It’s bigger, it’s better, and it’s back. The three-week long cricket festival returns to America after breaking plenty of new ground in 2023. Oh, and it’s been some revolution this! From introducing the game to ordinary Americans to becoming a raging success, Major League Cricket is all set to push the boundaries further in 2024. IT’S ONE DAY AWAY. Okay, you’ve got questions? We hear you? Here’s your cheat sheet to everything you need to know.. 

Another cricket party? No wait, didn’t the World Cup just get over?

The World Cup was just the start, the MLC will now take it to the crescendo! The second season is here – six iconic cities, two venues, 23 days, and MI New York out there to defend their crown. A host of world class cricketers have assembled in town, and are all set to inspire another whole generation of young American fans. 

So who’s playing? What’s the format? 

There’s the defending champions, MI New York, the runner’s up, Seattle Orcas, Faf du Plessis-led Texas Super Kings, fresh from winning the IPL, Sunil Narine-led LA Knight Riders, fresh from inducting Pat Cummins, San Francisco Unicorns, and the Washington Freedom.  

Each team would play seven league games, and the top four will then proceed to the playoffs. The first leg of the tournament would take place at Church Street Park in Morrisville, before he caravan moved to the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. 

Could you recap season one please?

So we won. It was a tight road until the final though, with MI New York having to win their last four games to win the title. And they did it in style, with Trent Boult getting four-fer after four-fer, young Dewald Brevis playing some clutch knocks in the middle-order, Tim David finishing games for fun like only he can, and Monank Patel getting us off to fliers. Come the final, against Seattle Orcas, it was the Nicholas Pooran show, with a blazing 137-run-knock to give us our moment of history!  

Woah, Defending Champs! What’s new this time then? 

Anrich Nortje, with his 150kph thunderbolts, is all set to don the Blue and Gold, and it is going to be a dream to watch him bowl in tandem with Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada. Also Romario Shepherd, fresh from his assault in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and then in the T20 World Cup for West Indies, is here too. Four other youngsters, Rushil Ugarkar, Heath Richards, Ruben Clinton and Sunny Patel have come into the mix as well. But the core of the team remains the same, with Kieron Pollard, the MI #OneFamily legend, along with Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Tim David and the USA star players like Steven Taylor, Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir.  

And what’s new with the MLC in 2024?

A few extra matches. Last year saw each team play a single round-robin, but this time there are two extra games in the league. It’s just gotten bigger. But should remain the same though is the passion the league generated among the supporters, who thronged to the stadium in large numbers.

Okay, I’m already excited..what’s the schedule? 

July 5, 3:30pm EDT (July 6, 1am IST) - MI New York vs Seattle Orcas 

July 6, 3pm EDT (July 7, 12:30am IST) - Washington Freedom vs MI New York 

July 12, 3pm EDT (July 13, 12:30am IST) - MI New York vs Texas Super Kings 

July 14, 7:30pm CDT (July 15, 6am IST) - Texas Super Kings vs MI New York 

July 16, 7:30pm CDT (July 17, 6am IST) - MI New York vs Washington Freedom

July 18, 7:30pm CDT (July 19, 6am IST) - MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns 

July 21, 7:30pm CDT (July 22, 6am IST) - LA Knight Riders vs MI New York