Ravichandran Ashwin has become the first Indian player to feature in Major League Cricket (MLC), after he signed with the San Francisco Unicorns for the 2026 season.
The former India offspinner had a stellar career and was part of the 2011 World Cup winning squad. Ashwin has picked 765 international wickets from 287 matches across all the three formats.
“The MLC has proven over recent seasons that it can put on a show, bringing in world-class players and offering significant exposure to US domestic cricket talent, and the opportunity to be a part of it with the San Francisco Unicorns was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
“Taking on the mantle as the first Indian-capped player to compete in Major League Cricket is a major responsibility that I fully embrace. 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,” said Ashwin in a statement.
After retiring from IPL, Ashwin became eligible to put out his name in the T20 franchise cricket happening around the world. Sydney Thunder had roped him in for the 2026 Big Bash League (BBL), before a knee injury ruled him out of the tournament.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a player of Ashwin’s stature to the Unicorns. When you talk about match-winners and cricketing intelligence, his name is at the top of the list around the world.
“Bringing in the first Indian-capped player is a massive moment for our franchise and MLC as a whole, but first and foremost, he’s joining to help us win games. His experience in highpressure situations and his skill variations will be invaluable on the pitch and in the nets, and I can’t wait to get into camp and start working with him,” head coach Cameron White said.
San Francisco Unicorns will kick off their season on June 19 with a match against LA Knight Riders at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, near Dallas.
The team has already retained a strong core of overseas players, including captain Matt Short, along with Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Finn Allen and Haris Rauf.
Among domestic players, the franchise has kept Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Brody Couch, Juanoy Drysdale and Hammad Azam as part of their squad.
