History Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

 

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is one of the eight franchise teams that participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Here is a brief history of KKR:

• KKR was founded in 2008 as one of the original eight teams in the IPL.
• Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and her spouse Jay Mehta jointly own the team.
• The team's official colors are purple and gold, and their logo features a knight riding a horse.
• Initially, KKR struggled in the tournament, finishing sixth in the first two seasons and finishing last in the third season.
• In 2011, KKR signed Gautam Gambhir as their captain, who helped turn the team's fortunes around. KKR finished fourth in 2011 and 2012, but they went on to win the IPL trophy for the first time in 2012 by defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final.
• KKR repeated their success in 2014 by defeating Kings XI Punjab in the final to win their second IPL title.
• In 2018, KKR changed their captaincy from Gautam Gambhir to Dinesh Karthik. Under Karthik's leadership, KKR finished third in the IPL, losing in the Eliminator to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
• In 2019, KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing fifth in the league stage.
• In the IPL 2020 season, held in the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KKR finished fifth again, missing out on the playoffs due to an inferior net run rate.
• In IPL 2021, KKR had a mixed campaign in the first half of the tournament, winning four out of seven matches before it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season resumed in September 2021, and KKR managed to qualify for the playoffs after winning five out of seven matches in the second half of the tournament. They defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator but lost to Chennai Super Kings in the Qualifier 2, finishing third overall in the tournament.
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KKR has had some notable players over the years, including Brendon McCullum, Jacques Kallis, Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Pat Cummins. The team has a passionate fan base and is known for its entertaining brand of cricket.

• KKR is known for its association with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is often seen cheering the team from the stands. The team's official anthem, "Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re" (We will do it, fight it, win it) is also a popular Bollywood-style song sung by popular Bengali singer Bappi Lahiri.
• KKR's home ground is the iconic Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata, which has a seating capacity of over 68,000. The stadium has hosted several memorable matches, including the final of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, where the West Indies defeated England in a thrilling last-over finish.
• KKR has also been involved in several memorable matches in the IPL, including the opening match of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, where Brendon McCullum's blistering 158 not out helped the team chase down a target of 222 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. This remains the highest individual score in IPL history.
• KKR has also been involved in several close finishes, including the 2014 IPL final against Kings XI Punjab, which went into a Super Over. KKR's bowler Vinay Kumar managed to defend a target of 15 runs in the Super Over, securing the team's second IPL title.
• Over the years, KKR has also been involved in several social initiatives, including the "KKR Foundation" which focuses on improving health and education in rural areas of West Bengal. The team has also been involved in several environmental initiatives, including the "Greening the IPL" campaign to promote sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.
• KKR has had several successful players over the years, including Gautam Gambhir, who is the team's highest run-scorer and led the team to two IPL titles, and Sunil Narine, who has been a consistent performer with the ball and has won the "Player of the Tournament" award twice.
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• KKR has had several coaches over the years, including John Buchanan, Dav Whatmore, Trevor Bayliss, and Jacques Kallis. In 2020, KKR appointed former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as their head coach.
• KKR has also had some successful overseas players, including Chris Lynn, who was the team's highest run-scorer in the 2018 IPL, and Eoin Morgan, who led England to their first-ever ODI World Cup victory in 2019 and was appointed as KKR's captain for the 2020 season.
• KKR has been involved in several controversial incidents over the years, including a spat between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli during a match in the 2013 IPL, and a "Spirit of Cricket" controversy in the 2019 IPL, where KKR's Andre Russell was given out after the third umpire deemed that he had not grounded his bat properly.
• In the 2021 IPL season, KKR made several changes to their squad, including appointing England's World Cup-winning coach Andy Flower as their assistant coach, and signing players such as Shakib Al Hasan, Harbhajan Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer. Venkatesh Iyer, an uncapped Indian player, emerged as one of the finds of the tournament, scoring 332 runs and taking 9 
• wickets in 15 matches.
• KKR is one of the most valuable IPL franchises, with a brand value of around $99 million. The team has also been successful off the field, winning several awards for their marketing campaigns and social media presence.
• KKR is known for their unique team bonding activities, including their "Knight Club" where players engage in activities such as yoga, meditation, and team-building exercises. The team also has a tradition of wearing purple jerseys during their home matches, which symbolizes the spirit of Kolkata and the city's passion for football.
• KKR has also been involved in several philanthropic initiatives, including the "KKR Playing XI" campaign, which supports various social causes such as education, healthcare, and sanitation. The team has also supported several COVID-19 relief efforts, including providing financial support to frontline workers and donating oxygen concentrators to hospitals in India.
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