As the fireworks exploded in the night sky above a packed Grand Prairie Stadium in north Texas on Sunday evening, a competition years in the making spectacularly concluded after 19 matches of world class competition that has transformed the trajectory of American cricket.

Moments before, the Major League Cricket (MLC) Trophy was presented by one of the greatest cricketers of all-time, Sunil Gavaskar, to the winning captain of MI New York, Nicholas Pooran. The West Indian star struck a magnificent 155* from only 55 balls to lead MI NY to the title, his feats also earning him the SLING-TV Most Valuable Player of the Tournament award.

Sold-out crowds packed out more than two-thirds of the matches in the inaugural MLC season, with an attendance of nearly 70,000 fans across the games held in Grand Prairie and at Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina. Live broadcasts featuring a 30-camera production were shown in 87 countries around the world and on Willow TV and CBS Sports Network in the United States.

The landmark competition garnered extensive local, national and international news coverage. MLC social channels generated more than 110 million impressions, nine million engagements with fans and 40 million video views. MLC’s match highlights on YouTube also racked up more than 15 million views worldwide.

Justin Geale, Tournament Director, Major League Cricket said:

“The inaugural season of Major League Cricket has surpassed our expectations, featuring full houses at a majority of matches across two fantastic venues. This showcased the passion for cricket in the United States, with fans raucously supporting our six teams and players who delivered thrilling moments and world class performances during 19 memorable matches.

The success of MLC has given the sport an incredible platform to build from in the world’s biggest commercial market. We’d like to thank all our team owners, investors, sponsors, players, officials and fans for their support of an incredible tournament that has transformed the landscape of American cricket.”

Mrs. Nita Ambani, Owner of MI New York, the inaugural Major League Cricket champions, said at Sunday's match:

“Just look at the atmosphere here. It looks like a festival of cricket. I think MLC is a momentous step in the development of cricket in this region. Sport can be a bedrock of society and especially in the US it's a big part of the culture. So, for us to join hands with MLC and play our role in the growth and development of cricket in this region is fantastic."

Venky Mysore, CEO of the Knight Riders Group, owners of the Los Angeles Knight Riders said:

“I think it’s fair to say that the inaugural season of Major League Cricket exceeded expectations. The tournament proved to be a significant step in the development of cricket in the country. It was indeed a historic moment and we commend the players, officials, fans, and partners who have made this tournament an extraordinary success, laying the foundation for a bright future for cricket in the USA.”

Anand Rajaraman, Co-Owner of the San Francisco Unicorns, said:

“The first-ever season of Major League Cricket has been a triumph and exceeded all expectations. We are very proud of the performances from the talented team we assembled, and thrilled to see so much fan engagement and enthusiasm at the venues in Texas and North Carolina.

As we look to construct a world-class cricket stadium in the Bay Area, and build an even stronger squad for next season, the future looks bright for cricket in California and beyond.”

Soma Somasegar, Co-Owner of the Seattle Orcas, said:

"From first ball to the Championship game, the Seattle Orcas debut season has been a truly incredible experience. We have been thrilled by the fan engagement and response to the inaugural Major League Cricket season. We look forward to building upon this foundation—from a sporting perspective, and by continuing to raise awareness and love for cricket in the Pacific Northwest and beyond."

Sanjay Govil, Owner of the Washington Freedom, said:

“Major League Cricket has arrived on the global cricket stage with an incredible splash, proving that cricket in the United States has a fantastic future in store. The Washington Freedom franchise would like to thank our players, support staff and fans for their participation and support in what was a truly world class competition. The crowds in Texas and North Carolina created a fantastic atmosphere in this inaugural season. We are striving to bring that experience to the DC region in the future as we work to develop a home venue for the Freedom with our great partners at George Mason University.”

Major League Cricket will return for its second season in the summer of 2024, a year that will see a further major step for American cricket with the United States set to host matches in the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup.