2025 MLC Draft: Top picks, surprises, and all you need to know
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.
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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.
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.
Poll
Which player do you think will have the biggest impact in the upcoming MLC season?
Jasdeep Singh Agni Chopra Shubham Ranjane
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.
Major League Cricket 2025 Explained: Teams, Schedule & Where to Watch
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)
MLC: Venky Harinarayan on growing cricket in the USA, AI-driven teams and the Olympic boost
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
Major League Cricket: Liam Plunkett on how cricket can boom in the USA
San Francisco Unicorns
Hammad Azam – Round 10
Achilles Browne – Rookie (U23)
Washington Freedom
Abhishek Paradkar – Round 10
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