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Jun 18, 20261
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Major League Cricket 2026 Opens in Dallas with Ashwin Debut and New Venue
Major League Cricket's fourth season starts June 18 in Dallas, with the opening seven matches at Grand Prairie Stadium before the tournament moves to California. The competition includes six teams, a new venue in Pomona that will also be used for the 2028 Olympics, and the debut of former India spinner R Ashwin for San Francisco Unicorns.
MI New York begin as defending champions, while several teams have new leaders, including Steven Smith at Washington Freedom and Marcus Stoinis at Seattle Orcas.
Quick Facts
Who
Texas Super Kings
What
MLC 2026 season begins with Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas
When
June 18, 2026
Where
Dallas, Texas
- MLC 2026 season begins with Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas
- Grand Prairie Stadium hosts the first seven matches and the final group-stage leg
- Oakland Coliseum hosts the knockout matches and final
- Knight Riders cricket field in Pomona hosts seven matches
- R Ashwin makes his MLC debut for San Francisco Unicorns
Major League Cricket's fourth season begins on June 18 in Dallas, with Texas Super Kings facing Seattle Orcas at Grand Prairie Stadium. The six-team tournament is the first major T20 league to begin after the end of IPL 2026, and its opening phase will be concentrated in Texas before moving to California later in the month.
Grand Prairie Stadium will host the first seven matches, as well as the closing stretch of the group stage. After that, league play shifts to the Oakland Coliseum and to the Knight Riders cricket field in Pomona, which will host seven matches and is also slated to be used for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Oakland will stage the knockout rounds, including the final on July 18.
The six teams are Washington Freedom, San Francisco Unicorns, MI New York, Los Angeles Knight Riders, Texas Super Kings and Seattle Orcas. Three teams are backed by IPL franchise ownership, while Seattle Orcas are owned by the GMR group, which also co-owns Delhi Capitals. MI New York enter as defending champions after their 2025 title win.
Among the headline storylines is the MLC debut of R Ashwin, who will play for San Francisco Unicorns and becomes the first former India international to appear in the competition. Other notable captaincy changes include Steven Smith returning to lead Washington Freedom, while Marcus Stoinis takes over as Seattle Orcas captain. The season also features a number of first-time MLC players, including Ollie Peake, Tim Robinson, AM Ghazanfar and Peter Siddle.
Topics
Why This Matters
This event marks the continued growth of professional cricket in the United States, with MLC aligning with the Olympics and attracting top international talent like R Ashwin. The new Pomona venue signals long-term investment, and the tournament's timing right after IPL 2026 ensures high-caliber play. For fans and investors, it shows cricket's expanding footprint beyond traditional markets.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireMLC 2026 opens in Dallas with Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas at Grand Prairie Stadium.
Jul 18, 2026
WireOakland Coliseum hosts the final.