With the resounding success of previous editions, Major League Cricket 2025 is poised to become America’s leading professional T20 cricket league. Beyond thrilling matches and superstar players, a key factor driving MLC’s rapid rise is the strong foundation built through strategic franchise ownership and elite sponsorship partnerships.

In this article, we present a deep dive into who owns each MLC franchise, which companies are backing the league, and how these partnerships are helping cricket take center stage in the US sports ecosystem.

Also Read : MLC 2025 Full Schedule, Fixtures & Key Matches

Major League Cricket 2025 features six competitive franchises, each backed by prominent business and sports investors from around the globe. Here’s a breakdown of each team and its ownership group:

Franchise	Parent Franchise	Ownership	Home Ground	Notable Backers
MI New York	Mumbai Indians (IPL), MI Cape Town (SA20), MI Emirates (ILT20)	Reliance Industries (Mukesh Ambani)	Church Street Park, North Carolina (Temporary)	Backed by India’s richest family
Los Angeles Knight Riders	Knight Riders Group (Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Jay Mehta)	Also owns KKR (IPL), TKR (CPL), and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders	Future MLC Stadium in Los Angeles	Highlight: Global entertainment + cricket synergy
Seattle Orcas	Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), Soma Somasegar, GMR Group (Delhi Capitals co-owners)	A blend of tech and cricket influence	Marymoor Park Cricket Ground	Strength: Tech-driven sports innovation
Washington Freedom	Sanjay Govil, in partnership with Cricket New South Wales	Linked to Australian cricket development	George Mason University Cricket Ground	Focus: Player development and cross-border excellence
San Francisco Unicorns	Anand Rajaraman, Venky Harinarayan (Silicon Valley Investors)	Deep ties with U.S. tech giants and IPL collaboration	Proposed Bay Area Cricket Stadium	USP: Startup culture meets cricket innovation
Texas Super Kings	Chennai Super Kings Ltd. & Ross Perot Jr.’s Hillwood Development	Direct CSK ownership and strong real estate backing	Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas	Notable Backers: India Cements, CSK Sports

Franchise ownership in MLC isn’t just about financial investment—it’s about long-term vision, cricket development, and market penetration in untapped regions. The ownership groups consist of tech moguls, Bollywood celebrities, IPL franchises, and venture capitalists, all with unique strategies for growing their brand in the U.S. market.

Title Partner: Cognizant

As the official Title Sponsor of Major League Cricket 2025, Cognizant, a Fortune 500 IT services leader, is front and center in branding, digital transformation, and global outreach. This partnership enhances MLC’s corporate image and signifies tech’s growing influence in sports.

Official Partners

These partners support league operations, branding, and fan engagement through services and sponsorship funding.

• Stake (Global Betting & Investment App)
• Remitly (International Money Transfers)
• Willow TV (Official Broadcast & Streaming Partner in the US)

These partners help expand MLC’s global footprint while making the game accessible to diaspora audiences across North America.

Official Automotive Partner: Lexus

Luxury automobile giant Lexus is the exclusive automotive partner for MLC 2025. Expect to see sleek vehicle activations at stadiums, digital campaigns, and player endorsements as Lexus drives premium engagement.

Signature Partners: Royal & NTT Data

• Royal (Beverages & Lifestyle): Offers branded activations, fan experiences, and merchandise.
• NTT Data (IT & Consulting): Powers backend systems, data analytics, and fan engagement platforms.

Apparel Partner: Kloth

Kloth is the official apparel and merchandise partner, responsible for player kits, fanwear, and lifestyle collections. Branded gear is now a massive part of fan identity—and Kloth is leading the charge.

Full match schedule: Available at MajorLeagueCricket.com

The collective backing from major tech companies, global consumer brands, and cricketing powerhouses is more than just financial. It signals MLC’s long-term viability, commercial attractiveness, and its growing place in the American sports hierarchy.

Key Strategic Impacts:

• Broadcast Reach: Willow TV and Remitly expand MLC’s presence among South Asian communities.
• Fan Loyalty: Cognizant and Lexus boost brand prestige and cross-market loyalty.
• Digital Ecosystem: NTT Data & Stake integrate cutting-edge analytics and user experiences.
• Merchandising Boom: Kloth and Royal are building a sustainable retail pipeline.

Unlike other leagues that depend solely on ticket sales and TV rights, Major League Cricket is creating a diverse revenue ecosystem:

• Private capital from billionaires and tech investors
• Corporate sponsorships aligned with innovation and luxury
• Merchandising and digital experiences
• Real estate development for future cricket stadiums

This hybrid commercial model is drawing comparisons to the NFL and NBA, positioning MLC to become America’s next billion-dollar sports property.

• Untapped Market Potential: Cricket is gaining momentum in the U.S., with MLC targeting over 30 million cricket fans.
• Cross-Cultural Appeal: With South Asian, Caribbean, and Australian communities engaged, brands reach diverse demographics.
• High Viewership Growth: The inaugural season saw record-breaking numbers for a U.S.-based cricket event, encouraging more advertising and sponsorship deals.

MLC’s franchise model is heavily inspired by the IPL, and 2025 sees deeper collaboration:

• IPL Franchises like CSK and MI are directly involved, bringing years of cricket management experience.
• Australian cricket partnerships (like Cricket New South Wales with Washington Freedom) ensure talent pipeline development.
• Player exchange programs between MLC and other leagues increase visibility and standard of play.

With billionaire investors and international boards involved:

• Youth academies are being developed across California, Texas, and New York.
• Infrastructure like cricket stadiums and high-performance centers are being rapidly constructed.
• MLC Juniors, a feeder league, is gaining traction for grassroots player development.

Major League Cricket 2025 isn’t just a sports league—it’s a strategic business movement. With world-class franchise owners and powerful brand sponsors at its core, MLC is redefining how cricket is played, watched, and monetized in the U.S. From Shah Rukh Khan’s Knight Riders to Microsoft-backed infrastructure, every stakeholder is adding immense value to this evolving cricket ecosystem.

As the league continues to gain commercial strength, fan loyalty, and international attention, MLC 2025 stands tall as a game-changing investment in the global cricketing landscape.