Big Bang Star, Kunal Nayyar Joins Silicon Valley in Cricket Investment

As cricket continues to gain traction in the United States, the San Francisco Unicorns have unveiled a powerful group of investors from Silicon Valley and Hollywood ahead of their third season in Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC).

The franchise has brought on board a mix of tech executives, venture capitalists, and entertainers, including Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, ICONIQ Capital founder Divesh Makan, and actor Kunal Nayyar, known globally for his role in The Big Bang Theory.

“This world-class group of investors brings deep strategic expertise and a shared vision for growing the game of cricket in the Bay Area and across the United States,” said Anand Rajaraman, co-owner and founding partner of rocketship.vc, alongside fellow Silicon Valley pioneer Venky Harinarayan.

The investor roster also features prominent names such as former Dropbox CTO Aditya Agarwal, former WhatsApp executive Neeraj Arora, and Amit Singhal, former Google SVP of Search. The University of California’s UC Investments is also backing the team, adding institutional weight to the Unicorns’ ambitions.

British-born Indian actor Kunal Nayyar expressed his excitement about joining the group. “Growing up in New Delhi, cricket has always been close to my heart. It’s a game that unites people across cultures and continents,” Nayyar said. “I’m proud to support the San Francisco Unicorns as they help bring world-class cricket to the U.S. and inspire a new generation of fans.”

The Unicorns will open their 2025 MLC campaign on June 12, playing home games at Oakland Coliseum. Last season’s championship finalists are coached by former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and feature an international lineup featuring stars from Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and the U.S.