Cricket

Shah Rukh Khan Inspires Kolkata Knight Riders After Narrow Defeat to Rajasthan RoyalsBollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan delivered an inspiring speech to his team after their narrow defeat to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. Despite the loss, Khan praised the team's performance and urged them to maintain their high spirits.In his address to the KKR dressing room, Khan acknowledged the team's disappointment but emphasized that there would be days when they would be second best despite playing well. He said, "There are days in our lives, sports especially, when we don't deserve to lose and it is also when we don't deserve to win. But days are like that, which turn things around."Khan expressed his pride in the team's performance, saying, "I think today we didn't deserve to lose, all of us played extremely well. We have to be very very proud of ourselves. Please don't feel sad or down. Feel as happy as we feel whenever we come to the changing room. We are on a high, maintain the high."He also praised the team's energy and camaraderie, saying, "The main thing is the energy in all of us. We have great energy on the field, we have lovely energy here, personally also everybody is bonding together."Khan had special words for team mentor Gautam Gambhir, who was visibly disappointed after the defeat. He said, "GG (Gautam Gambhir) you don't feel down. We would all be bouncing back. It is God's plan for today as Rink says. We'll be back with more & better god's plans."Khan's speech was met with applause and smiles from the KKR players, who were clearly motivated by his words. The team will look to bounce back in their next match against the Chennai Super Kings on Thursday.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, along with his children Suhana Khan and AbRam, graced the Eden Gardens in Kolkata for the IPL 2024 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday. The appearance of the Khan family, accompanied by actress Ananya Pandey, added a touch of glamour to the high-octane encounter.SRK, who is also the owner of the KKR franchise, has been a regular presence at the team's matches this season. The presence of his young son, AbRam, further amplified the excitement among fans. Videos of the celebrities arriving in Kolkata for the match went viral on social media, with fans expressing their delight at seeing the father-son duo cheering for KKR.KKR, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, had made a strong start to the season, winning their first four matches. However, their winning streak was snapped by Chennai Super Kings in their previous outing. In the match against LSG, Iyer opted to field after winning the toss.KKR has been heavily reliant on their veteran all-rounders, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, this season. The fast bowlers have also played a crucial role in the team's success. The franchise will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat against CSK and maintain their unbeaten record at Eden Gardens.The LSG team, led by KL Rahul, boasts a formidable lineup of its own. Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, and Nicholas Pooran are among the key players to watch out for. The team will be aiming to continue their winning ways and challenge KKR for the top spot in the standings.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. The presence of Shah Rukh Khan and his family is sure to add to the atmosphere and make it a memorable occasion for fans of both KKR and LSG.

Kolkata Knight Riders Triumph in IPL 2024 Opener, Shah Rukh Khan Celebrates with TeamKolkata 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.

Shah Rukh Khan's Smoking Controversy Overshadows KKR's Thrilling VictoryKolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) thrilling 4-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Gardens on Saturday was marred by a controversy involving team owner Shah Rukh Khan. Social media posts alleged that Khan was smoking inside the stadium premises, sparking criticism and debate.The incident occurred during the IPL 2024 match, with pictures and videos circulating online suggesting that Khan was smoking in the VIP box. NDTV could not independently verify the authenticity of the claims. However, the incident drew widespread attention and condemnation from many users.The controversy comes amidst a similar incident during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final, where Imad Wasim was photographed smoking a cigarette inside the dressing room. Such incidents have raised concerns about the adherence to smoking regulations in sports venues.Meanwhile, on the field, Andre Russell's explosive half-century propelled KKR to a challenging total of 209. SRH's Heinrich Klaasen fought valiantly with a 29-ball 63, but his efforts ultimately fell short as KKR held on for a narrow victory.The match began with a blistering start from SRH openers Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma, who raced to 50 runs in just 4.3 overs. However, Harshit Rana dismissed Agarwal for 32, and Andre Russell claimed the wicket of Sharma for 32, leaving SRH at 71/2.Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram helped SRH cross 100 runs, but Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine struck to leave the visitors in trouble at 111/4. Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad briefly threatened a comeback, but Russell dismissed the latter for 15.Klaasen and Shahbaz Ahmed then forged a 50-run partnership, giving SRH hope. Klaasen reached his half-century in just 25 balls, and the duo needed 13 runs off the final over. However, Rana dismissed both Klaasen and Ahmed in the final over, securing a thrilling victory for KKR.

The Women's Premier League (WPL) is set to kick off its second season with a star-studded opening ceremony featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The King Khan will take center stage at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on February 23, 2024, to celebrate "Cricket ka Queendom."Fans can expect a dazzling performance from SRK, known for his electrifying stage presence and captivating charisma. The opening ceremony will also witness performances by other Bollywood heartthrobs, including Shahid Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Varun Dhawan, and Tiger Shroff.The second season of the WPL promises to be bigger and better than the inaugural edition. Five teams - UP Warriorz, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Giants, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians - will battle it out for the prestigious trophy.The tournament will kick off with a blockbuster clash between last year's finalists, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. The summit clash will take place on March 17 in New Delhi, while the eliminator will be played on March 15.All matches will start at 7:30 pm and will be telecasted live on JioCinema and Sports18. Fans can also catch the action on the Star Sports network.The WPL has quickly become a major attraction in the world of women's cricket. The league provides a platform for talented female cricketers to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level.The upcoming season is expected to be even more competitive, with several world-class players joining the fray. Fans can expect thrilling matches, stunning performances, and unforgettable moments throughout the tournament.