Sachin Tendulkar crowns Chicago Cricket Club NCL champions

In a thrilling finale on Monday night at The University of Texas at Dallas, the Chicago Cricket Club clinched The National Cricket League (NCL) Championship title, defeating the Atlanta Cricket Club at UT Dallas Cricket Stadium.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar presented the championship trophy to Chicago’s head coach Robin Uthappa, capping off a historic night for the league.
As the game unfolded, Tendulkar walked around the field, waving and greeting fans, shaking hands, and taking pictures with lucky spectators..

With over 2.5 billion people worldwide watching cricket, Monday night’s event showcased the power of the game, bringing together fans from all walks of life, according to an NCL release. The excitement in the stadium was palpable from the very first over. Fans were fully locked into the action, hanging on every shot, cheer, and wicket.

Taking the wicket on for Chicago was Leonardo Julien, who delivered a powerful performance that earned him the Man of the Match honors.

Julien dominated with a remarkable 61 runs off just 22 balls, pummeling the field with five fours and six sixes, demonstrating the power and precision that made the difference in Chicago’s victory. His standout innings helped push Chicago to an insurmountable lead, bringing the packed crowd to its feet.

Captain Robin Uthappa, with trophy in hand, echoed those sentiments about his team who worked tirelessly, and seeing that kind of turnout, and the level of support, it’s clear that Dallas is building something special here. Uthappa felt that Cricket in the US has a bright future, and he is proud to be part of this journey.

“What we witnessed last night was a defining moment for cricket, not just in the United States, but globally. With billions of people tuning in, this victory goes beyond the field—it marks the rise of a new sport, cricket in America,’’ said NCL Chairman Arun Agarwal.

“The National Cricket League is not just building a league; we’re creating a cultural movement that’s bringing the world’s most iconic sport to the forefront of U.S. sports. This is the start of something truly special, and we’re only just getting started.”