Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), under the co-ownership of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, enjoys immense popularity. SRK's association with the team infuses glamour and excitement into every match, attracting fans from all over India.
In 2008, when the IPL was born, SRK, in collaboration with Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, secured the Kolkata-based franchise for $75.09 million (Rs 626 crore approx.), according to Filmfare. SRK bought the franchise through Red Chillies Entertainment, which is a visual effects, production, and distribution company founded by the actor and his wife Gauri Khan in 2002.
With two titles, one each in 2012 and 2014, KKR is the third-most-successful team in the IPL after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Additionally, in terms of brand value, KKR ranks third, with a valuation of $78.6 million (Rs 655 crore approx.), trailing only behind CSK and MI, according to Brand Finance.
But, KKR is not the only cricket team owned by Shah Rukh Khan. The actor also owns three other cricket teams - Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Los Angeles Knight Riders, and Trinbago Knight Riders. All these teams are part of the Knight Riders Group under Red Chilies Entertainment.
Trinbago Knight Riders
In 2015, SRK acquired a 50% stake in the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel franchise in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), a T20 tournament played in the Caribbean. That same year, the team secured its first title, coinciding with Khan's ownership. The following season, SRK revamped the team, renaming it Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and introducing a logo similar to that of KKR.
In 2022, the Knight Riders Group also acquired the women's TKR team which participates in the Women's CPL.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders team competes in the International League T20 (ILT20), a T20 tournament played in the UAE. The team, as the name suggests, is based in Abu Dhabi.
Los Angeles Knight Riders
The Los Angeles Knight Riders compete in the Major League Cricket (MLC), which is a T20 league played in the USA. The first edition of the league was played in 2023.
The Knight Riders Group had also acquired a franchise in Cricket South Africa's T20 Global League, which was eventually scrapped and later replaced by the Mzansi Super League due to broadcasting issues.
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