Former India national cricket team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has signed a huge deal to play for San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026.
In an interesting development, legendary Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will share the dressing room with Pakistan national cricket team fast bowler Haris Rauf at the San Francisco Unicorns.
Ravichandran Ashwin joins San Francisco Unicorns
On Saturday, March 28, the San Francisco Unicorns announced the signing of Ravichandran Ashwin. The deal with San Francisco Unicorns will make Ravichandran Ashwin the first Indian-capped player to compete in the MLC.
Ashwin brings a lot of experience with him and after retiring from Indian cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has expressed his desire to play in foreign leagues and share his knowledge with young cricketers.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ravichandran Ashwin played 221 matches and took 187 wickets while playing for Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.
Talking about the San Francisco Unicorns squad, it includes top names like Finn Allen, Harris Rauf, Matt Short and Cooper Connolly among others, and Ashwin’s inclusion will be a big boost for the team.
MLC has proved in recent seasons that he can put on a show – Ravichandran Ashwin
In an official statement released by the franchise, Ashwin said that Major League Cricket is a world-class league and has performed well in the first few seasons. He said:
“MLC has proven in recent seasons that it can put on a show, bring in world-class players and provide significant exposure to American domestic cricket talent, and the opportunity to be a part of that with the San Francisco Unicorns was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
“Taking over as the first Indian-capped player to compete in Major League Cricket is a huge responsibility that I fully embrace. My entire focus is to help this franchise win games and advance to their first championship, while also presenting a great brand of cricket to Bay Area fans.”
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a player of Ashwin’s stature to Unicorn –
San Francisco Unicorns head coach Cameron White said that he is thrilled to have a veteran player like Ashwin in his team. He elaborated:
“We are extremely thrilled to welcome a player of Ashwin’s stature to Unicorn. When you talk about match-winners and cricketing intelligence, his name tops the lists around the world.
“Bringing in the first Indian-capped player is a big moment for our franchise and MLC as a whole, but first and foremost, he is joining to help us win games. His experience in high-pressure situations and his skill variations will be invaluable on the pitch and in the nets, and I can’t wait to get to camp and start working with him.”
Meanwhile, franchise CEO David White said that Ashwin playing in Major League Cricket is a historic moment for cricket in the USA. He said:
“Ravichandran Ashwin’s arrival is a seismic moment, not just for the Unicorns, but for the entire trajectory of American cricket. In addition to his tactical brilliance on the pitch, Ashwin brings a level of influence to the market that will elevate the Major League Cricket brand and sustain fan excitement.”
“This signing is about our championship ambitions, but also a testament to our growth as a franchise. By bringing a global icon to the Bay Area, we are growing our international footprint and creating a unique bridge for our partners to connect with the global cricket ecosystem.”
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