![Shadley van Schalkwyk and the MLC trophy [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1774349972505_ShadleyvanSchalkwykandtheMLCtrophy.jpg?type=hq)
Shadley van Schalkwyk and the MLC trophy [Source: X]
The excitement is building for Major League Cricket 2026 amid IPL 2026 as teams finalise their domestic cores for the latest season. Shadley Van Schalkwyk continues to shine as a key figure for the Knight Riders, with his re-signing by LAKR underlining his mega impact after the T20 World Cup 2026.
Shadley Van Schalkwyk has been retained as part of their domestic setup as MLC revealed the complete list of retainers. The South Africa-born all-rounder, who has become a T20 World Cup sensation for the USA, has picked 13 wickets from just 4 appearances.
Who is Shadley Van Schalkwyk? The T20 World Cup Hero For USA
Shadley has emerged as one of the most inspiring stories in USA cricket. Born in South Africa and a product of the renowned Wynberg Boys' High School, he initially played domestic cricket there before relocating to the United States.
His journey from considering retirement to becoming a T20 World Cup standout is remarkable. In the 2026 T20 World Cup, Shadley Van Schalkwyk delivered thrilling spells, including a stunning performance against India, dismantling top-order batters and sending shockwaves through the tournament.
In MLC, he has consistently performed for the Knights, contributing with both bat and ball, scoring 85 runs and taking 16 wickets from his 14 appearances and despite being one of the key players to have the potential to join IPL 2026 as a replacement, Shadley's spot was sealed by LAKR.
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Knight Riders Sign Van Schalkwyk for MLC
The Los Angeles Knight Riders have locked in Shadley alongside a strong group of domestic players for MLC 2026. Knights have re-signed the following domestic cricketers:
- Unmukt Chand
- Ali Khan
- Shadley Van Schalkwyk
- Matthew Tromp
- Karthik Gattepalli
- Saif Badar
LAKR core provides experience and balance. Unmukt Chand brings batting stability, while Ali Khan offers express pace. Shadley adds all-around utility, making the Knights' domestic foundation formidable.
Additional players may join through the ongoing draft, but this retained group forms the backbone for their MLC 2026 campaign.
Full List Of MLC 2026 Domestic Picks
As of now, all the teams have announced their initial domestic retentions and signings ahead of further drafting. Here's the compiled list based on official announcements:
MI New York: Monank Patel, Tajinder Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Agni Chopra, Rushil Ugarkar, Kunwarjeet Singh, Sunny Patel.
San Francisco Unicorns: Hassan Khan, Brody Couch, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hammad Azam, Juanoy Drysdale.
Washington Freedom: Andries Gous, Saurabh Netravalkar, Obus Pienaar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Ian Holland, Lahiru Milantha, Amila Aponso, Abhishek Paradkar, Yasir Mohammad.
Seattle Orcas: Harmeet Singh, Ayan Desai, Rahul Jariwala, Shayan Jahangir, Jasdeep Singh, Ali Sheikh, Cameron Gannon
Texas Super Kings: Shubham Ranjane, Joshua Tromp, Milind Kumar, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Mohammad Mohsin, Calvin Savage, Smit Patel
When Will MLC 2026 start?
The Major League Cricket 2026 is scheduled to begin on June 18, 2026, and run until the final on July 18, 2026. The season opener features Texas Super Kings against Seattle Orcas at Grand Prairie Stadium.
Matches will be played across venues including Grand Prairie, Oakland Coliseum, and the new Knight Riders Cricket Field in Pomona, California.
Meanwhile, international signings will follow in the coming weeks, promising star power alongside the growing domestic talent pool.
The developments signal a maturing league where players like Shadley Van Schalkwyk bridge domestic and international success.
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