Kolkata Knight Riders (Bengali: কলকাতা নাইট রাইডার্স, often abbreviated as KKR) is a cricket franchise representing Kolkata in the Indian Premier League and owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's company Red Chillies Entertainment in partnership with actress Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta from the Mehta Group. The team is currently captained by Gautam Gambhir and coached by Trevor Bayliss, a former Australian cricketer. The bowling legend, Wasim Akram is the team's bowling consultant and mentor. Sourav Ganguly, who was the team's Icon Player for the first three seasons, captained the side in the first and third seasons of the tournament while Brendon McCullum led the team in the intervening period. The team won its first title in 2012 by defeating defending champions Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets at their home ground in Chennai.The opening ceremony of the 2013 Indian Premier League which will be Pepsi IPL-6 will be held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on evening of Tuesday, April 2 of 2013,which will represent the KKR team.
The official theme of the team is Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re (We will do it, Fight for it, Win it) and the official colors are purple and gold. The brand value of the Kolkata Knight Riders was estimated at $57.5 million in 2011, ranking third amongst all ten teams. Although the team has gained immense popularity due to its association with celebrity owners, it was surrounded with controversy and poor on-field performance through the first three years of the tournament. The team's performance, however, improved from the fourth season as it qualified for the IPL playoffs and made it to the Champions League Twenty20. They eventually became the IPL champions for the first time in 2012.
The leading run-scorer of the side is Gautam Gambhir, while the leading wicket-taker is Lakshmipathy Balaji. The home of the Kolkata Knight Riders is Eden Gardens, the largest cricket stadium in India. It is also one of the largest stadiums in Asia, together with Salt Lake Stadium and May Day Stadium.
Read more about Kolkata Knight Riders: Franchise History, Livery, Home Ground, Administration and Coaching Staff, Sponsors and Partners, Players, Honours, Current Squad, Player Salaries, Overall Results in CLT20
Famous quotes containing the words knight and/or riders:
“Nae living man I’ll love again,
Since that my lovely knight is slain.
Wi ae lock of his yellow hair
I’ll chain my heart for evermair.”
—Unknown. The Lament of the Border Widow (l. 25–28)
“Good swimmers drown and good riders get thrown.”
—Chinese proverb.