MLC 2025
Andre Russell is yet to make an impact in MLC 2025 © MLC
Seven games into MLC 2025 and two teams have already won six of those contests. With San Francisco Unicorns and Texas Super Kings appearing to already run away with the top two spots, the rest of the teams certainly have a lot of catching up to do. One of them is a side that will feel the heat if things don’t change quickly, considering they didn’t finish in the top four in the last two seasons as well.
Los Angeles Knight Riders have lost both their matches so far, and in convincing fashion. While their bowling faltered in their first game, the batting was a massive letdown in the next. They certainly have a solid, proven top three in the form of Andre Fletcher, Alex Hales and Unmukt Chand and wouldn’t want to change that even though the openers haven’t exactly set the tournament on fire so far.
However, that middle order will be under the focus yet again, with the spotlight firmly on one man. Andre Russell had a lean run with both bat and ball in IPL 2025, and worryingly for LA Knight Riders, that form has only carried on into this tournament. Russell has conceded 95 runs in 8 overs so far in MLC 2025, and with the bat, he has lasted just seven deliveries while getting dismissed twice.
Those are numbers that Russell would be looking to improve upon as the tournament progresses, especially being the star man of the side. The task won’t be easy though against the defending champions who staged a strong comeback in their previous game after getting swatted aside by a Finn Allen special in the tournament opener. Washington Freedom came up with a disciplined effort with the ball and the likes of Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Maxwell then delivered with the bat in the chase. If they can capitalise on LAKR’s poor start, then the top two certainly need to watch out.
When: June 17, 6 PM local time – 6:30 AM IST (June 18)
Where: Oakland Coliseum, California
What to expect: While we saw plenty of runs being scored in the first three games at this venue, the rate has relatively dropped thereafter. The two teams will hope for a batting-friendly surface given the explosive players in their ranks.
Washington Freedom
Probable XI: Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous (wk), Glenn Maxwell (c), Jack Edwards, Glenn Phillips, Obus Pienaar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar, Abhishek Paradkar
LA Knight Riders
Probable XI: Andre Fletcher, Alex Hales, Unmukt Chand (wk), Nitish Kumar, Matthew Tromp, Andre Russell, Saif Badar, Sunil Narine (c), Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Tanveer Sangha
© Cricbuzz
