Background

In March 2023, it was confirmed that the Indiawin Sports, which also owns teams like Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town and MI Emirates, will be venturing into developing cricket in America, as they introduced MI New York.^[3] MI are one of the four IPL teams that have bought a team in MLC.^[4]

Speaking about expanding the MI family, Mrs. Nita Ambani said “I am thrilled to welcome our New York franchise to the growing MI Family! With our entry into the first T20 franchise cricket league in the US, I hope we are able to establish Mumbai Indians as a global brand of fearless and entertaining cricket! This is another new beginning for MI and I look forward to the exciting journey ahead.”^[5]

2023 season

The first MLC draft was held on March 19, 2023 in NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston.^[6] MINY picked American Batter Steven Taylor as their first draft pick. They haven't signed any overseas player yet, all of their 9 picks were from the domestic circuit. They also picked the United States national team captain, Monank Patel.^[7]

The MI New York announced their full squad on June 14 , with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, New Zealand's Trent Boult, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and appointed West Indies' Kieron Pollard as their team's captain.^[8]

MINY progressed into the playoffs, after finishing the league stage with 2 wins from 5 matches. They face Washington Freedom in the Eliminator on 27 July 2023, Nicholas Pooran took over the captaincy, as Pollard was rested due to an arm injury. They defeated Washington by 16 runs. They moved on to face Texas Super Kings in the Challenger, MINY defeated Super Kings by 6 wickets to enter the Championship Final of the Inaugural season.

In the Final, New York were set a target of 184. Courtesy to captain Nicholas Pooran's century, they defeated Seattle Orcas to clinch their first MLC title.