MLC 2025 – Pooran named captain of MI New York

MLC 2025 – Pooran named captain of MI New York

Nicholas Pooran has been appointed as the captain of MI New York for the upcoming season of Major League Cricket (MLC). The 29-year-old recently announced his retirement from international cricket and takes over from Kieron Pollard at the franchise.

Pooran was the standout performer in the 2023 edition of MLC, finishing as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 388 runs at a strike rate of 167. His unbeaten 137 in the final steered MI New York to the inaugural title.

The left-handed batter continues to be at the peak of his T20 powers. He hit the most sixes (170) across all T20s in 2024 and followed it up with a strong IPL 2025, breaching the 500-run mark in a season for the first time and clearing the ropes 40 times, smashing the most sixes by any batter in an IPL edition.

Pooran comes in with prior leadership experience at the international level, having captained West Indies in white-ball formats. His stint as full-time skipper in 2022 ended with just 8 wins in 30 matches. Following West Indies's first-round exit at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, he stepped down from the role.

The 2025 edition of MLC begins on June 12 with San Francisco Unicorns taking on Washington Freedom. MI New York open their campaign on June 13 against Texas Super Kings.