MLC team Washington Freedom Owner Sanjay Govil shared his thoughts on MLC's expansion, cricket's rising growth and passion for the game in an exclusive conversation with Sports Tak's Vikrant Gupta. Washington Freedom coached by Ricky Ponting and captained by Australian Legend Steve Smith won the 2024 Championship with a massive 96-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns in the final.
Cricketers who played gully cricket and grew up with a passion for the sport have contributed to what has become a movement spanning over four to five decades. Sanjay Govil, a team owner in Major League Cricket (MLC), emphasized the impact of India’s 1983 World Cup victory in igniting this passion.
“The 40-50 year, starting from 83 World Cup win, right? It's been a movement. That movement has started here. So I'm not saying it will take 50 years, right? Like in India, we went from the wireless to the wireless through telecom, right? We skipped the whole middle part, right? So that will be here.”
The Role of IPL and BCCI in Shaping Cricket
Govil acknowledged the monumental influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in shaping modern cricket.
“The IPL has set a big trend and the leadership of BCCI which is now in the ICC, you know, it's amazing. But my only request is that we have to have more countries playing cricket, which is going to make it even a stronger international thing. And MLC is in that direction and now hopefully hundreds also.”
The Importance of Infrastructure for MLC’s Growth
Govil pointed out that improving infrastructure and playing conditions will be crucial in determining the success of MLC.
“If your grounds get better, I believe that people followed MLC last year and this year it will follow a bit more. If the grounds, infrastructure, playing conditions get better, you never know. You never know. You can easily get into the top 3-4 leagues of the world.”
MLC’s Position in the Global Cricketing Landscape
While IPL remains unparalleled, Govil believes MLC has the potential to be a major force in global cricket.
“No, no, absolutely. I think obviously IPL is untouched, right? I am saying it in the second tier, but if I have to say it in the second, I will say it in the third tier.”
The Future of Cricket Leagues
Govil shared his predictions for the future of global cricket leagues, highlighting MLC and The Hundred as the most promising among emerging competitions.
“I think the two main leagues will be MLC and Hundred. My prediction. Maybe I am biased because I have seen both.”
Govil’s insights, shared during an exclusive interview with Sports Tak’s Vikrant Gupta, shed light on the evolving cricket landscape and the promising trajectory of MLC.
Discussing this game-changing development, Govil stated:
"As you know, The Hundred, a cricket league in the United Kingdom, features eight teams. In a recent bid, Mumbai Indians acquired Oval Invincibles, while the Birmingham team was secured by US investors. Notably, one of the members of this investment group is Tom Brady, the legendary American football player with seven Super Bowl titles. The involvement of American investors in cricket is a significant development, as it has led to a shift in perception—these cricket teams are now being viewed as valuable assets, much like stocks and cryptocurrency."