The second edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) T10 2025 is set to kick off on October 3 and will run until October 13 in Texas, USA. Following the inaugural edition, where the Chicago Cricket Club
clinched the title against the Atlanta Kings, the upcoming tournament is set to witness thrilling cricket.
This year, all six franchises have made strong squads, bringing international stars with domestic talent. Players like Jason Behrendorff, Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, and Colin Munro are set to headline the league. I
In the previous season, Chris Lynn finished as the leading run-scorer with 200 runs, while Karthik Gatepalli topped the bowling charts with 12 wickets, setting a benchmark for players to chase. This season too, there will be player who will bring their A game and give consistent performances.
Player to watch out for of each team in NCL T10 2025
Los Angeles Waves: Unmukt Chand
Unmukt Chand, once seen as India’s next big batting hope, continues to make headlines as he now represents the Los Angeles Waves in the National Cricket League (NCL) 2025. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter first grabbed headlines when he captained India’s Under-19 team to a memorable World Cup win in 2012, scoring an unbeaten 111 in the final against Australia. Chand went on to feature in the IPL, Major League Cricket, Big Bash League, and Bangladesh Premier League, gaining experience across global franchise tournaments.
Despite not making his place in India’s senior side, Chand has had a successful T20 career with over 2,000 runs, including three centuries. His recent stints in MLC with the Los Angeles Knight Riders showed his ability to anchor innings and accelerate when required. Chand is a player to watch out for in NCL 2025.
New York Lions: Shimron Hetmyer
West Indies batter, Shimron Hetmyer, has long been celebrated for his fearless batting. A 2016 Under-19 World Cup-winning captain with the West Indies, Hetmyer’s career has seen him dominate in franchise cricket, particularly in the Caribbean Premier League and the IPL. The southpaw has been a match-winner for teams like the Rajasthan Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Gulf Giants.
However, Hetmyer’s recent form has been patchy, with inconsistent returns at the international and league level. Despite this, his strike rate and finishing skills remain his biggest strengths, making him a dangerous prospect for bowlers. In the new season, he will look to show his abilities and give his team a chance to win the title.
Chicago Cricket Club: Sam Billings
Wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings will be a crucial name for the Chicago Cricket Club in the upcoming event. The Englishman has been consistent with his bat and sharp behind the stumps. Having represented England across formats since 2015, he is best known for his white-ball heroics, scoring a century against Australia in ODIs and featuring in multiple T20 leagues, including the IPL, BBL, and PSL.
Billings has also developed into a dependable leader. He guided Kent Spitfires to Blast success in 2021 and later captained Dubai Capitals to an ILT20 title. His big achievement came with the Oval Invincibles, leading them to three consecutive Hundred titles between 2023 and 2025, making him one of the most successful modern T20 captains with five trophies overall. His winning mentality, global franchise experience, and finishing ability make him Chicago’s player to watch in NCL 2025.
Dallas Lonestars: Aaron Jones
UAS batter Aaron Jones will be one of the most exciting players to watch out for in the Dallas Lonestars squad. The New York-born, who was raised in Barbados, has honed his game alongside the likes of Shai Hope and Jason Holder before moving to the USA in 2018. Since then, he has become an important player of American cricket, helping the team gain ODI status in 2019 with a match-winning century against Namibia.
His batting received huge praise at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where his unbeaten 94 off 40 balls against Canada made headlines. With experience in CPL, BPL, and MLC, including playing roles for St Lucia Kings and Seattle Orcas, Jones brings immense firepower at the top.
Atlanta Kings: Andre Russell
Legendary West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell, the newly appointed skipper of the Atlanta Kings in the NCL 2025, will have huge responsibilities on his shoulders. A stalwart in the shortest format, Russell recently announced his retirement from international cricket after an illustrious career with the West Indies. The Jamaican all-rounder was part of the T20 World Cup-winning squads in 2012 and 2016, and is one of the most destructive finishers and impactful seam-bowling all-rounders of his era.
Russell has hammered over 9000 runs and picked nearly 500 wickets in T20s while playing across global franchise leagues. His ability to turn games single-handedly with both bat and ball has made him a sought-after star in the IPL, CPL, BBL, PSL, and other leagues around the globe. Having won titles with Kolkata Knight Riders, Sydney Thunder, Trinbago Knight Riders, and others, Russell brings vast experience and leadership to Atlanta Kings.
Houston Generals: Jason Beherendorff
Australian left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff will lead the Houston Generals in the second edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) 2025, making him one of the standout players to watch. The 35-year-old brings with him a wealth of international and franchise cricket experience, having represented Australia in ODIs, T20Is, and the 2019 World Cup.
Well-known for his ability to swing the new ball and trouble top-order batters, Behrendorff has been a match-winner across leagues. He earned immense success with the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League, where he became one of the most consistent wicket-takers. He has also featured in the IPL with Mumbai Indians, where he picked up 14 wickets in 2023, and has turned out for franchises like RCB, CSK, and MLC team MI New York. His recent form has been decent, bagging 10 wickets in nine matches for the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred.
