Ravichandran Ashwin becomes first India international to join US Major League

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to become the first India international to appear in U.S.-based Major League Cricket (MLC), after San Francisco Unicorns announced his signing on Saturday ‌for the ⁠Twenty20 ⁠competition's 2026 season.

Ashwin, who represented India in ​287 matches across all formats and took 765 ​wickets, retired from international cricket in 2024 and ended his Indian Premier ​League (IPL) career last year.

The ⁠39-year-old, India's ‌second-highest wicket-taker in test ​cricket behind ​Anil Kumble, was set ⁠to play for Sydney Thunder in Australia's ​Big Bash League, but missed ​out due to a knee injury.


"Taking on the mantle as the first Indian-capped player to compete in Major League Cricket is a major ‌responsibility that I fully embrace," Ashwin said in a statement.

"My absolute focus is to ⁠help this franchise win games and push for its first championship, while also putting on a spectacular brand of cricket for the Bay Area fans."

The MLC begins its fourth season on June 18.