June 2025

Major League Cricket’s third season makes history as the Oakland Coliseum hosts its first top-level cricket match on the US West Coast. The San Francisco Unicorns will face the Washington Freedom in a rematch of the 2024 final. This event marks a significant step in growing cricket in the United States, with the tournament extending to Texas and Florida.

Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s Test captain and his bat sticker featuring “Prince” alongside “MRF Genius” have stirred conversations. This differs from legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who endorsed MRF without personal nicknames on their bats. As Gill prepares for the England tour in June 2025, his leadership and MRF association mark a new chapter for Indian cricket.

Major League Cricket’s 2025 season is set to captivate audiences from June 13 to July 14, featuring six teams battling across three US venues. The tournament will commence with a rematch of the 2024 final between Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns. International stars like Sunil Narine and Faf du Plessis will participate, with playoffs hosted at Grand Prairie Stadium.

Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, and Shubman Gill, the new Test captain, addressed the team, heralding a fresh era after the retirement of key players. Gambhir lauded Karun Nair’s comeback after eight years and welcomed new players like Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh. The series against England marks India’s start in the ICC World Test Championship cycle for 2025-27.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden criticized South Africa’s lack of intent on day one of the WTC final against Australia, highlighting Bavuma’s slow start. Sanjay Bangar emphasized Australia’s strong position due to early wickets. Despite Smith and Webster’s fifties, Rabada’s five-wicket haul restricted Australia to 212.

Major League Cricket 2025 commences today, with all six franchises confirming their captains. Jason Holder will lead Los Angeles Knight Riders, but Sunil Narine will stand in for the first two matches. Nicholas Pooran replaces Kieron Pollard as MI New York’s captain, while Glenn Maxwell takes over from Steve Smith at Washington Freedom.

The inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup, boasting a billion-dollar prize, will proceed without several prominent football figures. Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool misses out due to qualification complexities, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo are also absent. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Santos’ Neymar further contribute to the list of stars not participating in the US-based tournament.

Ricky Ponting lauded Beau Webster’s crucial 72 in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, highlighting his comfort and aggressive approach amidst challenging conditions. Webster’s knock, along with Steve Smith’s 66, helped Australia reach a competitive 212.

England’s head coach Brendon McCullum expressed excitement about the upcoming five-Test series against India, highlighting the team’s varied bowling attack. Despite missing key bowlers, he praised the emerging talent, including spinner Shoaib Bashir. India, embarking on a new era without veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will begin their WTC cycle. Shubman Gill will be leading the side.