Captain: Kieron Pollard
Coach: Robin Peterson
Previous Season Performance: Champions
MI New York's previous season was marked by a fluctuating campaign that reached its zenith at the most crucial time. Although they struggled to maintain consistent victories during the league stage, an unfortunate shoulder injury to Kieron Pollard in the final league game led Nicholas Pooran to take command. MINY barely secured the 4th spot but gained momentum in the knockout stages. Pooran's leadership saw the team pull off a three-match winning streak, culminating in a remarkable innings of 137* off 55 balls by the captain in the grand finale.
Key Performers
Pooran's form was exceptional throughout the tournament, amassing 388 runs with a strike rate of 167. Tim David also made significant contributions, scoring 209 runs at a similar strike rate in limited opportunities lower down the order. Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige emerged as a standout domestic player for MINY, excelling in tough powerplay overs and finishing with the tournament's best economy rate of 5.73 RPO.
International Players
MI New York has retained their core group of international players familiar with the MI brand. Kieron Pollard, a long-serving MI talisman, will once again don the MI colours. Tim David and Nicholas Pooran return, aiming to replicate their previous season's success. South African young talent Dewald Brewis gets another opportunity to make his mark in T20 cricket. The team has also added West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd to strengthen their middle order and provide backup for their formidable pace attack, including Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, and Anrich Nortje. Additionally, the retention of Rashid Khan ensures that MINY boasts one of the most complete bowling attacks in the tournament.
Domestic Talent
Former Gujarat leg-spinning all-rounder Sunny Patel, at 37, makes a surprising return to professional cricket after moving to the USA. USA captain Monank Patel is expected to open the batting, having recovered from a shoulder injury. Steven Taylor is under an injury cloud due to a shoulder niggle but remains a key player. Opener Shayan Jahangir aims to build on his solid starts from the previous season. Former Pakistani pacer Ehsan Adil is expected to add depth to the pace attack, serving as a reliable container alongside a strong international pace lineup. American-born, South African-raised left-handed opening batsman Ruben Clinton has earned a contract following his impressive performances in the minor league.
Probable XI
Monank Patel, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Nosthush Kenjige, Ehsan Adil.