Los Angeles Knight Riders

{{Infobox cricket team

| name = Los Angeles Knight Riders

| image = Los Angeles Knight Riders logo.png

| nickname =

| league = Major League Cricket

| captain = Sunil Narine

| coach = Vacant

| city = Los Angeles, California, United States (planned)

| colours = Purple and Gold
{{color box|#39225d}} {{color box|#B3A123}}

| manager = Wayne Bentley

| owner = Knight Riders Group{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/knight-riders-group-buys-stake-in-usa-t20-franchise-project-major-league-cricket-1240512 |author=Shamya Dasgupta and Peter Della Penna |date=30 November 2020 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=Knight Riders Group buys stake in USA T20 franchise project Major League Cricket |access-date=May 2, 2023}}

| founded = {{Start date and age|2020}}

| ground = Great Park Cricket Stadium (planned)

| capacity = 10,000 (planned)

| website =https://www.lakriders.us/

| h_pattern_la = _lightgold_border

| h_pattern_b = _lakr23

| h_pattern_ra = _lightgold_border

| h_pattern_pants =

| h_leftarm = 3b1c4d

| h_body = 3b1c4d

| h_rightarm = 3b1c4d

| h_pants = 3b1c4d

| h_title = T20 kit

}}

{{Infobox

| header1 = Knight Riders Group

| header2 = Current Teams

| data3 = Kolkata Knight Riders (2008-present)
16px X 3 (2012, 2014, 2024)
Trinbago Knight Riders (2015-present)
16px X 4 (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020)
Trinbago Knight Riders Women (2022-present)
16px X 1 (2022)
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (2023-present)
Los Angeles Knight Riders (2023-present)

| header4 = Defunct Teams

| data5 = Cape Town Knight Riders (2017)

}}

The Los Angeles Knight Riders are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team based in the Greater Los Angeles area that competes in Major League Cricket (MLC).{{cite web|url=https://timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/article/kkrs-shah-rukh-khan-buys-la-based-team-hopes-to-bring-hollywood-closer-to-cricket-with-la-knight-riders/689055 |publisher=Times Now |date=1 December 2020 |title=KKR's Shah Rukh Khan buys LA-based team, hopes to bring Hollywood closer to cricket with LA Knight Riders |access-date=May 2, 2023}} The team's planned home ground is in Great Park in Irvine, California.

The franchise is owned by the Knight Riders Group, a sporting subsidiary alliance between Red Chillies Entertainment and the Mehta Group.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/sports/asia/shah-rukh-khan-knight-riders-cricket-stadium-los-angeles-1235255440/ |first=Naman |last=Ramachandran |publisher=Variety |date=1 May 2022 |title=Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders Group to Invest in $30 Million Cricket Stadium Near Los Angeles |access-date=May 2, 2023}} The Knight Riders' minor league affiliate—the Los Angeles Lashings compete in Minor League Cricket.{{cite web|url=https://mercurynews.com/2022/08/14/photos-fans-flock-to-professional-cricket-match |first=Nhat |last=Meyer |date=14 August 2022 |publisher=The Mercury News |title=Photos: Fans flock to professional cricket match |access-date=May 2, 2023}}

History

= Background =

In December 2020, it was announced by Major League Cricket that the Knight Riders Group had bought a stake in their league, and as a result, was given ownership rights to the LA Knight Riders.{{cite web|url=https://reuters.com/article/uk-cricket-usa-league-idUKKBN28B4Z8 |first=Sudipto |last=Ganguly |date=1 December 2020 |publisher=Reuters |title=IPL's Knight Riders buy stake in U.S.-based Major League Cricket |access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite web |date=1 December 2020 |title=Shah Rukh Khan invests in American cricket's future, buys Los Angeles franchise of cricket league, names it LA Knight Riders |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/srk-invests-in-american-crickets-future-buys-los-angeles-franchise-of-cricket-league-names-it-la-knight-riders/articleshow/79504044.cms |access-date=5 April 2024 |publisher=The Economic Times}} Plans for the team were reaffirmed in April 2021 with CEO Venky Mysore stating that the team would even have their own stadium.{{cite web|url=https://bbc.com/sport/cricket/56775746 |first=Kal |last=Sajad |date=20 April 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport |title=The story of the Knight Riders brand |access-date=May 4, 2023}} More plans on this stadium would be revealed nearly a year later in April 2022, with plans for a 10,000-seat cricket stadium costing $30 million.{{cite web|url=https://thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2022/05/01/knight-riders-to-build-cricket-stadium-in-los-angeles |work=The National |date=1 May 2022 |title=Knight Riders to build cricket stadium in Los Angeles |access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/shah-rukh-khans-knight-riders-group-all-set-to-build-a-world-class-cricket-stadium-in-los-angeles-7895122/ |publisher=The Indian Express |date=30 April 2022 |title=Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders Group all set to build 'a world class cricket stadium' in Los Angeles |access-date=May 4, 2023}}

In July 2022, Mysore reaffirmed once again his intent of starting a brand in L.A. stating that, "we [the Knight Riders Group] also made a big investment in... MLC where we were involved from the inception of the idea. We'll be setting up [the] LA Knight Riders and we're also building a stadium [there]...".{{cite web|url=https://livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/us-ranks-at-number-two-on-digital-cricket-consumption-venky-mysore-11658082531852.html |first=Varuni |last=Khosla |date=18 July 2022 |title=US ranks at number two on cricket consumption: Venky Mysore |publisher=Mint |access-date=May 4, 2023}} In November later that year, the 2023 season of MLC was officially announced.{{cite web |last=Della Penna |first=Peter |date=15 November 2022 |title=Major League Cricket set for July 2023 launch in Dallas |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/major-league-cricket-set-for-july-2023-launch-in-dallas-1345063 |access-date=May 4, 2023 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}} Shortly thereafter, in March 2023, more information about the LA Knight Riders was revealed, including the unveiling of its team logo.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/owners-of-mumbai-indians-csk-delhi-capitals-to-own-teams-in-mlc-1363831 |first=Nagraj |last=Gollapudi |date=16 March 2023 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=Owners of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals to own teams in MLC |access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite tweet|author=Los Angeles Knight Riders |user=LA_KnightRiders |number=1637203256266084353 |title=Coming soon, to the city of stars. |date=18 March 2023 |access-date=May 4, 2023}}

= 2023 season =

Prior to the launch of the official season, it was announced the MLC's inaugural domestic draft would take place on March 19, 2023.{{cite web |last=Della Penna |first=Peter |date=February 3, 2023 |title=MLC set to launch with draft on March 19 at NASA's Johnson Space Center |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mlc-player-draft-on-march-19-at-nasa-johnson-space-center-in-houston-1357156 |access-date=May 4, 2023 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}} The Knight Riders had the final pick of the draft and selected the Hurricanes' Ali Khan as their first draft pick.{{cite web |last=Della Penna |first=Peter |date=March 20, 2023 |title=Harmeet Singh goes first in MLC Draft to Seattle Orcas; Ali Khan and Unmukt Chand snapped by LA Knight Riders |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/harmeet-singh-goes-first-in-mlc-draft-to-seattle-orcas-ali-khan-and-unmukt-chand-snapped-by-la-knight-riders-1364457 |access-date=May 4, 2023 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}} Over the course of the draft, the Knight Riders selected various players including the likes of Unmukt Chand, Corné Dry, and Saif Badar.{{cite web|url=https://insidesport.in/major-league-cricket-after-bbl-stint-under-19-captain-unmukt-chand-gets-picked-up-by-la-knight-riders-corey-anderson-aaron-finch-also-get-takers-in-mlc-draft |first=Padmaja |last=Srivatsan |date=20 March 2023 |access-date=May 4, 2023 |publisher=Inside Sport |title=MLC 2023 Draft: After BBL stint, Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand gets picked up by LA Knight Riders, Corey Anderson & Aaron Finch also get takers in Major League Cricket}} The Knight Riders announced their full squad on June 13, with England's Jason Roy, Australia's Adam Zampa, West Indies' Sunil Narine and New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson all in the mix.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/russell-narine-roy-and-ferguson-join-knight-riders-in-los-angeles-for-mlc-1381296 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=June 13, 2023 |title=Russell, Narine, Roy and Ferguson join Knight Riders in Los Angeles for MLC |access-date=June 13, 2023}} Mysore, upon the squad's unveiling, stated that, "we have assembled a strong and talented team for the debut season of MLC, who can compete at the highest level and bring joy to cricket fans around the world".{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/visualstories/sports/mlc-2023-narine-russell-are-knight-riders-again-42316-13-06-2023 |first=Akshay |last=Ramesh |date=June 13, 2023 |publisher=India Today |title=MLC 2023: Narine, Russell are Knight Riders again |access-date=June 13, 2023}} On July 10, team management announced that Narine would lead the team as the captain and that Phil Simmons would be the team's head coach. Alongside Simmons, Bharat Arun and Ryan ten Doeschate were subsequently announced as the team's bowling and batting coaches, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mlc-sunil-narine-to-lead-lakr-phil-simmons-named-head-coach-1386657 |website=ESPNcricinfo |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Narine to lead LA Knight Riders, Simmons named head coach |access-date=July 10, 2023}}

= 2024 season =

Ahead of the 2024 season opener on July 5, the Knight Riders retained a vast majority of their squad, including Roy, Narine, and Chand.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mlc-rashid-khan-heinrich-klaasen-nicholas-pooran-trent-boult-haris-rauf-among-overseas-players-retained-1421256 |first=Matt |last=Roller |website=ESPNcricinfo |date=February 15, 2024 |title=MLC: Rashid, Klaasen, Pooran, Boult, Rauf among overseas players retained |access-date=July 6, 2024}} The team would also sign various overseas and domestic players, consisting of the likes of Bangladeshi Shakib al Hasan and local boy Matthew Tromp.{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/130948/four-fresh-domestic-faces-to-watch-out-for-in-the-mlc-season-2 |first=Smit |last=Patel |website=Cricbuzz |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Four fresh domestic faces to watch out for in the MLC season 2 |access-date=July 6, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/los-angeles-knight-riders-lakr-sign-shakib-al-hasan-for-mlc-2024-1434164 |website=ESPNcricinfo |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Los Angeles Knight Riders sign Shakib al Hasan for MLC 2024 |access-date=July 6, 2024}}

Current squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.https://mlct20usa.com/los-angeles-knight-riders-lakr/
Direct signings are players that have been bought by the team for undisclosed prices overseas.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/finch-captain-san-francisco-major-league-cricket-seattle-sign-de-kock-2023-03-20/ |work=Reuters |date=March 20, 2023 |title=Finch to captain San Francisco in Major League Cricket, Seattle sign De Kock |access-date=July 10, 2023}}

scope="col"\|Position !scope="col"\|Name !scope="col"\|Nationality !scope="col"\|Date of birth (age) !scope="col"\|Batting style !scope="col"\|Bowling style !scope="col"\|Year signed !scope="col"\|Notes
class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;" \|+Los Angeles Knight Riders roster
rowspan="5" style="background: #DCDCDC text-align=center;" \| Batters \|scope="row"\|Alex Hales \| {{cr\|ENG}}\|\|{{Birth date and age\|1989\|01\|03}}\|\| Right-handed \|\| Right-arm medium \|\| 2025 \|\| Direct signing
scope="row"\|Sherfane Rutherford \| {{cr\|WIN}}	{{birth date and age\|1998\|08\|15\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Right-arm fast medium	2025
scope="row"\|Nitish Kumar \| {{cr\|USA}}	{{Birth date and age\|1994\|05\|21}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off-break	2023
scope="row"\|Saif Badar \| {{cr\|PAK}}	{{Birth date and age\|1998\|07\|03}}	Right-handed	Right-arm legbreak	2023
Unmukt Chand	{{cr\|IND}}	{{Birth date and age\|1993\|03\|26}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off-break	2023
rowspan="5" style="background: #DCDCDC text-align=center;" \| All-Rounders \|scope="row"\|Andre Russell \| {{cr\|WIN}} \|\|{{Birth date and age\|1988\|04\|29}}\|\| Right-handed \|\| Right-arm fast \|\| 2023 \|\| Direct signing
scope="row"\|Shadley van Schalkwyk \| {{cr\|USA}}	{{Birth date and age\|1988\|08\|05}}	Left-handed	Right-arm medium	2023
scope="row"\|Sunil Narine \| {{cr\|WIN}}	{{Birth date and age\|1988\|05\|26}}	Left-handed	Right-arm off-break	2023	Direct signing; Captain
scope="row"\| Matthew Tromp \| {{cr\|SA}}	{{Birth date and age\|2005\|04\|1}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium-fast	2024
Shakib Al Hasan{{Cite web \|title=Los Angeles Knight Riders sign Shakib Al Hasan for MLC 2024 \|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/los-angeles-knight-riders-lakr-sign-shakib-al-hasan-for-mlc-2024-1434164 \|access-date=2024-06-03 \|website=ESPNcricinfo \|language=en}} \|{{Cr\|Bangladesh}} \|March 24, 1987 (age 37 ) \|Left-handed \|Slow left-arm orthodox \|2024 \|Direct Signing
rowspan="1" style="background: #DCDCDC text-align=center;"\| Wicket-Keepers \|scope="row"\| Aditya Ganesh \| {{cr\|IND}} \|\|{{Birth date and age\|1991\|10\|9}}\|\| Left-handed \|\| \|\| 2024 \|\|
rowspan="7" style="background: #DCDCDC text-align=center;"\| Bowlers \|scope="row"\|Tanveer Sangha \| {{cr\|AUS}}\|\|{{Birth date and age\|2001\|11\|26}}\|\| Right-handed \|\| Right-arm legbreak \|\| 2025 \|\| Direct signing
scope="row"\|Ali Khan \| {{cr\|USA}}	{{Birth date and age\|1990\|12\|13}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium	2023
scope="row"\|Corne Dry \| {{cr\|RSA}}	{{Birth date and age\|1993\|02\|04}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium	2024	released & re-drafted in 2024
scope="row"\|Spencer Johnson \| {{cr\|AUS}}	{{Birth date and age\|1995\|12\|16}}	Left-handed	Left-arm fast	2023	Direct signing
scope="row"\|Derone Davis \| {{cr\|WIN}}	{{Birth date and age\|1992\|10\|14}}	Left-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	2024
scope= "row"\|Josh Little \| {{cr\|IRE}}	{{birth date and age\|1999\|11\|1\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Left-arm medium-fast	2024	Direct signing
scope= "row"\|Waqar Salamkheil \| {{cr\|AFG}}	{{birth date and age\|2001\|10\|2}}	Right handed	Left-arm wrist spin	2024	Direct signing

Administration and support staff

class="wikitable" !Position !Name
Head coach \|Vacant
Assistant coach \|Vacant
Bowling coach \|Vacant
Team Manager \|Wayne Bentley
Analyst \|Lokesh Vijay
Physiotherapists \|Prasanth Panchada Ruel Rigsby
Strength and conditioning coach \|Vacant
colspan="2" \|Source:

class="wikitable"

!Position

!Name

Head coach

|Vacant

Assistant coach

|Vacant

Bowling coach

|Vacant

Team Manager

|Wayne Bentley

Analyst