How Are The World-Famous KKR Expanding Their Footprint In America?

They are owned, arguably speaking, by the biggest movie star in all of Asia, not just India: Shah Rukh Khan. They first won the famous IPL title in 2012, a feat that they would come to repeat again in 2014, just a year after setting the bar high by playing utterly competitive and free spirited cricket. Moreover, some of the world’s most fiercest and finest talents have come to represent them in the past. Think Brendon McCullum, Sourav Ganguly, Jacques Kallis, Gautam Gambhir (noted former skipper), David Hussey, Chris Gayle and Ajantha Mendis, to give a few examples.

Even today, they are represented by a bevy of fantastic cricketing talents. Think of the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana. They are Kolkata Knight Riders. They combine excellence with a strand of consistency.

And before you read it elsewhere, and pinch yourself to believe it or not, here’s the precise reason why the KKR are trending even on a day where they are not present on the cricket field:

Apparently, the KKR or the Kolkata Knight Riders are going to build a brand new cricket stadium in the very American city about which it could be said- and in no uncertain terms- that it has been bitten by the cricketing bug!

The massive new development, which could soon come about in the course of the imminent future will see the world-famous IPL side KKR partnering with the noted Major Cricket League or the MCL as it is called to build a brand new cricketing facility in the heart of Los Angeles (LA) in the United States.

But up first, a context!

One is actually not sure that those, who regard cricket as being more than just a passionate sport, but a way of life, are even aware that the United States actually have a cricket team? Or for the fact that the United States have both- a national as well as a women’s cricket team, the latter, even attracting the interest of one of the foremost names in the women’s sport (from Pakistan)- Nain Abidi!

Much of cricket has, since the longest time, been only about the exploits of India and the sub-continental teams and the might of England or Australia. This is with profound request to all three teams. That cricket is more and perhaps far reaching in a capacity that we had never even thought of about makes the the appeal of the sport truly global.

Perhaps that is why that having recognised the worth and appeal of the sport as being universal that we see the venerable ICC developing cricket outside of countries that one thinks of automatically the moment the name of the sport is taken.

In that sense, that efforts are on to further cultivate the culture of Cricket in the USA is truly special. It’s a move that must be respected.

That being said, the following information detailing out the plan that the KKR are moving ahead with given the cricket stadium development came to light basis a report on Zee News:

The stadium plans include state-of-the-art training facilities, locker rooms, luxury suites, dedicated parking, concessions, field lighting and an international-grade pitch to meet International Cricket Council (ICC) accreditation and allow the venue to host the highest level of international cricket competition. USA Cricket is expected to bid for future men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments, with the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup already set to be co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies. The ICC is bidding for the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles – if successful, the stadium at Great Park is expected to be a centerpiece venue for the event