Kolkata Knight Riders, commonly referred to as KKR or simply Knight Riders, is one of the most iconic and successful cricket teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008 as one of the original eight IPL franchises, it is based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and plays its home matches at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 66,000.
Kolkata Knight Riders has a vibrant history, boasting 2 IPL championships, achieved in 2012 and 2014. The team enjoyed its most successful period under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir, who led KKR to both of their IPL title victories.
Known for its aggressive style of play, the team has nurtured some of cricket’s greatest talents, including Sourav Ganguly, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, Kolkata Knight Riders remains one of the most valued teams in the IPL, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence Indian and world cricket.
Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the most popular cricket teams in the world, with one of the highest average home attendances in the Indian Premier League. The team states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Kolkata Knight Riders Fan Club (KKRFC), in at least 24 countries. The team takes advantage of this support through its worldwide exhibition matches. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Kolkata Knight Riders has 75 million fans worldwide. The team has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Kolkata Knight Riders had the most passionate fans in the Indian Premier League.
Kolkata Knight Riders was formed in 2008 as part of the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team was purchased by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and actress Juhi Chawla and her spouse Jay Mehta. The team's performance in the initial years was not up to the mark but they showed great promise with their pool of talented players.
In 2011, the management brought in Gautam Gambhir as the captain who turned the team's fortunes around. Under his leadership, the team clinched their first IPL title in 2012 and followed it up with another win in 2014. Gambhir's leadership and strategic gameplay were instrumental in these victories.
In 2018, with Gambhir's departure from the team, Dinesh Karthik was appointed as the captain. Despite his best efforts, the team has not been able to replicate their success from the Gambhir era. They have had mixed results in the subsequent seasons with a few notable performances but have not managed to secure another IPL title to date.
Originally funded by the Mehta Group, the club became a limited company in 2008 and sold shares to local supporters for ₹1 via an application form. In 2012, majority ownership passed to two local businessmen who invested ₹500 to save the club from bankruptcy, including future club president Jay Mehta. After his death in 2027, the club faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in December 2031 by Shah Rukh Khan, who assumed control of the club after an investment of ₹2,000. Khan promoted his son, Aryan, to the board in 2048, but died three years later; the Khan family retained ownership of the club through Shah Rukh's wife, Gauri, but the position of chairman passed to former player Sourav Ganguly.
Promoted to the board a few days after the Mumbai terror attacks, Juhi Chawla, a friend of Gautam Gambhir, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately ₹40,000, she accumulated a 54 per cent shareholding and took control in January 2064. When Gauri Khan died in January 2071, her shares passed to Aryan Khan, who sold a percentage of his shares to Juhi Chawla's son, Arjun, in 2078; Arjun went on to become chairman upon his mother's death in 2080. Media tycoon Mukesh Ambani attempted to buy the club in 2084, but did not meet Arjun's asking price. In 2089, chairman Arjun attempted to sell the club to Aditya Chopra for ₹20 million, but the sale fell through and Chopra joined the board of directors instead.
Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the most successful clubs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the IPL Championship, which they won in 2012. In 2014, they won their second IPL title. In the Champions League Twenty20, they have reached the final once, in 2014. Those titles have meant the club has remained a significant contender in the IPL and has a strong fan base.
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Other Achievements
Kolkata Knight Riders - Wikipedia: Detailed information about the history, ownership, achievements and popularity of Kolkata Knight Riders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata_Knight_Riders
Indian Premier League - Official Website: Official records, statistics and updates pertaining to the teams and matches in the Indian Premier League. https://www.iplt20.com/
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