A month after the United States shocked the cricketing world by defeating Pakistan and qualifying for the Super Eights, the US cricketing stars like Aaron Jones, Monank Patel and Saurabh Netravalkar will be in action once again, alongside a plethora of international stars at the second edition of MLC, which starts today (5 July).

With six franchises, an abundance of homegrown talent, and over 50 overseas players – many of them elite batters – on show, there's plenty of high-scoring excitement to look forward to. Here's a list of the batters who are most likely to top the run-scoring charts for their franchise. 

Also read: Six candidates to be the leading wicket-taker in MLC 2024

Nicholas Pooran – MI New York

In the final of MLC 2023, MI New York captain Nicholas Pooran smashed 13 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 137 off just 55 balls. It was perhaps the best example of just how destructive Pooran can be. The left-handed batter has been in good form with the bat recently, too. He smashed 98 against the likes of Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq in the T20 World Cup last month.

If he plays a couple of innings that are even half as good as his bludgeoning 98 against Afghanistan or his heroics in the MLC final last year, he will be up there with the highest scorers of the tournament.

Sunil Narine – Los Angeles Knight Riders

To be one of T20 cricket's best spinners is one thing, but to virtually guarantee four reliable overs and also be a destructive opening bat with the ability to smash 140 kmph bowlers to all parts is something altogether different – yet that's what captain Sunil Narine brings to Los Angeles Knight Riders' table. 

Narine has been a capable pinch-hitter for a while now; however, it was during the IPL earlier this year that he showed the world that there's more to his game than just devouring deliveries in the slot. He smashed 488 runs in 14 innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders, at a strike rate of 180, with 50 fours and 33 sixes, displaying a prowess against both pace and spin. With Narine leading the side, expect him to open the batting and play some big innings.

Jake Fraser-McGurk – San Francisco Unicorns

Jake Fraser-McGurk is one of the most exciting young batters around. He came to the limelight last year after scoring the fastest century in professional cricket history – a 29-ball hundred for South Australia against Tasmania in the Marsh Cup. Since then, he has made his debut for Australia and turned heads at the IPL, in which he scored 330 runs for Delhi Capitals at a staggering strike rate of 234.04 – higher than any other batter in the entire tournament. 

Having missed out on Australia's squad for the T20 World Cup, Fraser-McGurk will want to add to his reputation as one of white-ball cricket's most exciting players for the Unicorns this month. 

Quinton de Kock – Seattle Orcas

The authoritative left-handed batter from Johannesburg is South Africa's highest run scorer in T20I cricket. He is also only the second South African batter after David Miller to hit 100 T20I sixes. 

Although de Kock struggled for form during the IPL, he was impressive during the T20 World Cup. Batting alongside South African compatriots Heinrich Klaasen and Ryan Rickleton at the top of the order for the Orcas will give him the confidence and platform to go big, as he so often does. 

Faf du Plessis – Texas Super Kings

Faf du Plessis has already scored over 10,000 T20 runs at a very healthy average over 30, which has been steadily rising in recent years. Earlier this year, leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, du Plessis also oversaw one of the most magnificent turnarounds in franchise cricket history. As captain, he played a major role in Bangalore's journey from almost certain elimination to reaching the playoffs. 

Last season, du Plessis struggled with the bat for Texas Super Kings, managing only 46 runs all tournament. However, he has already shown that he's at his best when the chips are down, and this edition offers him the chance to make up for a lean first season and add the United States to the list of the many countries where he's scored heaps of runs. 

Travis Head – Washington Freedom

Unafraid to play the most audacious of shots against even the best bowlers in the world in the most challenging conditions, Travis Head personifies the brash, fearless and exciting essence of T20 cricket that attracts so many to the game's shortest format. 

In the IPL, alongside Abhishek Sharma, he made a mockery of opposition bowlers, further cementing his status as currently one of white-ball cricket's most destructive batters. With an impressive T20 World Cup campaign to follow the IPL, it's not really a question of whether Head will impress at the MLC, but rather, of how much he will. 

MI New York are the favourites to win MLC 2024 with odds of 2.85. Place this bet with Stake.

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