Shah Rukh Khan hailed the Los Angeles Knight Riders after the franchise clinched its first-ever Major League Cricket (MLC) title, congratulating the players for living up to their promise of winning the championship and celebrating another landmark moment for cricket’s growth in the United States. The Bollywood superstar, who co-owns the franchise, took to social media after LAKR edged Washington Freedom in a dramatic final at the Oakland Coliseum. Praising the team’s all-round effort, Shah Rukh singled out senior stars Sunil Narine, Jason Holder and Andre Russell while applauding the entire squad for delivering the club’s maiden MLC crown.
Shah Rukh Khan post
“The LAKR stadium. The championship….cricket in America….awesome @SunilPNarine74 @Jaseholder98 @Russell12A and all of the team. Absolutely outstanding. You all said we are here to win not just participate….and u showed it. Love u all….Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo!” Shah Rukh posted. The title victory comes only weeks after Shah Rukh officially opened the Knight Riders Cricket Stadium in California. Situated at the Fairplex in Pomona, Los Angeles County, the venue is the home ground of the Los Angeles Knight Riders. Inaugurated in July 2026, the stadium currently has a capacity of around 5,000 with temporary seating and is planned to expand to more than 20,000 permanent seats. LAKR sealed the championship with a nerve-wracking win over defending champions Washington Freedom after successfully defending 164 in a contest that went down to the final ball. Sunil Narine and Jason Holder, who together have claimed more than 1,000 T20 wickets, produced decisive spells to put Washington Freedom under immense pressure. Narine struck early by dismissing Mitchell Owen for the third time in as many meetings before removing Rachin Ravindra and Steve Smith, reducing Freedom to 29/3. Andries Gous and Nikhil Chaudhary steadied the chase with a 65-run partnership, but Holder turned the tide again by dismissing Chaudhary for his 400th T20 wicket before removing Ben Dwarshuis and later Gous. Obus Pienaar almost snatched victory with a breathtaking 53 off just 24 balls, smashing Freedom back into contention with a series of towering sixes. The equation came down to just two runs from the final delivery, but Pienaar’s dismissal in the last over proved decisive. Lahiru Milantha was then run out attempting the second run off the final ball, handing the Knight Riders a dramatic victory and their maiden MLC title. Earlier, LAKR posted 164 after Colin Munro and Andre Fletcher gave them a brisk start, but Washington Freedom fought back through Nikhil Chaudhary, Rachin Ravindra and Ben Dwarshuis with regular wickets to restrict the total. However, Narine and Holder’s experience with the ball ultimately proved the difference as the Knight Riders lifted the trophy for the first time, ending the early dominance of MI New York and Washington Freedom in the league.
