Predicting MI NY’s Playing XI for the 14th Match against SF in MLC 2025

MI New York is excited for its upcoming match with the San Francisco Unicorns in the 14th game of Major League Cricket 2025. MI New York put together a good total of 188/4 against the Washington Freedom, but unfortunately lost even with aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. This is a retention game, and MI New York needs to make sure they pick their best XI, as the stakes could not be higher, and they are fighting for their playoff lives. They must win this game, and they can take some chances versus the Unicorns here.

Openers

At the top of the order, Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel are the two best options to open for MI New York. De Kock had an explosive performance recently, smashing a match-winning 55 runs from just 34 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes, at an incredible strike rate of 161.76. With his belligerence and completely attacking nature, while able to build the innings, de Kock is the ideal batsman to kick-start the innings and provide momentum.

Monank Patel provides the perfect complement to de Kock’s aggression; he scored a quickfire 32 runs from 20 balls with a strike rate of 160.00. Patel is capable of rotating the strike while forming partnerships to have a consistently solid opening combination with a good mix.

 Middle Order

The middle order will be dependent on the exploits of Captain Nicholas Pooran and Michael Bracewell. In his effort of 33 off 30 balls, Pooran again showed his captain’s experience and leadership by keeping the innings moving at a strike rate of 110.00. Pooran’s ability to play stabilizer for MI New York’s innings, specifically their middle overs, would be vital whether they are chasing a total or looking to post a defendable amount.

As for Bracewell, he was 42 not out off 24 balls at the different awesome strike rate of 175, to show just how explosive that middle order can be when needed, Bracewell’s ability to increase the pace of the innings during the death overs and his comfort under pressure had proven value to MI New York.

All-Rounders

Pollard is the key all-rounder known for shifting momentum through his powerful hitting and crucial wickets. He was run out for a small 9 in the last game, but Pollard is very experienced, is a very powerful hitter of the ball, and is a very clever bowler. He is known to provide match-winning sixes or a key wicket at key moments in a game.

Michael Bracewell, who is also an all-rounder, adds tremendous value to the team as a player who can contribute with bat and ball. His inclusion provides more bowling options while providing a versatile batting line-up, which gives MI New York an advantage in both of these areas.

Bowlers

Trent Boult and Naveen-ul-Haq both look to be two of the better bowlers on the list of bowlers for the team. Boult recently bowled his 4 overs, taking 2 wickets for 38 runs – and that’s the beauty of Boult because he not only has the potential to pick off players early, he can apply pressure the second time around.

Naveen-ul-Haq’s economy of 7.00 and 2 wickets from 4 overs displayed his ability to pick players off at valuable times, along with his ability to restrict runs at the same time, was impressive. Both these bowlers will be pivotal in breaking the batting order and restricting the Unicorns from obtaining any rhythm.

MI New York has a strong combination of power hitters in de Kock and Patel, a good middle order, and Boult and Naveen-ul-Haq as strike bowlers to severely challenge the San Francisco Unicorns. The MI New York players understand that they have to change the pattern and take this opportunity that is important for getting the ‘big’ win it requires, with all players performing at their best; and the Unicorns had better not take this match lightly.