MLC 2025 Final: Rushil Ugarkar's heroics helps MI New York beat Washington Freedom; clinch second title

MI New York are the Major League Cricket 2025 champions after a nerve-wracking five-run win over Washington Freedom in the final. It was young Rushil Ugarkar who sealed the deal, defending 12 runs in the last over against the dangerous Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips. The 22-year-old showed remarkable composure, mixing his pace smartly and sticking to his plans to finish the job for his team.Trent Boult gave MINY the dream start with two wickets in the opening over, reducing Freedom to 0 for 2. Rachin Ravindra (70) and Jack Edwards (33) fought back brilliantly, keeping their team in the hunt. Phillips’ late surge threatened to tilt the game again, but MI New York held firm. Boult’s spell (2/22) and Rushil’s nerveless final over proved decisive. Earlier, MINY had posted 180 for 7 after a flying start from Quinton de Kock (77 off 46) and Monank Patel. Despite a middle-order wobble, a useful contribution from Kunwarjeet Singh pushed the score past 175.Kieron Pollard was full of emotion after the win. “Everyone wrote us off. But there’s something in this franchise. The belief was unbelievable,” said the MINY captain. This win completes a hat-trick of titles for the MI franchise in 2025. After winning the SA20 and the WPL earlier this year, they now have the MLC trophy in the cabinet. It’s the 13th major trophy across formats for the Mumbai Indians group, highlighting their global dominance in franchise cricket.