The MLC 2024 franchisees have unveiled overseas & domestic signings for the upcoming season of the league. New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Micthell was unveiled as the Texas Super Kings’ new overseas signing in the MLC 2024 Draft. Mitchell will join his CSK & New Zealand teammates Mitchell Santner & Devon Conway in the franchise for MLC 2024.
MI New York the winner of MLC 2023 has signed the services of West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd for the upcoming season. Shepherd will also make his IPL debut for MI in IPL 2024. They went on to bank the services of Proteas’ prolific pacer Anrich Nortje. Shepherd who has raised his game to the next level after winning CPL 2023 with Guyana Amazon Warriors, will reunite with his first West Indies captain and Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard at MI NY. Trent Boult, Tim David, and Kagiso Rabada are also part of a powerful overseas core at MI NY.
Coming to Seattle Orcas have bought the services of a spin all-rounder, Michael Bracewell who claimed his career-best 8 for 41 in the four-day Plunket Sheild earlier this week. Orcas lacked quality off-spin to deal with left-hand batters & they tried to fill that gap by bringing in Bracewell. On the other hand, Australia’s Matt Short will move to the San Francisco Unicorns franchise.
Bracewell joins Orcas, Daryl Mitchell foes to Texas Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings Head Coach Stephen Fleming had first worked with Mitchell Bracewell when he was part of New Zealand’s coaching staff in the lead-up to the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Mitchell dominated the spin department during the World Cup 2023 which forced CSK to think about getting his services. The franchise didn’t shy off spending a huge 14 crores to get Mitchell’s services.
“I’m thrilled to join the Texas Super Kings and reunite with the CSK family. It’s always special to wear the yellow jersey again,” Mitchell shared with Super Kings’ social media platforms. “The exciting part about the MLC following the World Cup in the West Indies and America is that the conditions are expected to be similar. I hope we can adapt well to these conditions and give our best on the field.”
Shepherd’s inclusion will bolster MI NY’s death bowling stocks. In the domestic draft, Super Kings grabbed the services of Raj Nannan and Josh Tromp. They are the twin brothers of Matthew Tromp who was drafted by Los Angeles Knight Riders. CSK have added a pinch of IPL flavor to their USA squad by getting in dart-it-in mystery spinner Anirudh Immanuel as a net bowler. The 19-year-old has played for the Philadelphians in Minor League Cricket in the USA.
West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Jahmar Hamilton, meanwhile, was the 16th pick in the draft by Unicorns. Former Pakistan international Hammad Azam, who was with Knight Riders in the inaugural season, was picked by Orcas in the recent draft.
Domestic Signees in MLC 2024 Draft
Former Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper batter Adithya Ganesh who has recently moved to the USA, was the No.1 pick in the domestic draft, and he’ll turn out for Knight Riders. Ganesh was Tamil Nadu’s reserve wicket-keeper batter when they won the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy under Vijay Shankar in 2021. Ganesh has a good record with spin & they have worked with R Ashwin as a middle-order floater at Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).
Ryan Ten Doeschate, Knight Riders’ assistant coach, who is currently at the IPL, has said, “Our main focus was ensuring we had a solid starting XI without taking any unnecessary risks,” Ten Doeschate explained to MLC network. “We conducted thorough research on Adithya, considering his experience playing in India. Thus, our decision to acquire him was firm, and we plan to address any additional needs as we progress. Based on our research and team requirements, Adithya appeared to be the most suitable choice for us this year.”
MLC 2024 is slated to be played in the July-August window. Six teams from MLC’s inaugural season will return in 2024, featuring returning superstar players like Rashid Khan, Faf du Plessis, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock, Haris Rauf, and Sunil Narine. The matches will be conducted at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas, and at additional venues to be announced soon
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