Kolkata Knight Riders Triumph in IPL 2024 Opener, Shah Rukh Khan Celebrates with Team
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign with a thrilling victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday. The win was made even sweeter by a special visit from team co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
After the match, KKR shared a video on their official Twitter handle capturing the post-match celebrations in the team dressing room. The video begins with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar praising the team’s performance, while Shah Rukh Khan stands quietly in the background.
Nayar then invites Shah Rukh Khan to address the team, and the superstar responds with a heartfelt message. “All the best, congratulations, and God bless you all,” he says. “Be healthy, keep playing as well as you do. Thank you Chandu (Chandrakant Pandit) Sir, Abhishek (Nayar), Venky Sir, and especially Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) for being back. God bless you all.”
KKR’s victory was hard-fought, as they found themselves in a precarious position after losing four wickets within the first eight overs. However, Andre Russell’s explosive batting turned the tide in their favor. The West Indian all-rounder smashed seven sixes and three fours in his unbeaten 25-ball 64, propelling KKR to a respectable total of 208/7.
Sunrisers Hyderabad fought back valiantly, with Heinrich Klaasen leading the charge with a counter-attacking fifty. However, pacer Harshit Rana held his nerve in the final over, defending 12 runs and securing the victory for KKR.
Shah Rukh Khan’s presence in the dressing room after the match was a testament to his unwavering support for the team. His words of encouragement and appreciation will undoubtedly boost the morale of the players as they embark on the rest of the IPL season.
