Round 1 of Minor League Cricket 2025 set the tone for a wonderful season ahead producing plenty of memorable moments such as the season’s first century, last-ball thrillers, a Super Over, an unbelievable last-over collapse and more. While rain played a spoil sport cutting short eight fixtures, the opening weekend showcased the league’s talent depth and competitiveness across divisions. From established stars proving their worth to fresh faces stepping up under pressure, the opening weekend did not disappoint.
With Round 2 beginning tomorrow, here is a look at the players and moments that shaped the opening round across divisions:
Players Who Made Their Mark
Several players across all four divisions put together performances that helped their teams gain momentum going ahead in the season. From consistent run-scorers and game-changing bowlers to all-rounders who delivered in both departments, here are the players who performed exceptionally and made their mark in Round 1.
Eastern Division
- Saiteja Mukkamalla (New Jersey Stallions): The star of the round, Mukkamalla was pivotal in Stallions’ unbeaten run. Piling up 150 runs in 4 matches and taking 6 wickets, His three consecutive POTM awards also included a dominant 92 (56b) that set up one of the Stallions’ wins.
- Deveshwari Prashad(The Philadelphians)
Deveshwari Prashad achieved a rare feat when he claimed the first hat-trick of MiLC 2025, which came in spectacular fashion. Prashad rattled the New England Eagles’ chase with three wickets off the last three balls in the 18th over, swinging the contest dramatically in The Philadelphians’ favor. He returned to bowl the final over, tasked to defend only 9 runs and he did not disappoint. He got rid of the dangerous looking Hammad Tanveer, who had hit 2 sixes earlier, to seal the game for the Philadelphians by a narrow margin of 2 runs. - Gauranshu Sharma (NYC Titans): With two POTM awards, Sharma proved his worth as an important player for the Titans early on. He played the perfect anchor role with a composed 89 (53b) in Match 43, giving the Titans stability and a crucial victory.
- Yasir Mohammad (Manhattan Yorkers): Mohammad scored an exciting 34(12) that included 4 maximums. He followed it up with two wickets to help the Yorkers get their only win of the weekend. His contribution will be crucial for them to bounce back.
Southern Division
- Sunny Patel (Atlanta Fire): The all-rounder was in sizzling form, producing back-to-back match-winning spells. He returned 2/20 alongside a rapid 20 off 6 balls to win POTM against Orlando Galaxy, followed by a devastating 4/10 in his next outing against Morrisville Raptors. He capped off the round with another miserly 1/13 choking the Fort Lauderdale Lions’ batters for runs, proving himself Atlanta’s go-to player in both departments.
- Steven Taylor (Atlanta Fire): Atlanta Fire’s opener was unstoppable at the top. After his brisk 50 off 27 set the tone against Orlando, Taylor returned to unleash one of the most destructive knocks of the weekend, smashing 70 off just 23 balls, that included 7 sixes and 5 fours, to complete Atlanta Fire’s ten-wicket demolition of Morrisville Raptors.
- Mohammad Mohsin (Baltimore Royals): Delivered one of the best all-round displays of the round against Atlanta Lightning at Church Streek Park – scoring 30(19) with the bat and a sensational fifer (5/24) with the ball to seal the win.
- Monank Patel (Atlanta Lightning): The USA captain and MLC star led from experience with the bat for Lightning, striking 45(26) against Orlando and then smashed a match-winning 69 (35) against Fort Lauderdale Lions to maintain his consistency that anchored a strong start for the Lightning.
Western Division
- Saideep Ganesh (East Bay Blazers): He scored the first century of MiLC 2025 with a commanding 111 off just 53 deliveries, including 10 fours and 8 maximums, dispatching the San Diego Surf Riders’ bowlers to all parts of the Strikers Cricket Ground. He followed it up with a match winning half-century against Silicon Valley Strikers showcasing his consistency at the top for the Blazers. His century remains a benchmark so far in the season.
- Shadley Van Schalkwyk (Seattle Thunderbolts): Following an MLC season where he grabbed a handful of wickets for LAKR, Shadley proved his caliber as the undisputed all-round force in the opening weekend in the western division, finishing the round with 119 runs and 13 wickets at an amazing economy of just 5.25.
- Aaron Johnson (San Ramon Grizzlies): One of the most consistent top-order players so far this season, Johnson put his USA experience to full use hitting three consecutive half-centuries scoring 87, 51, and 64 respectively. His knock of 64 set up a dominant 9-wicket win over Los Angeles Lashings in Davis, cementing Grizzlies’ place as a top team in contention this season.
- Snell Patel (San Diego Surf Riders): Though The San Diego Surf Riders could not capitalize on his amazing knock, Patel came agonizingly close to a wonderful century just short of a hundred falling just 3 runs short of a deserving century. His knock of 97 was the most boundary-heavy knock of the round comprising of 16 fours and a six.
- Taj Wali (San Ramon Grizzlies): The left-arm pacer ended the round with 13 wickets, joining Shadley Van Schalkwyk at the top. Wali took 3 three-wicket hauls proving his wicket-taking ability and control over his craft.
Central Division
- Aarin Nadkarni (Lone Star Athletics): His four-wicket haul (9/4) in his three overs helped the Athletics defend a low 121 against Saint Louis Americans, earning him his first POTM award. He followed it up with an all-round match-winning performance against Chicago Tigers claiming three wickets before he sealed the chase with a 6-ball 14.
- Ansh Bhoje (Metroplex Tracers): Announced himself with a fluent 77 (52) against Chicago Tigers hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes. The Tracers comfortably won the match by 40 runs in the end, earning Bhoje his first POTM award of the season.
- Shubham Ranjane (Metroplex Tracers): Following a successful MLC season with the Texas Super Kings, Ranjane has lived up to expectations so far, leading from the front with all-round performances. He was key in Tracers’ win against Michigan Cricket Stars with 33 (20) and a miserly 16/1 with the ball off his 4 overs. His blazing unbeaten knock of 42 against Chicago Tigers included 5 sixes giving the Tracers a strong finish.
- Karthik Gattepalli (Chicago Tigers): His amazing performance in his only MLC match for LAKR made headlines earlier this year. Continuing that momentum, he presented an all-round performance against Dallas Xforia Giants scoring two sixes in a quick cameo of 17 off just 8 balls, and following it up with a brilliant spell of 17/3 as the Tigers beat the Giants by 8 runs.
Extraordinary Moments Beyond Numbers
Alongside the big scores and standout spells, the opening weekend also produced passages of play that went right down to the wire, and others that were so extraordinary they instantly stood out.
Sahir Bhatia’s Unbelievable Over (NYC Titans)
Probably the most stand-out moment of the league so far, Bhatia pulled off a finish rarely seen in an MiLC match. With Manhattan Yorkers needing just 7 off the last over, Bhatia turned the game on its head, taking 3 wickets in 4 balls to seal a five-run win.
Morrisville Raptors’ Super Over Win
The first Super Over of the season came against Ft. Lauderdale Lions, where Ansh Rai’s 3/18 with the ball set up the contest and Saharsh Shwethan’s 10 off 3 balls clinched it. A true test of nerve that Morrisville passed.
Deveshwari Prashad’s Season-First Hat-Trick (The Philadelphians)
Prashad pulled off the first hat-trick of MiLC 2025, dismissing three batters in the 18th over against New England Eagles, effectively turning the tide in Philadelphians’ favor.
Shadley Van Schalkwyk’s Double POTM Day (Seattle Thunderbolts)
On August 30, Shadley proved his mettle as a top all-rounder in an amazing fashion, winning Player of the Match twice in a day against San Diego Surf Riders. He took three-wicket hauls in both games and contributed well with the bat, including 65 off 40* to provide a late flourish for the Thunderbolts in the innings.
Cavaliers’ Last-Ball Win
Against the NYC Titans, the New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers lost two wickets in the final over in pursuit of 116. However, Mario Lobban’s extras off the final ball cost the Titans as the Cavaliers won the contest off the very last delivery. A great moment to show how in MiLC and in T20 cricket overall, it’s not over until the final ball is bowled.
Weather Watch
While the opening weekend had all the excitement, rain played a spoilsport in the opening round. Eight abandoned matches left several teams in the Central division with limited opportunities to showcase their form. Meaning the standings are still far from settled. With such a considerable disruption early on in the season, those lost points could loom large later in the playoff race.
As the Season Unfolds
From record-breaking performances to contests decided in the smallest of margins, the opening weekend gave a clear glimpse of the season’s intensity. With eight games already lost to weather, the stakes only rise as every point becomes more valuable in the weeks ahead. As Round 2 begins tomorrow, the challenge for teams will be to carry momentum or find their footing quickly. If the opening weekend is any indication, we can look forward to more standout performances and unforgettable moments in the race toward the playoffs.
Standings (After Round 1)
Please click here to view the standings for each division.
How To Watch The Action Live
All games will be streamed live on the MLC Network YouTube channel. You can also follow live scores here or follow MiLC’s social media throughout the season.
