One of India's best cricketers, Ravichandran Ashwin, is coming to America. The experienced spinner will be a part of the San Francisco Unicorns team in the Major League Cricket (MLC) this season. This will be the first former Indian international to feature in the league, which commenced in the United States of America in 2023. The 39-year-old recently featured in an exhibition match that was played in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The cheering support from the crowd provided the veteran with a fair idea about the rapidly spreading popularity of cricket across America. On Saturday, Ashwion told ESPN: "Just looking at the reception that the Asian diaspora was able to bring for that game just showed me what the potential of American cricket could very well be. It's very exciting." Also Read | Devon Conway Breaks Silence On IPL vs PSL Debate Once And For All Ashwin's Big Move and Career Highlights One of the most successful bowlers to ever represent the country in cricket, Ashwin sits eighth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list and second only to Anil Kumble among Indian bowlers. He was a member of the victorious 2011 Indian team that won the World Cup. He has a huge following on social media, with more than 5.3 million followers on Instagram. This figure is more than the sum of top American sporting personalities, which goes on to show his global recognition. Previously Ashwin was supposed to represent his franchise in Australia's Big Bash League, but his participation did not materialize as he suffered a knee injury requiring surgery. He looks to make a fresh start with the MLC. MLC CEO Johnny Grave told ESPN: "This will be the first time he's played in a major global franchise competition outside of India. And for us to be the first league to attract a player of this caliber is a testament to how the league's developed over the last three years since it was launched back in 2023." Also Read | Mitchell Starc Fires Back at ‘Heavily Misinformed Opinions’, Confirms Injury; Apologises to DC Cricket's Rapid Progress in USA MLC, which is a 6-team tournament, is played across the United States in cities such as Texas, Los Angeles, and Oakland. The final is scheduled to be played on July 18 at the Oakland Coliseum. The game is played in the T20 format, which takes approximately three hours and is a widely popular format around the globe. Cricket is growing at an extremely rapid rate in the United States. The nation, co-hosted the 2024 T20 World Cup, during which the Indian vs Pakistan match was attended by more than 34,000 fans in New York, while viewership numbers on television went through the roof worldwide. The increased interest amongst youngsters and fans in America was one of the significant reasons behind his decision. He stated: "The fact that there is so much interest from the kids and from a lot of people who have come and settled in America and showing so much interest towards the game, I just wanted to come and experience what it is going to look like when we turn up for the MLC." With the return of cricket in the Olympics by 2028, this could be a significant moment for cricket to spread across the global arena.