T20toBeat

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:28:00
Unknown
This is major league cricket in 2025. Hello everyone and welcome to T20 to beat with your co-hosts Jeet Shetty and Toby. I'm the do.

00:00:28:02 - 00:00:51:09
Unknown
Well welcome back to T20 to beat. It's me Toby, and I'm here with my great co-host and friend Jeet. We are here in part two of our season preview for Major League Cricket 2025. And we are excited, to bring you some details and some info about some teams that look good. Some teams that don't look as good and, maybe we'll, we'll even get some time for predictions in there.

00:00:51:09 - 00:01:08:14
Unknown
Jeet, how are you doing over there this week? Yeah. All good man. How are you doing today? I'm doing pretty well. I'm doing pretty well. We are. let's see. We are a week away from the tournament as we're recording this, and, it seems like there is some great excitement happening. I've been seeing Major League Cricket posting a ton on Instagram.

00:01:08:14 - 00:01:26:24
Unknown
So whoever's doing this social media, great job if you're listening to this. And, the teams are all getting their squads settled, man. I'm, I'm feeling pretty excited. we've got some great games coming up that they're at a good time zone for me personally, because I'm here in the States. Jeet, what are you, what are you excited about for these first couple of games next week?

00:01:26:25 - 00:01:49:24
Unknown
I think I'm just looking forward to just seeing how California warms to cricket. You know, I just think that I'm just really excited, as we spoke about in our first episode, about now seeing the spread of cricket across America. You know, now it's going west just in terms of culturally. And you know, just the experience in the flesh at Oakland Stadium.

00:01:49:26 - 00:02:06:25
Unknown
and then that also obviously being broadcast around the world, how is it going to work as a spectacle? And I'm really excited for that. Honestly, I think that this first leg, I'm sort of viewing it separately than anything we've seen before, honestly, with MLC, because as I said, this is the first time having matches and the pitch.

00:02:06:25 - 00:02:28:20
Unknown
What's the pitch going to be like? Is it going to be a batting Paradise? Is it going to be, is it going to be good for the quick bowlers or spinners going to have a role? What's it going to be like to fielder? I think, I think those are the things I'm really looking forward to. You know, I feel the same every time the new stadiums about to hold cricket for the first time, what are the variables that this venue is going to throw up?

00:02:28:21 - 00:02:49:29
Unknown
I'd say that. How about human? What about you? I think, something similar. I'm excited to see what the vibe is for, this first California leg. I want to know what is the attendance going to be like there? The Orca's in particular, and the unicorns as well. you know, some of those West Coast teams I've seen last from the LA Knight Riders, but maybe that's just the the channels I'm looking at.

00:02:50:04 - 00:03:12:29
Unknown
Anyways, I've seen the orca is doing a lot of promotion and a lot of like, public outreach, trying to get people excited. So I'm interested to see how much of that in the West Coast is taking effect. And I'm excited to see hopefully some big crowds. I think it's an interesting choice to start the tournament in California at a ground that they've never featured in major cricket before.

00:03:12:29 - 00:03:29:29
Unknown
You know, as sad as I am that it's no longer here in Morrisville, I am excited to see, you know, what California looks like, but I think if it were me, I think I probably would have started it in Texas or Florida, where I know that I've got a reserve base of fans to kind of kick off the season on a highlight.

00:03:30:03 - 00:03:49:04
Unknown
So I'm. Yeah, I'm, I'm anxious to see what the first few games are going to look like in that California window. but yeah, but speaking of California, man, we talked last time about the Washington freedom. We talked about, the orcas. Let's, let's review some more of these teams and jump right into it with the LA Knight Riders.

00:03:49:04 - 00:04:16:23
Unknown
Jake, what can you tell me about the Knight Riders? Man? Very exciting to me, I think. I think that they're going to be one to watch out for personally, just because of the history in their name as a Knight Riders franchise. So for those that don't know, the CEO of, the franchises, Venky Mysore, who also, is CEO of Red Chilies Entertainment, they are obviously affiliates of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

00:04:16:25 - 00:04:36:12
Unknown
So this is a good starting point to have that fan base from, back in India, in Calcutta, and then obviously all the kickoff runs across the world. I think that just such a historic, very feel good franchise, honestly, the Knight Riders, all of the jerseys, I love that profile. It brings a kind of distinct, vibe and aura to the tournament.

00:04:36:14 - 00:04:56:08
Unknown
but yeah, man, I think I'm looking forward to seeing some T20 legends honestly on show. And I don't use I mean, legend is an overused word, but I really think that I mean, you're going to see some of the the best all time great T20 players playing for this franchise. Sunil run. Watch out for him because the guy does everything.

00:04:56:11 - 00:05:17:08
Unknown
You know he bats, he's a very entertaining battle to watch you score quickly. He's there for a good time. Not a long time. I think that's how would I describe his batting? he is a really fine bowler. He doesn't give runs away easy at all. He'll take wickets, I think. Also, just on a lighter note as well, I'd say about Sunil Narine.

00:05:17:08 - 00:05:34:09
Unknown
And I don't know if you agree with this too, man. I just love how the man has. He just shows no emotion on his face, no matter what's happening at any stage of the match. Like he could take a wicket and he that poker face is still, he could be scoring. You very rarely see any emotion on his face.

00:05:34:09 - 00:05:55:05
Unknown
I just think it's it's pretty humorous to watch at times. So I think that that would be fun to watch from him. Yeah, I, I love Sunil Narine. every time I see him playing in the T20, I'm like, oh yes, I get to watch the on right now because you're so right. He's just like, I don't know if he's just so chill or if he genuinely is just ice cold, but you're so right about his face.

00:05:55:10 - 00:06:19:19
Unknown
He is one to me that's always stood out. I got into cricket, and like, started seriously following the IPL in like probably 2015, 2016. And it was kind of around that time where teams were realizing that you could send somebody out who doesn't normally bat a ton to just go have a whack. And I feel like Narine kind of came into that in a really unique way because he actually can bat.

00:06:19:24 - 00:06:40:17
Unknown
But he's been given the freedom by KKR over the years to basically go out early in the game and just yeah, man, see what you can do. smack the ball around, get us some runs. And he does it really, really well. so yeah, I, I really like Narine. I also really like, you know, the KKR legend himself, Andre Russell G man, I'm, I'm expecting a big season from Dre.

00:06:40:17 - 00:07:04:21
Unknown
Russ what about yourself? I think I'm too. Dude. I think that he'll really enjoy I mean we're yet to see obviously the dimensions of the California grown, but I think the I mean I think when we get to Texas, I think he could eat that. He could eat that stuff up. You know, I think if he's batting on that wicket, like, I don't, I don't see any reason why he can't be hitting sixes for fun regularly.

00:07:04:21 - 00:07:29:01
Unknown
You know, I just think he's got so much power, particularly on the small grounds like that for those kind of hitters, it's like, where do you go to them? Because you don't even have to time the ball perfectly and you could still be disappearing, you know, onto the road. Forget on the stadium, the man could one could be sending it into orbit and then out of the ground, like that's how good he is and that's how much power he's got.

00:07:29:02 - 00:07:47:25
Unknown
And I mean, he practices so hard to achieve these results. That's why he's, you know, one of the best T20 players ever. But I think I'm just just I just feel like being a player from, you know, of that ilk. I just feel the playing in MLC will really suit him. You know, I think that it's almost made for him.

00:07:47:28 - 00:08:12:29
Unknown
That's one thing that I think, as I've been reflecting on our conversation last time, that I think, I think T20 gets kind of a bad rap among maybe like cricket purists because it's like short. It's it's and it's exciting, you know, but you know, not not to say that there's longer formats of the game can't be exciting because you and I both appreciate a good nail biter test match where it's like day four.

00:08:12:29 - 00:08:36:25
Unknown
We don't know what's going to happen, but I think that there is something really fun about T20, that I think guys like us in the run can bring in as specialists to the game for a shorter format. That is, that's the brand of major league cricket and like franchise T20 in general. It's kind of like, let's see how far I can hit this ball with the bat and dress coming in.

00:08:37:01 - 00:09:12:19
Unknown
You know, sometimes a little bit lower down the order where you kind of put a guy who, with a little bit less time in the game, he can come in and just smash it, and sometimes it comes off really well. Yeah. It's like it's so fun. I'm really glad actually, as well, that you brought up that point about T20, because I think that that's something, you know, really pertinent to talk about now, just just in general, you know, in terms of the landscape of cricket and obviously us, you know, previewing a T20 tournament and, you know, hopefully a T20 tournament that's going to be around for years to come.

00:09:12:21 - 00:09:36:26
Unknown
I just think that we have to keep, you know, evolving our opinions on the game and understand that this is a legitimate format. I've heard journalists and people who I follow talk about, you know, sort of different codes. And I just think that's how we should look at T20, you know, so it's a different code. It's not fair to look at it as a, an inferior skill as opposed to another format of cricket.

00:09:36:26 - 00:09:55:23
Unknown
I just think it's different, you know what I mean? I think that I feel like that's how we should start looking at it, because you know, appreciate the there are some brilliant T20 players who might not be so good, all the formats, but those players who are really great in those formats might not be such good T20 players.

00:09:55:23 - 00:10:13:05
Unknown
You know. So that's what I mean. It's a different skill. Guys like Jay Ross and Sunil Narine for instance. Just picking these two because these are, you know, generational players in T20 cricket. There are people out there that can't do what they do. You know what I mean? There's a reason why they're so good in this format. It's not a fluke.

00:10:13:05 - 00:10:36:20
Unknown
It's not it's not, you know, easy cricket in any way. It's really tough, really competitive. And I think we need to respect and appreciate how much hard work these guys do, how much you know, they've put in to become these outstanding players in this format. And they are also great. I think we have to start looking at it and probably and I'm guilty of it, is anyone?

00:10:36:20 - 00:10:56:07
Unknown
Because, you know, we've had chats about this offer before as well. probably it took me time as well to kind of, you know, appreciate, well, you know, T20 players versus, you know, the players that play all the forms. But now I'm like, no, actually what I'm seeing in front of my eyes. No, this too is greatness. You know, this is just another form of greatness.

00:10:56:07 - 00:11:19:16
Unknown
What do you think about it? I agree, I think it's a different format of the game. It's probably not as prestigious as maybe a five day test match between England and India, which is coming up this summer, which I'm really excited for. And there's like great narrative and contest and it's an extremely difficult game to play. But there's, you know, but there's something that's exciting about T20.

00:11:19:16 - 00:11:42:24
Unknown
I think you bring up a great point that like, these records do matter, right? When somebody bats and scores a huge total of runs in a season that matters not just in a sporting perspective, like it was fun to watch, but like major financial decisions are being made on these performances. I think that T20 is the thing that's bringing the investment into the game.

00:11:42:29 - 00:12:10:14
Unknown
And also, I think one thing that makes milk really suited to America and I think if it's marketed correctly, could do really well. I mean, God forbid we have some fun watching sports. You know, like there's so much seriousness around sports these days. I think maybe because of, you know, like our hustle culture and the rise of sports gambling apps, it's like everything is, is a transaction T20, I think is it could have that for sure.

00:12:10:14 - 00:12:32:03
Unknown
And like, there's definitely a cynical side of me that says, yeah, it's just all about the money, whatever. But you know what? When I put on a a game next week, I don't want to feel like I'm studying for something. I want to put on a game, hang out with a friend, hang out with my wife, watch the game and have a good time.

00:12:32:03 - 00:12:49:21
Unknown
We've gone off on our T20 rabbit hole as we normally do, so let's, let's drag it back here. just taking a final look at that cake at that night KKR, that late night rider side you know, send on the rain dress some you know, some older guys there that are going to bring the heat Alex Hales kind of similar.

00:12:49:24 - 00:13:05:17
Unknown
but we'll come on to to my boy Matthew Trump in a little bit when we talk about his brother, I guess. So let's maybe pop down and, let's chat about the Texas Super Kings. Let's, let's leave the West Coast for a little bit, and, let's, let's enjoy some Texas sun here. What do you what do you think about the Super Kings?

00:13:05:17 - 00:13:26:11
Unknown
They're great. Yeah, man, I think they've got a good team. I think the, I'm big fan of enough to see their captain. I think he's, someone to watch out for. Very cool guy, very chill on the field. A good leader kind of marshals his troops. he is another great fielder for all our fielding enthusiasts out the.

00:13:26:11 - 00:13:55:15
Unknown
He he'll be one to watch out for saving runs in the field and also taking some spectacular catches. So I think I'm looking forward to seeing first, I really would like to see Merlin Kumar. I think we'd both talked about him, the, the US just out a series against Oman where he played really well and but I remember him probably people might remember him from the USA Pakistan match taking that taking that catch in the super over which won the USA that game.

00:13:55:15 - 00:14:18:13
Unknown
I think you just I just remember that bit of commentary and and him him pulling off that piece of brilliance in the outfield. And yeah, ever since then I just thought he's been one to watch out for, so I'd pick him. What about you, dude? Yeah, I think if you're, if you're an American and you're flipping through the channels and you find a major league cricket game and you're like, you know who's a good American?

00:14:18:13 - 00:14:36:21
Unknown
A boy that I can watch? honestly, Milind Kumar is your guy, right? He plays for the US, he represents his country and he does a really great job on. Tsk. Man, I really am having a hard time not seeing Ksdk. tsk. he's Freudian slip. It really is. I mean, it really is. but it's like.

00:14:36:21 - 00:14:58:07
Unknown
Oh, you said Coco with the Latin I'm going to do with all of them. Yeah, I know it's hard not it's really hard not to. It is. Well, thank God for the Washington freedom where it's like there's no there is no associate Asian whatsoever. but no, I think Milind Kumar, it's great. But I think the other thing to mention about this team is Marcus Stoinis.

00:14:58:09 - 00:15:18:03
Unknown
he is a T20 legend in in the making I would say coming from Australia, the dude can bat and the dude's got a mustache. What more do you really need? Yeah he is he's got a few nicknames which are really like I think at one point his nickname was The Hulk, which I can sort of see.

00:15:18:06 - 00:15:38:04
Unknown
Yeah, I think it was. I think the other was like big Poppy or something. So he's got. Yeah, I know he's, he's got, but I think, yeah, there's something very kind of, warm about Stoinis. You know, he's kind of this kind of intimidating presence on the field. You know. You know big you know big muscles hits big sixes can bowl.

00:15:38:04 - 00:15:55:24
Unknown
You know he's good all rounder. For listeners out there that don't know about Marcus Stoinis. One thing that I like about him, especially as a batter, is he's someone that can play and has played in a lot of different positions. You know, he's a top, he's been an opener. I think he's been a number three and he's also been a finisher.

00:15:55:26 - 00:16:28:08
Unknown
And I personally really like that. And I think that especially with T20, you know, T20 is such a dynamic format. I think the it's a tough one because sometimes you wonder whether if you're that good at all these different roles or actually makes it harder for you, you know, when you go out and play because it's like then for the selectors picking the team, they're not sure actually where they want to fit you in because they know you can fit into all these different roles, but then they've also got other players that they want to, you know, fit into the 11.

00:16:28:10 - 00:16:51:12
Unknown
But I respect people that go down that path because they I just think that's a very team first mindset. You know, being the most adaptable, versatile player that you can be. And I think that we're seeing that with Marcus Stoinis. Wherever he's gone when he's played for Australia as well, that he is, he is you know, he's very adaptable and he's developed his game enormously.

00:16:51:12 - 00:17:06:01
Unknown
And I think that, you know, there is more to come. I don't see any reason why it won't. This won't keep going on. We won't see the best of Stoinis now for another few years. I think that, you know I'm looking forward to seeing what he does. What about you?

00:17:06:03 - 00:17:26:21
Unknown
Yeah I like to join us a lot. I like I like a guy who can put himself in the team kind of anywhere. I think you bring up a good point with, like, there's that tension in selectors. but that role as a finishers is maybe unique to T20 in some ways. in that most sports there's an opportunity for both teams to score fairly frequently.

00:17:26:23 - 00:17:47:00
Unknown
And what makes T20 distinct and what makes cricket distinct is that you're only scoring for a defined period of the game. And so if it's your first time tuning in, you're watching one team score and accumulate what seems like a lot of runs, and then you get to watch the other team try to chase it down and some teams like to chase.

00:17:47:00 - 00:18:13:27
Unknown
Some teams like to set, to set a score. Stoinis man as a finisher. That dude loves a chase. and I guess I honestly, I guess the rest of this team, you know kind of looking through it at first glance, it maybe feels like, maybe they're like 1 or 2 names short, but then you kind of think about Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner and you realize, oh, actually, they've got, they've got a lot of guys that have a lot of experience.

00:18:13:29 - 00:18:33:06
Unknown
But as I mentioned before it, they've also got a guy on here named Joshua Trump. he's the brother of a guy named Matthew Trump. And what's cool about this is there are twin brothers playing on separate teams in Major league cricket this year. And these guys are from the States. I mean, they've got I think they've got like South African ancestry.

00:18:33:09 - 00:18:51:16
Unknown
but these dudes are like classic, you know, American dudes. You know, like it's it's like it's cool to see, kind of like homegrown talent and guys who've played in the States for a while, get a chance in a really big league. So I think both of those guys are going to be cool to watch.

00:18:51:18 - 00:19:09:11
Unknown
but Joshua is the one here on, on. Tsk. All right, a couple more here. we'll kind of do our last two teams, and then we'll share some predictions. man, let's chat about the San Francisco unicorns. I just look at the squad right now. Who? Some guys we can look out for here. I would say Liam Plunkett.

00:19:09:13 - 00:19:29:21
Unknown
I think I'm quite excited to see personally, just having seen Plunkett play for England and seeing his journey as a player. You know, I saw him win and we watched him be a crucial member for that team, for the English team throughout the mid to late 20 tens. And then of course, winning the World Cup with England in 2019.

00:19:29:27 - 00:19:49:17
Unknown
He never played for England after that, which quite surprised me. You know he he off to the one. I think the last match he played for England was the 2019 World Cup final. He's still got very, very crucial skills for particularly this T20 format. You know good slow ball, good bouncer and he gets you wickets. Yeah I'd pick Plunkett.

00:19:49:18 - 00:20:07:27
Unknown
How about you do. Yeah I like Plunkett as well I was I was kind of disappointed that England left him out of the team after they won the World Cup. I'm sure there's more to the story. And I honestly just don't know. and of course, moving to a new country with your wife is a big deal, and it's awesome.

00:20:08:00 - 00:20:26:19
Unknown
But you're right. When you say that the guy gets wickets, he's like a relief pitcher that you can reliably bring in in, like the sixth or seventh inning, and he's going to get you some results. you know, he's always going to get, something to happen, even in the middle of a game when it kind of feels like there's a bit of a lull happening.

00:20:26:19 - 00:20:44:15
Unknown
Plunkett is able to bring some energy, but then maybe on the opposite end of the spectrum, in terms of age, man, I, I looked up this guy that I'd never heard of before when I was looking, when I was looking at this team, a guy named Achilles Brown, which first off, that is the best name.

00:20:44:18 - 00:21:03:23
Unknown
Like, you're not going to get a better name than Achilles Brown. And he's also from Philadelphia. Like, that is just like a trading card waiting to happen. And he's young too. I mean, he's a young guy, grew up in Barbados. but now he's from Philadelphia. But the dude's quick. he ran, the four by 100 meter relay.

00:21:03:26 - 00:21:34:00
Unknown
and I think he he won it, with his team. So he's fast, good running between the wickets. Hopefully. He's been doing pretty well in some of the like US domestic leagues. So I yeah, some of these guys that I was, looking up in the squads man I'm like, man I really hope they get some play time because I think that's one of the important things about a domestic T20 tournament is that you want it to develop some of your local talent, some of the guys that are from the States or from wherever the host country is, you want them to, like you're saying before rub shoulders with some of the greats.

00:21:34:03 - 00:22:02:01
Unknown
so yeah, hopefully, you know, hopefully it gets in there, I think taking a look at the rest of the side, you know, this is, you know, it's tough about this. Corey Anderson's great, obviously. you know, former New Zealand player played for place for the US now, but I, I can't help but feel for maybe some of the rest of this squad that it's like, it's just missing something to me.

00:22:02:03 - 00:22:26:16
Unknown
I know you got Harris, Ralph, but I, I feel like I always want him to have a really big tournament in whatever he's in, and it just doesn't feel like the end of that tournament ever kind of goes his way. And then somebody like Jake Fraser McGuirk again, it's like, yeah, the guy's got some talent. It just feels like I don't know, maybe I'm reading it wrong and you disagree completely, but to me, this squad feels the least settled of the ones that we've looked at so far.

00:22:26:19 - 00:22:51:15
Unknown
And see where you're coming from. Dude, I think that there's a few. There's a few. What if players if I'd like to move that way. I think two of them that catch my eye. One is, you said right there Jake Fraser McGuirk because I think when he first, you know, broke on the scene, he was so exciting because he was scoring at such a rapid rate, but he hasn't really kicked on in the way.

00:22:51:15 - 00:23:22:16
Unknown
I think quite a lot of people thought he would. He plays a very high risk game. So I appreciate that. And you probably have to look at him differently from other players because he kind of does go missing a bit. Another player who I'd tell him and sort of what if is Finn Allen? I think that I remember seeing him a few years ago thinking, wow, you know, this guy is like a, you know, a guy who really ferocious ball striker, you know, ferocious New Zealand opener gets them off to, you know, really quick starts.

00:23:22:18 - 00:23:38:03
Unknown
But I just yeah again I just don't feel like he's kicked on in the way I thought he would. And he's played some great innings. But I think he could be more consistent. And I hope again like this is a tournament where we will see the best of him and hopefully this can be the springboard for better things.

00:23:38:05 - 00:23:54:11
Unknown
I know, I do know what you mean. I think that, yeah, there's something missing. The I don't know. But having said the I mean, I don't know if people feel lost to and they made the final. So you kind of like to see the team that doesn't maybe while you, you know, when you read it on paper.

00:23:54:11 - 00:24:12:08
Unknown
But then let's see when they play, perhaps they'll take us all by. I don't even want to say by surprise, but they're just going to, you know, play some really compelling, appealing cricket. And, you know, maybe they'll be in that final again. So I guess we can't write them off since they were runners up, lost to But yeah.

00:24:12:09 - 00:24:31:14
Unknown
Well, I guess I'll leave it though with the unicorns. I hope that, they can have some success this year. All right. And then our final team here, maybe we left them last for a reason. Maybe we saved the best for last. Depending on your opinion about the Mumbai Indians, maybe we didn't. Who knows? But Mumbai, New York or New York?

00:24:31:14 - 00:24:53:07
Unknown
Am I New York? Dude, how do you say it? I think I say my New York, probably. Yeah, yeah, I feel like I keep coming back to that. Anyway, in terms of their team, though, definitely not as awkward because they've got some, some big names here. I've got to talk about him because I love him. This is the team that Trent Boult is on.

00:24:53:14 - 00:25:22:15
Unknown
And if you've never watched Trent Boult Ball, you really need to tune in to a Mumbai Indians New York match because the guy is a legend. He's got a small mouth, he's got a fast arm. I think that he is going to take them really far this year, and I won't hear anything other other than that, my guy, all of Trump know, and I think he's one of those guys that in a league like this I just think he's there's something very engaging about Trent Boult.

00:25:22:15 - 00:25:45:18
Unknown
You know like he's a left arm fast bowler. He can swing it. Everything just seems so natural around him. It just seems like he does everything so easy. You know? It's like he's almost like he's a born cricketer. He's, you know, he's probably one of the most experienced players in this side. I mean, there's a couple of others, but Trent Boult is just a, I think you'd say probably one of the most consistent bowlers in T20.

00:25:45:20 - 00:26:05:05
Unknown
he had a great IPL, as he always does, and I think he's going to have a great major league cricket season he did last summer. Maybe on the other end of the spectrum, from experience to no experience, dude, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole. and Kanwaljit Singh, he's a minor league cricket player here in the States.

00:26:05:07 - 00:26:32:07
Unknown
And, his only score of significance in minor league cricket is 90 of 56 that he scored. And you can find the highlights on the minor league cricket. Instagram. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch. It's, It's pretty good. This must have been some good highlights. well, well, you know, it's like it's one of those things where the the highlight quality is not fantastic because it's minor league cricket.

00:26:32:07 - 00:27:13:20
Unknown
Right? So there's, there's one camera angle and it doesn't change that much. However, he looked confident. He looked good. the dude can smack it. hits it mostly to the leg side, but he looks pretty settled. you know, again, kind of a guy that you're like, I don't think you would get picked for most other, international cricket leagues, but you're going to get an opportunity here because it's, you know, it's a domestic tournament and maybe around the right group of people, you kind of turn something on and you find that consistency that you've been looking for, you know, know for sure that's and that's the one thing with, the Mumbai

00:27:13:20 - 00:27:59:06
Unknown
Indians as a, as a franchise, as we've seen, dude, over the years is the scouting system is so rigorous and they just have an incredible ability to cherry pick and, just identify talent. You know, you, I mean, you see what they've done in Indian cricket, how they picked, you know, guys like Jaspreet Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, you know, to gifts to Indian cricket and I think they if they've seen something in you know converted Singh then I'm I'm trusting it because I feel like we've seen from you know given that track record the the you know they have a knack and an eye for just picking up something special in a player.

00:27:59:09 - 00:28:20:21
Unknown
There must be something special about this guy. If you know, in that one innings alone, he was able to attract their attention. So, I'm again, I hope he gets a game. I know these. And again, at the very least, he's going to rub shoulders with, you know, superstars like Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Karun Pollard, the USA captain, Monarch Bhutto.

00:28:20:21 - 00:28:46:19
Unknown
I mean, what an experience it's going to be for him. You know? Yeah, that's what's going to be tough about this. this Mumbai Indians, New York, this mini review here is that like, there are so many names in this side, it's difficult to kind of identify who's going to have a fantastic year, or who's really going to be the key, because kind of everybody is, a big name, even down into some of the, the lesser known dudes.

00:28:46:22 - 00:29:06:14
Unknown
like you said, there's a scouting system. So obviously they see something in some of the guys from the states or some of the guys that are a little bit less well known. But even just thinking from a, you know, has this guy played on the international stage stage perspective? Man, the majority of their side is, a well known cricketer somewhere.

00:29:06:14 - 00:29:32:16
Unknown
So you know it. They're they're going to be tough to beat. I think. obviously they picked up Quinton de Kock. he's fantastic. Kieron Pollard, you know, another guy who can, who can bring a lot of experience into the side. So yeah, I, I don't know, man. as much as I, as much as I don't love seeing Mumbai win everything, I feel like they're going to be difficult to beat in this particular edition of the MLC.

00:29:32:19 - 00:30:05:23
Unknown
No. Pretty awesome. Dude, I think you now having reviewed all six, I think that I will as my favorites. Just having no seeing all the squads. I would say my New York would be my pick for the champions. given that track record, I mean, they won the first two, semifinalists last year. I think that and again, given how successful the, you know, the Mumbai Indians franchise, have been, I think the it's in is in their blood almost, isn't it.

00:30:05:25 - 00:30:29:15
Unknown
They're kind of the Bourne champions, so I'll pick them. I know it's a boring pick, but I just, you know, as we were looking at that squad, I can't really find many weaknesses. The. No. Yeah, I agree, I have them kind of in contention all the way through. I think that the defending champions, the Washington Freedom look, it's going to be really tough for them to win this tournament because they're not going to have Steve Smith except for like two games.

00:30:29:15 - 00:30:50:23
Unknown
And last year he was their leading run scorer. Obviously he's busy with, international duties. But like not having your biggest run scorer from the previous year, that's a tough hole to fill. They've got natural Walker who's the leading wicket taker last year. So you'd think they're bowling department is going to be pretty strong. But I could see I could see Mumbai going pretty pretty far.

00:30:50:23 - 00:31:14:10
Unknown
I think for me maybe to counter that, I think, I think I'm liking the York as more and more, as we kind of think about that team again, there's a lot of names in that side. you've got class and you've got David Warner, you've got Segunda Raza, you've got Aaron Jones, and I think the rookies have done a really good job picking up some domestic players that, have represented the United States previously.

00:31:14:17 - 00:31:42:22
Unknown
So I think that's going to be, a pretty balanced side because you've got some great international stars as well as some domestic guys. So I don't know, I could see Orca's New York in the final. I, I would probably go to, to Mumbai, New York at that point, but I don't know, I guess I'm kind of hoping for a new champion, but as we, as we're talking about this, you know, there's only there's only two to pick from, but one of them is the best team that we've identified, I think.

00:31:42:25 - 00:32:04:22
Unknown
I think so, I think I was about to say I think the orca's looking at this squad, I would say the like my dark horses. I'm going to go I'm going to say that because I think that, looking at them as we did last time, they've got some exciting players and some players who there's a good mix or something, kind of, I don't know, something quite cohesive about that squad.

00:32:04:22 - 00:32:29:03
Unknown
You know, David Warner, Aaron Jones, Hetmyer. secondly, Roger Clawson and because they've not won it yet, I think that that's also why I'm calling them dark horses. Last year was a bad year for them, and that's putting it politely. So I think that I think it would be a great story, isn't it? I like those comeback stories in sport where if you can go from loss to force, then done something pretty, pretty special.

00:32:29:03 - 00:32:58:11
Unknown
So I think we'll I'll put the orcas in there. I'm going to throw one more in and say, I like the Knight Riders. I just think that they are star studded as well. If you have a season where you can get Dre Ross and Sunil Narine in top form, I think just from experience of having seen KKR sides, Kolkata Knight Riders, sides where that has happened, you know, and where both of them on song in the season, that is when they are devastating as a team.

00:32:58:11 - 00:33:17:26
Unknown
But the outgoing, exciting nature of Dre Ross and then the cool, calm, collected Sunil Narine. I just think that, you know, they if they're at their peak and if they're playing well together, I mean, that's why you call it. That's why a team sport is a team sport. Because the more players you have in form, the more likely you are to do so.

00:33:17:26 - 00:33:31:27
Unknown
But I just think that those two could carry a side if they are, you know, if they're playing well. So I'm going to put I'll throw the Knight Riders in there too. Yeah. Yeah. Hard to disagree. And I'd really love to see the Knight Riders do well because I love watching them in the IPL and and in the CPL.

00:33:31:27 - 00:33:53:09
Unknown
So I'm, I'm hoping that they do well here this year. But but that's going to do it for our preview episodes here going forward. Here's what you can expect. We are going to be, hopefully your chosen guides through Major League cricket. So if you are a new fan, if you are already interested, cricket, we are here for you to kind of give you a window into Major League cricket, give you some match summaries.

00:33:53:13 - 00:34:12:24
Unknown
We're going to try our best to do a couple of, recaps as we get these first few games under our belt, and then we'll have a little bit of a leg recap each time that they change cities. And we'll do some some other stuff in there. So if you would like to know more about what we've got coming on, you can actually find us now on Instagram.

00:34:12:27 - 00:34:27:20
Unknown
we are at T20 to beat, that is T20 to beat. on Instagram. You can send us a DM if you wildly disagree with our predictions or you want to add some to the side, or if you've got a question that you would love to be answered. If it is a good enough question, who knows? It may make it up.

00:34:27:22 - 00:34:45:23
Unknown
onto our next episode so you can find us on there for all of the information that you're going to need, you can tune in to that and watch genies, predictions all fall apart, and we'll have to scramble to tell you what happened. So we will see you on the other side. See you then. Thanks, Toby. Thanks, Jeet.

00:34:45:26 - 00:35:07:11
Unknown
Hi, everyone. Sorry for the delay in releasing the second part of our MLC preview. Toby and I were actually traveling last week. so both of us were away. But now we are back. And before we sign off, I just wanted to give you a quick recap of some of the action that we've seen so far in Major League Cricket 2025.

00:35:07:14 - 00:35:42:07
Unknown
What an exhilarating, incredible start we've had to this season of MLC the San Francisco Unicorns on their home ground, Oakland Coliseum, giving their fans a spectacle to remember. Largely thanks to the brutal, belligerent, destructive ball striking display by opener Finn Allen, a 34 ball century and the fastest 150 in the history of T20 cricket. That was some statement.

00:35:42:13 - 00:36:02:28
Unknown
And what a way to welcome cricket onto the West Coast. It's also a good reminder to all sports fans that predictions can go comically wrong. as you would have heard me speaking on the pod earlier about Finn Allen and what you know, I talk about his output over the last few years and what I was hoping he would produce.

00:36:03:03 - 00:36:26:08
Unknown
You know, coming forward. And he goes and does that. So I guess that shot me up or do I know? But that's on. I'd like to. On a serious note, it is wonderful to see someone realize just how good they can be, particularly on a stage like that. And make no mistake, this was history. For those that saw it live.

00:36:26:11 - 00:36:50:25
Unknown
For that young boy or the young girl who was in the stands last Thursday, Oakland, they would have been able to go home and tell their friends and their family members, I was the. And they will be able to say that for the rest of their lives. And I just think that is awesome and so cool. It's been a powerful start for last year's runners up, the unicorns, in their first game of the tournament.

00:36:51:00 - 00:37:19:07
Unknown
Be the defending champions Washington Freedom by a mammoth 123 runs. And it has been the perfect start for the unicorns. They are now three wins from three games so far. The home side have enjoyed the home conditions. Oakland Coliseum and the local support. The Texas Super Kings are the other unbeaten team in the competition so far with two wins on the trot, while Washington Freedom rebounded from a deflating first loss to win their second match against the Seattle Orcas.

00:37:19:09 - 00:37:48:10
Unknown
My New York, MI New York have been on the wrong end of two thrilling lows two finishes, while the L.A. Knight Riders are also yet to get off the mark. In the next episode, we will do a more holistic and in-depth review of the Oakland leg once it is done later this week, and we look forward to seeing you on the other side, where we will dive into how players and teams have fared so far, and what the moxie experience on the West Coast has brought to the table.

00:37:48:12 - 00:38:23:20
Unknown
Thanks for joining us, everyone. and please send your questions. As Toby said earlier in the pod via Instagram on T20 to beat and we look forward to seeing you next time. Cheers, everyone. Bye for now.