San Francisco, March 28 (NationPress) Renowned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is poised to make history as the first Indian player to participate in Major League Cricket (MLC), having signed with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming 2026 season.

Ashwin was part of the victorious Indian squad in the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. To date, he has taken 765 international wickets in 287 matches across all formats, positioning him as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket.

“The MLC has established itself in recent years as an exciting platform, showcasing world-class talent and providing significant visibility to domestic cricket in the US. Being a part of this with the San Francisco Unicorns is an opportunity I simply couldn’t ignore,” Ashwin stated.

“Embracing the role of the first Indian-capped player in Major League Cricket is a significant responsibility that I wholeheartedly accept. My primary focus is to assist this franchise in securing victories and striving for its inaugural Championship, all while delivering an outstanding brand of cricket for the fans in the Bay Area,” Ashwin added.

Furthermore, Ashwin ranks among the top five wicket-takers in IPL history, having played for his home franchise, the Chennai Super Kings, as well as the Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals. He was slated to join the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), but a knee injury prevented his participation.

“We are incredibly excited to have a player of Ashwin’s caliber join the Unicorns. When discussing match-winners and cricketing intellect, his name stands out globally,” expressed head coach Cameron White.

“Welcoming the first Indian-capped player marks an extraordinary moment for our franchise and the MLC overall. However, his primary goal is to help us win matches. His experience in high-pressure scenarios and his skill set will be invaluable on the field and during training, and I eagerly anticipate starting our collaboration,” White added.

The San Francisco Unicorns will kick off their season on June 19 against the LA Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, near Dallas, Texas, with the tournament concluding at the franchise’s home ground, the Oakland Coliseum, on July 18.

The franchise has retained captain Matt Short, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Finn Allen, and Haris Rauf among its overseas players, along with domestic players Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Brody Couch, Juanoy Drysdale, and Hammad Azam.