In a dramatic MLC 2025 final, 22-year-old USA pacer Rushil Ugarkar held his nerve to defend 12 off the last over against white-ball heavyweights Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips, sealing MI New York's second Major League Cricket title by just six runs against Washington Freedom.
Bowling cutters with deadly precision, Ugarkar dismissed Maxwell with a slower ball and allowed only one delivery to Phillips—who had sparked a late resurgence. Despite Freedom’s momentum, especially after Rachin Ravindra’s 70 off 41 and Phillips’ late assault, the underdog bowler emerged as the Stake Player of the Match.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock’s explosive 77 off 46 powered MINY to 172, with strong support from Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran. Freedom faltered early against Trent Boult, rallied via a solid 84-run stand between Ravindra and Jack Edwards, but failed to keep pace during a sluggish middle period.
Maxwell's 106* earlier in the tournament remained his only standout performance, and his struggles in the final mirrored Freedom’s fate. Ultimately, it was Ugarkar—unheralded, uncapped, and unfazed—who bowled the over of a lifetime to etch his name in MLC history.