Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is a franchise cricket team representing the city of Kolkata in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team was founded in 2008 and is one of the eight original franchises in the league. Since then, KKR has won two IPL championships, in 2012 and 2014.

Ownership:

The team is owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s company Red Chillies Entertainment in partnership with actress Juhi Chawla and her spouse Jay Mehta. The trio bought the team for $75.09 million in 2008 and has been the owner ever since.

Sponsors:

KKR has had several sponsors over the years. Currently, the principal sponsor of the team is mobile handset manufacturer, Samsung. Other sponsors of KKR include Jio, Lux Cozi, Exide, Greenply, Royal Stag, and Kingfisher. The team also has official partners such as The Telegraph, Fever FM, and Muthoot Fincorp, among others.

Staff:

The Kolkata Knight Riders team has a range of staff members, from coaches to support staff. Here are some of the key personnel:

1. Head Coach – Brendon McCullum: Former New Zealand cricketer, Brendon McCullum, took over as the head coach of KKR in 2020, replacing Jacques Kallis. McCullum was a part of the KKR team that won the IPL in 2012.
2. Assistant Coach – Abhishek Nayar: Abhishek Nayar is a former Indian cricketer who joined KKR as an assistant coach in 2020. He played for Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Pune Warriors India in the IPL.
3. Mentor – David Hussey: Former Australian cricketer, David Hussey, is the mentor of KKR. He played for the team in the IPL from 2008 to 2010.
4. Captain – Eoin Morgan: Eoin Morgan is an Irish-born English cricketer who was appointed as the captain of KKR in 2020. Morgan is a World Cup-winning captain and is known for his aggressive and innovative captaincy.
5. Physiotherapist – Kamlesh Jain: Kamlesh Jain is the physiotherapist of KKR. He has been associated with the team since the beginning and is responsible for ensuring the fitness of the players.
6. Performance Analyst – AR Srikkanth: AR Srikkanth is the performance analyst of KKR. He provides insights and data analysis to the coaching staff and helps the players improve their game.

Since its inception in 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Here are some of the team’s achievements and performances in the IPL over the years:

1. Two-time IPL champions: KKR won the IPL championship in 2012 and 2014, under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir. In both the seasons, the team had a strong batting line-up and an effective bowling attack.
2. Consistent playoff performers: KKR has qualified for the playoffs in the IPL eight times, which is the joint-highest along with Mumbai Indians. The team has reached the playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.
3. Good record at home: KKR has played its home matches at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata. The team has a good record at home, winning 48 out of the 86 matches played at the venue.
4. Strong overseas players: KKR has had some of the best overseas players in the IPL over the years. The likes of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Brendon McCullum, Chris Lynn, and Eoin Morgan have all played for KKR and contributed to the team’s success.
5. Innovative strategies: KKR has been known for its innovative strategies in the IPL. In 2009, the team introduced the concept of multiple captains, with Sourav Ganguly leading the side in home matches and Brendon McCullum taking over for away matches. In 2012, the team employed a unique strategy of promoting Sunil Narine to open the batting, which paid off as Narine scored quick runs and also picked up wickets with his spin bowling.
6. Impact on Indian cricket: KKR has also had an impact on Indian cricket, as several young Indian players have emerged from the team. The likes of Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shubman Gill have all played for KKR and gone on to represent India at the international level.

In conclusion, Kolkata Knight Riders has been one of the most successful franchises in the IPL, with two championships and consistent playoff performances. The team has had a strong home record and employed innovative strategies in the tournament. KKR has also had a positive impact on Indian cricket, with several young players emerging from the team.