Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood superstar and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has shared a heartfelt message for his team and its new captain ahead of their opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2025 season on Saturday, March 22.
The video was posted on KKR’s official Instagram handle, with the caption: King Khan ka pyaar, Knights ke naam. In the video, Khan, who had previously greeted each player individually and embraced them warmly in the dressing room, addressed the team with a special message. He began by saying, “God bless you. Please be healthy, be happy,” and thanked head coach Chandrakant Pandit for taking good care of the team.
For the new KKR captain, Ajinkya Rahane, Shah Rukh Khan had a personal note: “Thank you, Ajinkya, for joining us and being a captain. God bless you, and I hope you will find a good home here and play well with all of us.”
The opening match between KKR and RCB brings back memories of the 2008 IPL’s inaugural game, where Brendon McCullum made history with a stunning 158-run knock for KKR against RCB.
Both teams enter the new season with leadership changes. Ajinkya Rahane now leads KKR, while Rajat Patidar takes charge of RCB. RCB will be eager to end their four-match losing streak against KKR.
Spin bowling is expected to play a crucial role in the game. KKR boasts a seasoned spin attack featuring Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, along with Moeen Ali and Anukul Roy. RCB counters with Krunal Pandya leading their spin department, supported by Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and young spinner Suyash Sharma, who played for KKR in 2023.
Both teams have powerful batting lineups. RCB’s explosive batters include Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, and Jitesh Sharma. KKR’s lineup features Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Venkatesh Iyer, making for an exciting contest ahead.
