NEW DELHI: The 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) domestic draft was held on February 20, 2025, and allowed franchises to select from a pool of US-based players who were not retained ahead of the season.
The draft followed a snake format and a fixed salary structure, with first-round picks earning $75,000 and the final round offering $10,000.
- First Round – $75,000
- Second Round – $65,000
- Third Round – $60,000
- Fourth Round – $50,000
- Fifth Round – $40,000
- Sixth Round – $35,000
- Seventh Round – $25,000
- Eighth Round – $20,000
- Ninth Round – $15,000
- Tenth Round – $10,000
Seattle Orcas selected Jasdeep Singh with the first overall pick for $75,000. Singh, who went undrafted in 2024, made a strong comeback last season with Washington Freedom and was instrumental in their title win. Seattle also picked Sujit Nayak, a former IPL player, for $40,000, adding experience to their middle order.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! MI New York opted for Agni Chopra for $50,000. Chopra is a promising left-handed batter from Mizoram who recently made headlines in the Indian domestic circuit by scoring four consecutive centuries and finishing the Ranji Trophy season with 1,804 runs at an average of 94.94.
Texas Super Kings used their top pick on Shubham Ranjane, an all-rounder known for his medium-pace bowling and hard-hitting lower-order contributions. He was picked for $75,000.
Washington Freedom, the reigning champions, retained 15 players ahead of the draft, with Abhishek Paradkar being the only pick. San Francisco Unicorns signed Hammad Azam and Achilles Browne (rookie), while Los Angeles Knight Riders scooped Karthik Gattepalli in Round 9.
The 2025 MLC draft highlighted a shift toward domestic player development, with teams focusing on long-term squad building rather than relying heavily on international stars. With big names like Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Kagiso Rabada, and David Miller not retained, franchises appear committed to creating balanced and sustainable rosters for the future.
Full list of picks in the 2025 MLC draft
Seattle Orcas
- Jessy Singh – Round 1
- Sujit Nayak – Round 5
- Steven Taylor – Round 7
- Shayan Jahangir – Round 8
- Rahul Jariwala – Rookie (U23)
Texas Super Kings
- Shubham Ranjane – Round 1
- Stephen Wiig – Round 9
- Adam Khan – Rookie (U23)
MI New York
- Agni Chopra – Round 4
- Tajinder Singh – Round 4
- Kunwarjit Singh – Round 8
- Sharad Lumba – Round 9
LA Knight Riders
- Karthik Gattepalli – Round 9
San Francisco Unicorns
- Hammad Azam – Round 10
- Achilles Browne – Rookie (U23)
Washington Freedom
- Abhishek Paradkar – Round 10
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