There is nothing new in a team belonging to the Knight Riders family participating in the first-ever match of a T20 tournament. The sheer prospect of the same not only reminds Kolkata or Indian fans but fans worldwide about the Indian Premier League opening match, which successfully changed the landscape of the T20 format in cricket.
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15 years down the line, a latest entity belonging to Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have taken the field at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to face Dubai Capitals in the first-ever match of the International League T20.
Although the heroics of 2008 can’t be replicated primarily because of the fact that Knight Riders are fielding first tonight, their fans would be desirous of a tightly-fought contest against a team owned by a fierce Indian Premier League competitor.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders squad and players list 2023
Sunil Narine (c), Andre Russell, Jonny Bairstow, Paul Stirling, Lahiru Kumara, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer, Kennar Lewis, Charith Asalanka, Brandon Glover, Colin Ingram, Akeal Hosein, Seekkuge Prasanna, Matiullah Khan, Fahad Nawaz, Sabir Ali, Ali Khan, Zawar Farid, Zaman Khan.
It is worth mentioning that the likes of Narine and Russell have been absolute legends at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL over the years. Other than the West Indian all-rounders, USA pacer Ali Khan has also been part of KKR but never really got to play any match in a shortened maiden season.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders owner
As is the case with Knight Riders’ franchises outside of the IPL namely Trinbago Knight Riders (Caribbean Premier League) and LA Knight Riders (Major Cricket League – yet to begin), Abu Dhabi Knight Riders is also owned by Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla and businessman Jay Mehta (Chawla’s husband) under the banners of Red Chillies Entertainment and Mehta Group.
“For several years now, we have been expanding the Knight Riders brand globally and closely watching the potential for T20 cricket in the UAE. We are excited about becoming part of UAE’s T20 League, which no doubt will become hugely successful,” Khan had said in a statement last year.
A well-known personality in the UAE, Shah Rukh Khan made his presence felt at the opening ceremony of ILT20 this evening.
