The Best Playing XI for Los Angeles Knight Riders

By Aayush Pathak July 14, 2023

MLC 2023: Best Playing XI for Los Angeles Knight Riders

The Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR), a formidable team in the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023, are set to embark on their journey with a clash against the Texas Super Kings (TSK) in the tournament opener at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Led by the experienced West Indies and Kolkata Knight Riders’ star, Sunil Narine, the LAKR boasts a talented lineup comprising international players such as explosive England opener Jason Roy, New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, South African left-handed batter Rilee Rossouw, Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson, and Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

With Phil Simmons at the helm as head coach, the team is primed to make a strong impression in the MLC. As the anticipation builds, let us delve into the best playing XI for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, showcasing a perfect blend of talent, skill, and experience to tackle the challenges ahead.

Los Angeles Knight Riders Full Squad for MLC 2023

Player Name	Role	Domestic/Overseas

Jaskaran Malhotra	Wicketkeeper	Domestic
Saif Badar	Batter	Domestic
Unmukt Chand	Batter	Domestic
Martin Guptill	Batter	Overseas
Nitish Kumar	Batter	Domestic
Rilee Rossouw	Batter	Overseas
Jason Roy	Batter	Overseas
Gajanand Singh	Batter	Domestic
Lockie Ferguson	Fast Bowler	Overseas
Spencer Johnson	Fast Bowler	Overseas
Ali Khan	Fast Bowler	Domestic
Ali Sheikh	Slow Left Arm	Domestic
Adam Zampa	Leg Spin	Overseas
Corne Dry	Batter/Fast Bowler	Domestic
Sunil Narine (Captain)	Off Spin/Batter	Overseas
Andre Russell	Batter/Fast Bowler	Overseas
Shadley Van Schalkwyk	Batter/Fast Bowler	Domestic
Bhaskar Yadram	Batter/Off Break	Domestic

Best Playing XI for Los Angeles Knight Riders:

Wicketkeeper:

Jaskaran Malhotra, the skilled wicketkeeper, is a key player in the Los Angeles Knight Riders’ lineup. With his excellent glovework and ability to provide stability in the top 3, Malhotra ensures a solid foundation for the team’s innings. Having played in 17 games for the USA, Jaskaran brings a decent amount of experience and know-how of the local conditions. We can see him bat in at number 3 or number 4, depending on how the team wants to use Unmukt Chand.

Openers:

The explosive English opener, Jason Roy, brings a fearless and aggressive batting style to the top of the order. His ability to dominate the opposition’s bowlers from the outset makes him a potent weapon for the LAKR. Partnering him is the experienced New Zealand batter, Martin Guptill. Known for his power-hitting and ability to score quickly, Guptill provides a perfect complement to Roy’s aggressive approach.

Middle Order:

At numbers three and four, we will probably see Unmukt Chand and Jaskaran Malhotra, both of whom are local players. Their elegant stroke play and ability to anchor and aggress at will make them valuable assets for the LAKR. Alongside him is the versatile batter Gajanand Singh who has been finishing games for the national squad for a while now. To finish things off, we can see Andre Russell batting in at 6. However, Russell would probably be used as a floater in the middle order, depending on how the top order fares.

Bowlers:

The Australian leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, is a vital component of the LAKR’s spin-bowling attack. Known for his ability to deceive batsmen with his variations and flight, Zampa adds a potent spin option to the team. He would be equally supported by the skipper Sunil Narine, whom we could probably see opening in a few games if the situation deems fit.

To bolster the fast bowling department, the LAKR can count on the services of Lockie Ferguson. With his express pace and ability to generate bounce, Ferguson poses a significant threat to the opposition batsmen. He would lead the charge for the team and would be complemented by Ali Khan and Shadley Van Schalkwyk, both of whom are big names in USA cricket. Andre Russell can pitch in from time to time as and when the team requires.