MI New York claimed their second Major League Cricket title in dramatic fashion, edging out defending champions Washington Freedom by just five runs at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on July 13, 2025. After being sent in to bat, MI New York posted a competitive 180/7, thanks largely to Quinton de Kock’s explosive 77 off 46 balls.
The match went down to the last over with 12 runs needed from six balls for Washington Freedom to claim back-to-back titles. Across the crease stood Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips – two white-ball superstars capable of changing any game in a matter of deliveries.
The Hero’s Moment: Defending 12 Runs Against the Best
With everything on the line, 22-year-old USA medium pacer Rushil Ugarkar, who has never played international cricket, was handed the ball for the final over. Ugarkar was tasked with defending 12 runs against the dangerous duo of Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips.
The over unfolded with remarkable composure from the young American. Maxwell took a single off the first delivery and Phillips followed suit with another. Maxwell then swung hard at the third but missed completely. The fourth ball proved to be the turning point – Ugarkar bowled an off-cutter that nipped back in on the stumps, Maxwell charged down the track and swung his bat at it, but could only find the man at deep midwicket.
All Ugarkar conceded was six runs while dismissing Maxwell with a slower off-cutter, allowing Phillips strike for just one ball, and winning MI New York the title when everything was stacked against him. Ugarkar earned the Player of the Match award for his crucial 2/32 in four overs.
Who is Rushil Ugarkar?
Rushil Jayraj Ugarkar was born on June 30, 2003, in St. Louis, Missouri, making him 22 years old. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler who primarily plays as a bowler.
Despite being American-born, Ugarkar began his professional cricketing career by attending sessions at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, India. Once he returned to the United States, he had a stint with Minor League Cricket team Silicon Valley Strikers in 2021, though he failed to make much of an impact initially.
A couple of years later, he switched to Dallas Mustangs before making another move to the East Bay Blazers. He was picked up by Mumbai Indians as one of their net bowlers for IPL 2025, which proved to be a crucial stepping stone in his career.
MLC Journey and Breakthrough
Ugarkar was a rookie pick for MI New York for the 2024 Major League Cricket season, though he only played two games and failed to take a wicket. However, he put up a much improved performance in the 2025 Major League Cricket season, taking 11 wickets from eight matches at an economy rate of 8.98.
His impressive performances throughout the tournament earned him recognition as the Most Valuable Player and the Best U23 Player of the Tournament.
Learning from the Best
During a recent interview with Cricbuzz, Ugarkar revealed an insightful conversation with veteran batsman Rohit Sharma during IPL 2025. The two were watching an IPL game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans on TV. “Look at the field, where would you bowl to Virat?” Rohit Sharma asked Ugarkar. “I’d probably want him to drive and get him caught at slips,” replied the youngster. Rohit predicted that Virat Kohli would get caught at long leg, and that’s exactly what happened a couple of deliveries later.
The Final Over That Changed Everything
The scenario of defending 12 runs from 6 balls is one that every T20 batsman practices in the nets, but doing it against seasoned internationals like Maxwell and Phillips on the biggest stage showed Ugarkar’s mental strength. The constant chats between Ugarkar and wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran highlighted the high-stakes decision-making that defines championship matches.
Bowling coach Shane McClenaghan beamed with pride after the victory, stating: “Super proud. We played six games and the way they stood up, couldn’t be more proud of the youngsters.” Trent Boult praised the young attack, specifically highlighting Ugarkar’s composure: “To hold his nerve under pressure, he is going to remember that for a long time.”
MI New York’s Remarkable Turnaround
After losing six of their first seven matches this season, MI New York produced one of the most remarkable turnarounds in franchise T20 history. The victory was particularly impressive considering MI New York lifted the trophy after losing 7 of 10 matches in the league stage.
In the first innings, Quinton de Kock anchored the MI New York innings with 77 from 46 balls, well supported by Monank Patel (who finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer) in an opening partnership of 72 runs. Washington Freedom’s chase was derailed early by Trent Boult, who picked up two wickets in the first over, though Rachin Ravindra’s brilliant 70 from 41 balls kept them in contention.
Future Prospects
Rushil Ugarkar is yet to make his debut for the senior USA cricket team, but his performance in the MLC final has certainly put him on the radar. The final over heroics perfectly encapsulate the rising importance of domestic talent in global franchise leagues.
The young pacer’s journey from net bowler to match-winner in a major T20 final is a testament to his dedication and the opportunities provided by the franchise cricket ecosystem. His ability to execute slower balls under pressure and maintain composure against world-class opposition suggests a bright future ahead in professional cricket.