Role: Left-arm fast bowler | From: California, USA | Teams: Washington Freedom (MLC), USA National Cricket Team
Abhishek Ashish Paradkar, born November 8, 2000 in California, is one of USA Cricket's most important bowling assets — a left-arm fast bowler with the rare combination of international pedigree, domestic dominance, and a career arc that keeps trending upward. He is a USA international, a Major League Cricket player, and the 2025 Minor League Cricket wicket leader.
An Unconventional Path
Abhishek's route to USA Cricket was built across two countries. A former Hyderabad Under-16 cricketer, he moved to the United States to pursue his ambitions at the highest level the country could offer. Before breaking into the USA setup he played for Leeds Bradford MCCU in England — gaining competitive experience in the UK domestic system that sharpened his game for the professional stage.
USA International
He made his ODI debut for the United States on September 9, 2021 against Papua New Guinea — a milestone in a career that had already shown remarkable adaptability across countries and formats. He was selected via the Minor League Cricket player draft in June 2021, with his first MiLC season serving as both a proving ground and a launchpad for the senior call-up that followed.
Washington Freedom and Major League Cricket
Abhishek is part of the Washington Freedom franchise in Major League Cricket — the premier T20 competition in the United States. His signing for the 2025 season reflects the Freedom's confidence in him as a frontline bowling option at the highest domestic level the US game offers. The step up from MiLC to MLC is significant; Washington's decision to back him speaks directly to what his bowling can do under pressure.
2025 MiLC Wicket Leader
In the 2025 Minor League Cricket season, Abhishek finished as the competition's leading wicket-taker — a position that cements his status as the most dangerous bowler in the domestic development circuit. Left-arm pace that takes wickets at the top of the order changes the shape of a cricket match. Abhishek does it consistently.
A Bolt Cricket Athlete
Bolt Cricket supports players who are building American cricket's competitive credentials from the inside out. Abhishek Paradkar is doing exactly that — representing the USA at ODI level, performing for a MLC franchise, and leading the MiLC wicket charts. We are proud to back him as he continues to push the ceiling of what USA Cricket's pace attack can deliver.