San Francisco, CA – June 2025
When Adam Gilchrist speaks, the cricket world listens.
A three-time World Cup winner, IPL pioneer, and one of the most transformative wicketkeeper-batters the game has ever seen, Gilchrist has long had a front-row seat to cricket’s most significant revolutions.
This month, for the first time, he took that front-row seat in America—as an official ambassador for Major League Cricket (MLC), attending the opening week of the tournament and joining the high-profile Cricket Impact Lunch, hosted by the San Francisco Unicorns and the Cricket Impact Group and moderated by cricexec’s Zee Zaidi.
In an exclusive interview with cricexec, Gilchrist shared his impressions of MLC, the importance of quality cricket and fan experience, and how lessons from the early days of the IPL can guide the league’s path forward.
“Is it real?” – Gilchrist wanted to see for himself
“I’ve been invited here for the first two editions, but the schedule didn’t work out,” Gilchrist said. “I watched from afar—and with the World Cup in the U.S., I was wondering: How real is it? Is there engagement, is there interest, is the investment real?”
Now, after several days on the ground, his answer is clear.
“I’ve been really impressed at every level,” he said. “Getting to meet the franchise owners, the investors, the sponsors, the MLC staff and crew—how passionate they are about creating something and growing something here. It’s been wonderful.”
Gilchrist was equally struck by the energy of the fans.
“There’s clearly an interest and a passion for the game here. And hopefully that will only grow—beyond the South Asian diaspora and into the broader American sports community.”
On-field quality is “key”—and delivering early
But Gilchrist, ever the legendary cricketer, is quick to return to what he sees as the league’s most important pillar.
“The on-field product has to be high quality. And I’ve been really impressed with what we’re seeing,” he said. “We’ve got world-class players here, mixed in with American players who are only going to benefit from that opportunity.”
One of his favorite aspects? The playing surface itself.
“The pitch—which everyone in cricket knows is the most important part of a day’s play—has been exceptional,” he noted, referencing the much-improved New York pitch now in use at the Oakland Coliseum.
Local talent catching global eyes
When asked about emerging domestic players, Gilchrist pointed to some familiar names from last year’s T20 World Cup:
“Aaron Jones, obviously. Andries Gous. Those are the names cricket followers around the world will now associate with U.S. cricket. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for local talent to feed off the international players. And as long as it’s sustained for a number of years, that local talent is going to grow.”
Lessons from the IPL: It’s about more than cricket
Gilchrist was one of the IPL’s earliest stars, captaining the Deccan Chargers and later leading the Punjab Kings. That experience, he says, taught him that success goes far beyond the boundary.
“The game-day experience for fans is really important. The IPL got that right,” he said. “T20 brought in fireworks, music, ground announcers, razzmatazz—what American sports had long before cricket did.”
He added that the IPL’s success was rooted in a bold combination of entertainment, long-term financial vision, and strong investor backing.
“They saw past just the initial glitz and into the long-term benefit to the game.”
Gilchrist sees similar signs in MLC’s approach.
“Just something as simple as playing at the Coliseum. Okay, it’s not packed out—but no one expected it to be. There’s a real sense of excitement. The players love walking out on an iconic ground, and fans—6,000, 7,000, even 10,000—are genuinely excited to be here.”
The global cricket calendar—and the American opportunity
Gilchrist’s visit comes amid growing debate about the global cricket calendar—and what space the U.S. should occupy within it. From World Cup matches to Olympic inclusion, the U.S. is no longer a fringe market.
But for Gilchrist, the key lies in sustainability—and whether the MLC and its stakeholders can stick the landing beyond year two.
“You only get one chance to make a first impression. And MLC is off to a good start. But now it’s about consistency. Staying the course. Building something that lasts.”
What comes next
Gilchrist left the Bay Area energized—and convinced that MLC is “not just an experiment.”
“It’s real. It’s exciting. And it’s only going to grow.”
As MLC enters its crucial second season, the presence of global voices like Gilchrist’s—and the lessons they bring—may prove just as valuable as any six or wicket.
