Kolkata Knight Riders

Introduction

Kolkata Knight Riders or KKR are one of the ten teams that compete in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They are one of the most popular teams in the IPL, and are the third-most successful franchises in the history of the league. KKR have lifted the IPL title three times in their history, only behind CSK and Mumbai Indians.  As things stand, KKR are the third-most valued team in the IPL behind CSK and MI.

When they began their journey in 2008, KKR were one of the earliest teams in the tournament. The franchise, in the initial years, gained a lot of popularity as Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and actress Juhi Chawla emerged to be the co-owners of KKR alongside Chawla's husband Jay Mehta. Red Chillies Entertainment and Jay Mehta's company jointly bid US $75.09 million to become owners of KKR.

At the time, Sourav Ganguly, also known as the Maharaja of Calcutta, was named the icon player, and <i>Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo</i> was the anthem. KKR won the IPL for the first time in 2012 when they beat CSK in the final. They won again in 2014, when they beat Kings XI Punjab. Gautam Gambhir was the captain both times. There was a lull in between before Shreyas Iyer captained KKR to the title in 2024.

Iyer, however, left KKR after their winning campaign and will now lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. KKR are yet to announce a captain for the upcoming season, but Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane are the frontrunners to take over the hotseat.

KKR play all their home matches at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Kolkata Knight Riders History

When the BCCI launched the IPL in 2008, KKR was one of the eight teams formally part of the league. Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment and Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta's company together bid for the franchise and became owners. The franchise had a lot of popularity in the initial years. Their team anthem <i>Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo</i> was composed by the duo of Vishal-Shekhar and became an instant hit.

KKR played the first match of IPL history against RCB, and it was a night few would forget. With Ganguly leading his troops, Brendon McCullum came out with gusto and hammered an unforgettable 158 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. KKR smashed 222 for 3, and RCB were bowled out for a mere 82. The knock still remains one of the most iconic ever played in the IPL. It gave the tournament a much-needed boost and elevated it to legendary levels.

However, that was one of only a few highs KKR observed in their initial seasons. In 2008, KKR finished sixth out of eight teams and their overall season was a disappointment. Then, in 2009, KKR finished right at the bottom of the pile, which caused major embarrassment to the owners. It also led to Sourav Ganguly not being picked for the next season, which caused a major backlash back in Kolkata. The year 2010 was no better, with KKR finishing sixth out of eight teams.

They qualified for the playoffs in 2011 but failed to reach the final. Then came a major change in 2012. Gautam Gambhir was appointed captain, and he brought a winning mentality to the group. KKR became an unstoppable force and they won the IPL in 2012 for the very first time after beating CSK in the final. They repeated the feat again in 2014, with Gambhir once again at the helm. What followed was a few years of disappointment. From 2015 to 2023, KKR made it to the playoffs three times but never crossed the final hurdle. That changed in 2024 when Shreyas Iyer brought back the glory days.

KKR dominated the 2024 season from start to end and defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in a one-sided final. In all, KKR have qualified for the playoffs eight times in 17 seasons.

KKR Team Owners

KKR is owned by Knight Riders Sports Private Limited, with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment holding 55% of the team and the Mehta Group, which includes Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, owning the remaining 45%. It is a unique mix. SRK and Juhi Chawla bring the glitz and the Bollywood power, while Jay Mehta brings in his business acumen and experience.

KKR are one of two franchises with a Bollywood touch. Shah Rukh Khan has been the face of KKR since the start of the IPL. He can be seen dancing in the stands, cheering for his team and is often spotted with the players. His post-match quips with the players generally go viral on social media.

The Knight Riders Sports Private Limited has also heavily invested in other T20 leagues. They have teams in the following leagues:

Trinbago Knight Riders - Caribbean Premier League (CPL): Men's and Women's in the West Indies

LA Knight Riders: Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: ILT20 in the UAE

KKR Ex-Captains, Current Coaches, Home Ground

Up until IPL 2024, KKR were led by Shreyas Iyer, but they will have a new captain for the upcoming season in IPL 2025. Their backroom staff has also changed a little. In IPL 2024, Gambhir was the mentor of the team, with Chandkrakant Pandit as their head coach. But Gambhir has since left and been appointed as the Head Coach of Team India. Dwayne Bravo will be the mentor for KKR in IPL 2025.

KKR Captains (2008 to 2025)

Team's ex-captains: Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Brendon McCullum, Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Nitish Rana [stand-in captain] and Shreyas Iyer

KKR’s IPL 2024 Glimpse

Champions. It was a near-perfect season for KKR. They began the season with three back-to-back wins against SRH, RCB and Delhi Capitals. There was a slight blip when they lost to CSK, but they came back again with a solid win against Lucknow Super Giants. In the 14 group games, KKR lost only three and topped the points table. They then brushed aside Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the first qualifier. In the final, everyone thought SRH would give KKR a hard time. Instead, batting first, SRH were blown away for a mere 113. KKR chased down the target with 57 balls to spare to lift the title for a third time.

KKR in the IPL (2008 to 2024)

KKR have qualified for the IPL final eight times in 17 seasons. They made it to the final in 2021 and have been crowned champions three times.

KKR in IPL 2025

KKR head into IPL 2025 with a new captain who is yet to be announced, though it is very likely to be between Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane. While Shreyas Iyer has moved to a different franchise, KKR still have Venkatesh, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh. They also have the likes of Rovman Powell, Quinton de Kock, Spencer Johnson and Moeen Ali in the mix.

KKR Players List for IPL 2025

Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer (Rs. 23.75 crore), Quinton de Kock (Rs. 3.60 crore), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Rs. 2 crore), Anrich Nortje (Rs. 6.50 crore), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Rs. 3 crore), Vaibhav Arora (Rs. 1.80 crore), Mayank Markande (Rs. 30 lakh), Rovman Powell (Rs. 1.50 crore), Manish Pandey (Rs. 75 lakh), Spencer Johnson (Rs. 2.80 crore), Luvnith Sisodia (Rs. 30 lakh), Ajinkya Rahane (Rs. 1.50 lakh), Anukul Roy (Rs. 40 lakh), Moeen Ali (Rs. 2 crore), Umran Malik (Rs. 75 lakh)

KKR Purse Remaining: Rs. 0.05 crore

KKR RTM Cards Left: 0

KKR Player Slots Remaining: 4

KKR Overseas Player Slots Remaining: 0

KKR Retained Players List: Rinku Singh (Rs. 13 crore), Varun Chakaravarthy (Rs. 12 crore), Sunil Narine (Rs. 12 crore), Andre Russell (Rs. 12 crore), Harshit Rana (Rs. 4 crore), Ramandeep Singh (Rs. 4 crore)

What happened at the IPL auction 2025?

KKR went with a proper strategy and that was to retain as many of their players from the winning 2024 team. That was one of the reasons why KKR retained six of their players. They also splurged a mammoth Rs 23.75 crore on Venkatesh Iyer, as they were adamant about buying him back at any cost. In addition, KKR picked up fast bowler Anrich Nortje for Rs 6.50 crore, wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Among the local talents, KKR have Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora and Umran Malik, among others.

KKR IPL 2025 Full Schedule: Kolkata Knight Riders matches, dates, timings, venues

KKR will kickstart the IPL 2024 season at home against RCB on 22nd March. It is expected to be a high-stakes affair. They will then travel to Guwahati on 26th March for the second game before taking on Mumbai Indians away on 31st March. Here is the full IPL schedule for KKR.

Things to know & Facts about KKR

• The team made it to the playoffs eight times, including four finals

• Australian Brad Hodge and Sri Lankan Ajantha Mendis were bought outside the auction in 2008

• Brendon McCullum made 158 in the opening match of the inaugural season, a hundred that stood for KKR for 16 years before Venkatesh Iyer added a second in 2024

• They won 10 consecutive matches between 2014 and 2015 IPL

• In 2008, they beat Bangalore by 140 runs in the opening game, the biggest margin of victory in an IPL game for a long time

• Andre Russell is one of only two players to take a hat-trick and hit a century in the same T20 game, although these records were made for other franchises.

How KKR team Stats can help you on MPL?

MPL updates you with the latest news and team updates, aside from informing you about stats and nuggets from the game that help you build your fantasy team and win matches. All information needed to create a winning fantasy team on MPL will be provided. On the app, you can play multiple fantasy games for cash and win big. It's a win-win situation as you get to enjoy your favorite matches and earn cash prizes with your fantasy team at the end of the matches.

Know the Tips & Tricks to playing Fantasy Cricket on MPL App and win Cash Prizes!