Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 the fourth season of the ICC-sanctioned T20 franchise league in the United States runs from June 18 to July 18, 2026, across three venues: Grand Prairie Stadium (Dallas), Oakland Coliseum (San Francisco Bay Area), and the Knight Riders Cricket Field (Pomona, Los Angeles). Six franchises compete in a 34-match season, with the final at Oakland on July 18.
South Africa’s fingerprints are all over this edition. Across all six franchises, at least 17–18 South African or SA-born players are part of the 2026 squads, the highest concentration of Proteas talent in the league’s four-season history. Texas Super Kings alone carry seven, while not a single team is without at least one SA connection.
Quick Summary: SA Players by Team
| Team | SA Players | Notable Names |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Super Kings | 7–8 | Faf du Plessis (C), Keshav Maharaj, Rilee Rossouw, Wiaan Mulder |
| MI New York | 4 | Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch |
| Washington Freedom | 3 | Marco Jansen, Andries Gous, Obus Pienaar |
| San Francisco Unicorns | 1 | Lhuan-dre Pretorius |
| Seattle Orcas | 1 | Matthew Breetzke |
| LA Knight Riders | 2 | Shadley van Schalkwyk, Carmi le Roux |
| Total | ~18 | Spread across all 6 franchises |
1. MI New York- 4 SA Players
Coach: Mark Boucher (South Africa) | Captain: Nicholas Pooran
MI New York enters as defending champions (titles: 2023, 2025) and has assembled a compact but potent SA contingent.
Quinton de Kock- Wicketkeeper-Batter
- International caps: 79 T20Is for South Africa (as of 2026); 11,000+ international runs across formats
- One of the most complete WK-batters in T20 cricket globally
- Brings explosive top-order ability and experience of multiple franchise leagues (IPL, SA20, ILT20)
- In MLC 2026: Adds wicketkeeping depth alongside captain Nicholas Pooran; expected to open or bat at No. 3
Ryan Rickelton – Batter
- Made his T20I debut in the recent home series against West Indies (Jan 2026)
- Was part of South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad
- Represents a new generation of SA top-order talent with a solid technique and aggressive intent
- In MLC 2026: Likely to play a top-order role; was previously retained by Seattle Orcas (MLC 2025) before moving to MINY for 2026
Corbin Bosch – All-Rounder
- Made his T20 World Cup debut in the 2026 edition; part of South Africa’s 15-member squad
- Bowling all-rounder: right-arm pace with useful lower-order batting
- Emerged through SA domestic cricket as a versatile death-overs option
- In MLC 2026: Used as a flexible role player, providing both seam bowling and batting depth for the champions
Tristan Luus – Bowler
- Experienced South African domestic fast bowler; regular in SA franchise circuit
- Plays for various SA franchise sides domestically
- In MLC 2026: Provides seam bowling support in the MINY attack alongside Trent Boult
2. Texas Super Kings- 7–8 SA Players (Most SA players in any MLC 2026 franchise)
Coach: Stephen Fleming | Captain: Faf du Plessis
Owned by Chennai Super Kings, TSK has the deepest SA roster in the league — not surprising given its CSK DNA and the history of SA players in that IPL franchise.
Faf du Plessis – Batter (Captain)
- 107 T20Is for South Africa | T20I runs: 1,912 at avg. 26.88
- Former South Africa captain across all formats; retired from international cricket in 2023
- Has scored the most runs in TSK franchise history – 480 runs in 8 innings at an average of 50 in MLC
- In MLC 2026: Four-season TSK veteran leading with both bat and temperament; continues to be the franchise’s anchor and captain
Rilee Rossouw – Batter
- 22 T20Is for South Africa | Known for his explosive left-handed strokeplay
- Has extensive Big Bash League and SA20 experience
- Provides left-handed firepower in the middle order, a valuable contrast to the predominantly right-handed TSK top order
- In MLC 2026: Middle-order power hitter; one of TSK’s primary match-winners in the batting unit
Joshua Tromp – Batter
- SA franchise cricketer with experience in South African domestic T20 cricket
- Adds batting depth and versatility to the TSK lineup
- In MLC 2026: Domestic-tier batter offering the Super Kings additional options in the middle order
Wiaan Mulder – All-Rounder
- 24 T20Is for South Africa (as of 2026 season)
- Right-arm medium pace + lower-order batting; part of South Africa’s core T20 group
- Known for accuracy with the ball and ability to contribute 20–30 runs down the order
- In MLC 2026: Key seam-bowling all-rounder in the TSK setup
Donovan Ferreira – All-Rounder
- Made T20 World Cup 2026 debut as part of SA’s 15-member squad
- Hard-hitting batting all-rounder known for his finishing ability; earned his call-up after impressing during India’s tour of SA
- In MLC 2026: Death-overs batsman and useful medium-pace option; replicates his natural finisher role for TSK
Keshav Maharaj – Bowler (Left-arm spin)
- 78 T20Is for South Africa | Economy rate in T20Is: ~7.3
- South Africa’s lead spinner and one of the most reliable left-arm orthodox options in franchise T20 globally
- Captained SA’s spin attack in T20 WC 2026
- In MLC 2026: The premier spinner in TSK’s attack, particularly dangerous on American pitches that offer variable turn; has troubled batters in multiple franchise leagues
Nandre Burger – Bowler (Left-arm pace)
- South African left-arm fast bowler; made T20I appearances for SA
- Offers swing with the new ball and useful death-over variations
- Was released by Seattle Orcas ahead of MLC 2025 but returns to MLC with TSK in 2026
- In MLC 2026: Part of TSK’s seam-bowling arsenal; left-arm pace provides variety in the attack
Hardus Viljoen – Bowler (Right-arm fast)
- SA domestic T20 veteran with extensive franchise experience (IPL, SA20, CPL)
- Right-arm fast bowler known for his pace and hard-length deliveries
- In MLC 2026: TSK’s experienced seam-bowling option; brings leadership and reliability in the bowling attack
3. Washington Freedom- 3 SA/SA-born Players
Coach: Ricky Ponting | Captain: Glenn Maxwell
Washington Freedom won MLC 2024 and were runners-up in 2025. Their SA contingent is a mix of a Proteas international and two SA-born players who represent the USA.
Marco Jansen – Bowler (Left-arm fast)
- 36 T20Is for South Africa | T20I wickets: 38 at avg. 22.3
- Tall left-arm seamer (6 ft 5 in) who generates steep bounce and swing; part of SA’s core pace attack
- Was part of South Africa’s SA20 squad with Sunrisers Eastern Cape and South Africa’s T20 WC 2026 group
- In MLC 2026: The overseas marquee pace option for Freedom; his height and left-arm angle make him a difficult proposition on any surface
Andries Gous – Wicketkeeper-Batter (SA-born; represents USA internationally)
- Born in Pretoria, South Africa; moved to the USA and now represents the United States in international cricket
- T20I appearances for USA; a mainstay in the Washington Freedom domestic core across MLC seasons
- In MLC 2026: Forms part of Freedom’s settled domestic core alongside Saurabh Netravalkar and Obus Pienaar
Obus Pienaar – All-Rounder (SA-born; USA domestic cricket)
- SA-born franchise T20 cricketer who plays USA domestic cricket
- Useful batting all-rounder; part of Washington Freedom’s domestic spine
- In MLC 2026: Retained domestic player contributing both bat and ball in the middle overs
4. San Francisco Unicorns – 1 SA Player
Coach: Cameron White | Captain: Matthew Short
The Unicorns made the biggest headline of MLC 2026 with R Ashwin’s historic signing, but they also quietly brought in one of South Africa’s most exciting young talents.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius – Wicketkeeper-Batter
- Age: 20 (as of MLC 2026 season) | SA International
- Made history as South Africa’s youngest Test centurion; part of an impressive standout professional year in 2025–26
- All-format international for South Africa; outstanding skills behind the stumps and as an aggressive top-order batter
- One of the youngest players in MLC 2026, and one of the youngest South Africans to be recruited for a franchise in the USA league
- In MLC 2026: Signed by SF Unicorns as an overseas player; likely to provide explosive top-order options and WK flexibility alongside the squad’s regular lineup
5. Seattle Orcas- 1 SA Player
Coach: Adam Voges | Captain: Sikandar Raza
Seattle had a rough 2025 (five losses in a row to start), parted ways with coach Matthew Mott, and rebuilt their squad significantly for 2026.
Matthew Breetzke – Batter
- South African right-handed batter with SA domestic T20 experience
- Compact top-order batter known for building innings and rotating strike
- Was previously part of Seattle Orcas’ SA contingent that included Heinrich Klaasen in earlier MLC seasons
- In MLC 2026: Part of the rebuilt Orcas lineup; adds international experience and top-order solidity to a team looking for greater batting consistency
6. LA Knight Riders- 2 SA-born Players
Coach: Dwayne Bravo | Captain: Jason Holder
Owned by the Knight Riders Group (Shah Rukh Khan), LAKR opened a brand-new stadium at Fairplex, Pomona in 2026 – the first franchise-owned dedicated cricket venue in MLC history.
Shadley van Schalkwyk – Bowler (SA-born; represents USA internationally)
- Born in South Africa; now a prominent figure in USA cricket internationally
- Right-arm medium-fast bowler; one of the leading wicket-takers in MLC 2026 based on pre-tournament form (13 wickets in T20 WC 2026 league stage)
- Versatile with both the new ball and in the middle overs
- In MLC 2026: Core domestic/USA international player for the Knight Riders; retained across multiple MLC seasons
Carmi le Roux – All-Rounder (SA-born)
- SA-born cricketer who has featured in the USA franchise circuit
- Medium-pace bowling all-rounder; can contribute both with bat and ball
- Was retained by San Francisco Unicorns for MLC 2025; moves to LA Knight Riders for 2026
- In MLC 2026: Adds versatility to the LAKR all-round department under coach Dwayne Bravo
SA Players by Role
Batters: Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Rilee Rossouw, Matthew Breetzke, Joshua Tromp, Andries Gous, Lhuan-dre Pretorius
All-Rounders: Wiaan Mulder, Donovan Ferreira, Corbin Bosch, Obus Pienaar, Carmi le Roux
Bowlers: Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Hardus Viljoen, Marco Jansen, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Tristan Luus
Key Storylines to Follow
Faf in yellow again: At 41, du Plessis continues to defy time as TSK’s captain and top batter. With 480 MLC career runs at avg. 50, he remains the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and remains their best chance of ending their title drought.
Young guns: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (SF Unicorns, age 20) and Corbin Bosch (MI New York) representing South Africa’s next generation both made their international debuts in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The SA-USA bridge: Players like Andries Gous, Obus Pienaar, and Shadley van Schalkwyk highlight MLC’s role in connecting South African cricket talent with the American game. All three are SA-born and now embedded in USA cricket structures.
Mark Boucher coaching SA stars: The MINY head coach, a former South Africa wicketkeeper himself, now manages Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton two of SA’s most prominent WK-batter talents
Conclusion: 18 Players of South Africa Across All Six Franchises of MLC
With around 18 players across all six franchises, South Africa is one of the most represented nations in MLC T20 2026.
Texas Super Kings carry the heaviest SA load, led by the ever-reliable Faf du Plessis, while veterans like Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, and Marco Jansen add proven quality to their respective sides.
Young talents like Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch signal that the next generation is ready too. From seasoned captains to rising stars, South African cricket continues to leave a strong mark on the American T20 stage.
