Last Season’s Journey: Runner-Up Glory
The Unicorns delivered an electrifying performance last season, cruising through the league stage with just a single loss — a close contest against the Texas Super Kings. Their momentum peaked with a stunning unbeaten 79 off 42 balls from the fearless youngster Sanjay Krishnamurthy in a high-stakes showdown versus Washington Freedom. That innings ignited the team’s spirit and set them soaring. However, the playoffs proved tougher, as they stumbled twice against Freedom, ultimately suffering a heavy 96-run defeat in the final.

Rising Stars and Standout Performers
While Sanjay Krishnamurthy established himself as an exciting new talent in American cricket, the Unicorns also unearthed the seasoned left-arm spinner Hassan Khan, a former U19 captain. Khan was a bowling revelation, snaring 10 wickets in just 22 overs at a tight economy of 7.09. Adding depth with the bat, he averaged 40 and delivered quickfire cameo innings in the lower order, proving to be a genuine all-round weapon for the side.

International Lineup: Missing Stars, Strong Core
This season, the Unicorns will be without two marquee players — Pat Cummins and dependable middle-order batter Josh Inglis — both away on international duty in the Caribbean. Thankfully, the team retained the explosive duo of Finn Allen and Matthew Short, who were instrumental in their batting success last year. Allen’s form was sensational, racking up over 300 runs in 9 innings, including a fiery century in the playoffs that pushed the Unicorns into the final.

Fast bowling spearhead Haris Rauf returns for his third campaign, joined by Australia’s rising pace talent Xavier Bartlett. Romario Shepherd adds muscle and late-order firepower, with his recent IPL performances raising expectations. Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert, currently in fine form, plus promising youngsters Cooper Connolly and Callum Stow, complete a well-rounded international contingent.

Domestic Backbone: Leadership and Emerging Talent
The core domestic squad remains steady, with captain Corey Anderson leading for the third year in a row. This tournament presents Anderson a chance to revive his international hopes after being sidelined following the USA’s historic World Cup run. His impact, however, could depend on batting higher up the order, as his usual No. 7 slot may limit his influence.

Veteran Liam Plunkett, now 40, continues to bring control and experience to the attack. But the new pace spearhead duties are likely to fall to electrifying young Australian-American Brody Couch. Reliable left-arm seamer Carmi Le Roux offers solid options with the new ball. Meanwhile, Karima Gore might be on standby, serving as a backup spinner behind the standout Hassan Khan.