By Zainab Shafiq 
Just a day after his surprise retirement from international cricket, Nicholas Pooran has taken center stage again, this time as the newly appointed captain of MI New York for Major League Cricket 2025. Stepping into the shoes of Kieron Pollard, Pooran’s new role adds another chapter to his evolving legacy in franchise cricket.
Pooran is no stranger to leadership, nor to this franchise. He was instrumental in MI New York’s title run last season, smashing an unforgettable 137* off 55 balls in the final. With 388 runs in the season, 124 more than runner-up Quinton de Kock—he set the tone for what’s expected of elite players in the MLC. Now, with Major League Cricket 2025 fast approaching, MI New York have handed him the reins to lead from the front once again.
Pooran Set for Lead Role in Major League Cricket 2025 Post-Retirement
Although Pooran’s first brush with the Mumbai Indians franchise was back in 2017 when he was picked in the IPL but never played a match, his journey with the MI family has come full circle. After stops at Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants, he found consistency in franchise cricket, particularly with MI Emirates in the ILT20 and MI New York in MLC.
His appointment isn’t the only leadership shuffle ahead of Major League Cricket 2025. Glenn Maxwell, recently retired from ODIs, will captain Washington Freedom, replacing Steven Smith. Meanwhile, Corey Anderson remains at the helm of San Francisco Unicorns, continuing to fly the flag as the tournament’s only USA-born captain. Heinrich Klaasen retains his captaincy at Seattle Orcas, while Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings) and Sunil Narine (Los Angeles Knight Riders) are expected to continue their leadership roles.
The season opener on June 13 features a rematch between defending champions Freedom and Unicorns in Oakland, with the final slated for July 12.
Also, see:
Nicholas Pooran Retires from International Cricket at 29