell fell in the 19.4th over, caught by Michael Bracewell at deep midwicket, leaving Freedom needing 10 off the last two balls. Obus Pienaar, unbeaten on 4 off 2, couldn’t connect cleanly, and Ugarkar’s nerveless bowling restricted Freedom to 6 runs in the over, finishing at 175/5. Boult (2/32) and Ugarkar (2/32) led the bowling, supported by Kenjige (1/30), while Tajinder Singh (0/18), Luus (0/41), and Pollard (0/20) kept things tight.
Quinton de Kock’s 77 was the cornerstone of MI New York’s innings, setting a challenging target with his aggressive strokeplay. His 167.39 strike rate and ability to dominate the powerplay gave MI New York momentum, though Ferguson’s three wickets, including Pollard’s duck, pegged them back. For Washington, Ravindra’s 70 was a masterclass, keeping them in the hunt, while Phillips’ late onslaught nearly pulled off the chase.
Ugarkar’s final over, defending 12 runs against two big hitters, was the defining moment, earning him praise for his composure. Washington’s bowlers showed discipline, with Ferguson’s 5.25 economy standing out, but their early batting collapse put them on the back foot. MI New York’s bowlers, particularly Boult, exploited the powerplay, taking 2 wickets for 66 runs conceded by Freedom. MI New York’s victory marked their second MLC title in three seasons, cementing their reputation as a clutch team. Pooran’s leadership and de Kock’s match-defining knock were pivotal, while Ugarkar’s emergence as a death-over specialist added a new dimension.
For the fans, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game was undoubtedly Rushil Ugarkar’s heroic final over, defending 12 runs to secure MI New York’s 5-run victory over Washington Freedom in the MLC 2025 final at Dallas on July 13, 2025. With Washington needing 12 runs off the last 6 balls to chase 181, the young bowler faced immense pressure against power-hitters Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips. Ugarkar, entrusted by Captain Nicholas Pooran, delivered a masterclass in composure. He started with a slower ball outside off, which Maxwell skied to deep backward square leg for just 1 run, falling short of Tajinder Singh.
Another slower delivery followed, and Phillips could only manage a single to midwicket. With 10 runs needed off 4 balls, Ugarkar bowled a low off-cutter, deceiving Maxwell (15 off 16), who lofted it to Michael Bracewell at deep midwicket for a crucial wicket. Another slower ball outside off beat Maxwell’s replacement, Obus Pienaar, for a dot. Needing 10 off the final ball, Pienaar slammed a slower delivery to long-on for 4, but it wasn’t enough, as Washington finished at 175/5. Ugarkar’s 2/32, including 6 runs and Maxwell’s wicket in the 20th over, sparked wild celebrations, clinching MI New York’s second MLC title in a thrilling finish that left the Dallas crowd roaring.
Being the backbone of Washington Freedom’s chase, Rachin Ravindra’s brilliant 70 off 41 balls kept his team in the hunt during their 5-run loss to MI New York in the MLC 2025 final at Dallas on July 13, 2025. Chasing 181, Freedom were rocked early, losing Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous for ducks in the first over to Trent Boult, slumping to 0/2. Ravindra, undeterred, launched a counterattack, racing to a 24-ball fifty with 8 fours and 1 six. His 170.73 strike rate lit up the powerplay, where Freedom scored 66/2 in 6 overs.
Partnering with Jack Edwards (33 off 22), Ravindra forged an 84-run stand for the third wicket by the 8.2nd over, taking Freedom to 84/3. His aggressive strokeplay, including crisp drives and lofted shots, powered Freedom to 50 in 5.1 overs and 100 in 11.1 overs, maintaining a run rate of 8.75. Ravindra’s 70, featuring 8 fours and 2 sixes, ended in the 15.2nd over when Rushil Ugarkar had him caught by Nicholas Pooran, leaving Freedom at 130/4. Despite his exit, Ravindra’s 70-minute blitz gave Freedom hope, setting the stage for Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 48.