With stability and star power, Freedom eye back-to-back titles

How did they fare last season: Champions

It was almost as if the Washington Freedom had manifested it. That their championship journey would be architected by none other than Australian great Ricky Ponting. In one of the most decisive offseason moves, the franchise pulled off a masterstroke by appointing the three time World Cup champion as head coach - a marquee off-field acquisition that earned the management a well-deserved pat on the back. It was a statement of intent, and one that set the tone for everything that followed from culture and camaraderie to bravery and brilliance. Freedom remains the only team outside the IPL to be coached by Ponting, a distinction that not only elevated their profile but also laid the foundation for an aggressive recruitment drive.

In a league where there is no centralized foreign player draft and overseas signings are driven entirely by direct negotiations, having Ponting in the dugout was half the battle won for a franchise with no IPL confluence. Ponting's magnetic pull helped Freedom rope in a trio of Australian superstars: Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Glenn Maxwell.

Head and Smith orchestrated Freedom's dominance on the field by teaming up to make a fiery opening pair. The pair matched each other stroke for stroke to end the season with a whopping 336 runs each off 6 games. Though Smith's bat blazed through the tournament, he reserved his most ruthless assault for the grandest stage - an imperious 88 off 46 in the final that left the Unicorns deflated. Maxwell chipped in at crucial junctures with blistering cameos along and with his tidy off spin served as a dynamic presence on the field.

Saurabh Netravalkar continued his dreamy World Cup run by scalping 10 wickets in his first three games for Freedom before stepping away on temporary parental leave. In his absence, Jasdeep Singh emerged from the shadows to inject fresh spark into Freedom's already red-hot campaign, claiming back-to-back Player of the Match awards. Netravalkar returned right before the qualifiers to front the new-ball attack in Freedom's title bid.

International Contingent:

Australia's red ball commitments will diminish Freedom's star quotient as Head is set to miss the MLC entirely whereas Smith has only committed for the first couple of games in California. World cricket's rising young star Rachin Ravindra alongside countryman Mark Chapman and BBL sensation Mitch Owen are expected to step into the top order in the Aussies' absence. Glenn Phillips, who missed the entire IPL, and Glenn Maxwell, sidelined for nearly half the tournament, will both return to professional cricket after recovering from their respective injuries. Ben Sears, Jason Behrendorff and Lockie Ferguson comprise Freedom's foreign pace battery.

Domestic Cadre:

Freedom have retained all of their domestic players barring Akhilesh Bodugum. The onus, however, will multiply on experienced domestic powerhouses like Andries Gous, who is now USA's globetrotting T20 star, and Obus Pienaar. Freedom may also look to spring a surprise by unleashing the wrist spin of Yasir Mohammad, who has been warming the bench for two seasons. The final spot could come down to a toss-up between him and former Sri Lanka spinner Amila Aponso.

Captain - Glenn Maxwell (likely)

Coach - Ricky Ponting

Probable XI : Steve Smith, Andries Gous, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Glenn Maxwell, Obus Pienaar, Yasir Mohammad, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar, Lockie Ferguson