The Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) capped a remarkable Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 campaign by defeating Washington Freedom in a thrilling final at the Oakland Coliseum in California.
After losing four league-stage matches, LAKR recovered impressively to finish second in the standings before beating the San Francisco Unicorns in the Qualifier. They then edged Washington Freedom by just one run in the final to lift their maiden MLC title in their first-ever playoff appearance.
Here is a complete look at every Major League Cricket champion since the tournament began.
Major League Cricket Winners List
| Year | Champion | Winning Captain | Final Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | MI New York | Nicholas Pooran | Won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | Washington Freedom | Steven Smith | Won by 96 runs |
| 2025 | MI New York | Nicholas Pooran | Won by 5 runs |
| 2026 | Los Angeles Knight Riders | Jason Holder | Won by 1 run |
MLC 2023: MI New York Win the Inaugural Title
MI New York became the first champions in Major League Cricket history after defeating the Seattle Orcas by seven wickets in the inaugural final at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas.
Batting first, Seattle posted 183/9, thanks largely to Quinton de Kock’s brilliant 87 from 52 deliveries. Trent Boult and Rashid Khan starred with the ball for MI New York, claiming three wickets each.
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The chase belonged entirely to Nicholas Pooran. Captaining the side, he smashed an unbeaten 137 from just 55 balls to guide MI New York to 184/3 in only 16 overs. His spectacular innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
MLC 2024: Washington Freedom Dominate the Final
Washington Freedom secured their maiden championship with a commanding 96-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns.
Led by Steven Smith, Freedom piled up 207/5 after batting first. Smith top-scored with an outstanding 88 from 52 balls, while Glenn Maxwell added a valuable 40.
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The Unicorns never recovered during the chase and were dismissed for only 111 in 16 overs. Rachin Ravindra and Marco Jansen both collected three wickets as Washington sealed one of the most dominant victories in an MLC final.
MLC 2025: MI New York Capture Second Trophy
MI New York claimed their second MLC title by defeating Washington Freedom in another closely contested final.
After posting 180/7, powered by Quinton de Kock’s 77 from 46 balls, MI New York defended their total despite determined resistance from Washington.
Rachin Ravindra scored 70, while Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 48, but Washington finished on 175/5 to fall five runs short.
Young fast bowler Rushil Ugarkar successfully defended 12 runs in the final over to secure the championship and collect the Player of the Match award. Washington’s Mitchell Owen finished the tournament as Player of the Series.
MLC 2026: Los Angeles Knight Riders Lift Maiden Championship
The 2026 season delivered a historic breakthrough for the Los Angeles Knight Riders.
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Playing in the playoffs for the first time, LAKR completed a remarkable turnaround after managing only five victories across their previous three seasons.
Defending 164 in the final against Washington Freedom, the Knight Riders held their nerve during a dramatic finish. Washington required 14 runs in the last over but could only reach 163/9, handing LAKR a thrilling one-run victory in front of more than 10,000 spectators at the Oakland Coliseum.
Sunil Narine played a key role throughout the tournament and capped off the campaign by winning both the Player of the Match award in the final and the Most Valuable Player award for the season.
With four seasons completed, MI New York remain the competition’s most successful franchise with two titles, while Washington Freedom and Los Angeles Knight Riders have each lifted the trophy once. The tournament continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the fastest-growing T20 leagues in world cricket.
