Kolkata Knight Riders

IPL 2010 Teams > Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders: IPL Team Logo

• Kolkata Knight Riders: Performance in Previous Editions of IPL
  • IPL 2008: Contrary to what is generally believed now, the Kolkata Knight Riders didn’t do all that badly in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. In fact, the KKR team started their IPL campaign with a bang winning their first two encounters – defeating the two teams from the south, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers. They lost the next 4 matches on the trot, but riding on strong back to back performances from Saurav Ganguly, they won the next 2 matches. Then Shoaib Akhtar burst onto the scene and a fiery performance from him helped KKR win a 3rd consecutive match, putting them firmly back in contention for a semi-final spot. However, their fortunes dipped again and they were knocked out of the tournament.
    • Overall they won 6 matches, lost 7, while their last game against Delhi got abandoned due to rain. Thus KKR finished 6th in the IPL 2008.
  • IPL 2009: This edition of the IPL was a definite disaster for the Kolkata team. Controversies surrounded the team from the very beginning. There was much hulabaloo surrounding the rift between their coach John Buchanan and Saurav Ganguly. Buchanan’s multiple captain theory bombed badly.
    • KKR managed to win just 3 matches while they lost 10. Not surprisingly, they finished at the bottom of the table.

Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2010

In the previous two IPL tournaments, the Kolkata Knight Riders was definitely the most talked about team – thanks to Bollywood Super Star Shahrukh Khan being at the helm. Glitzy advertising campaigns, a plethora of endorsements from top brands, and multiple off-field controversies kept KKR in the headlines throughout the duration of the two IPLs. Whether it was Shahrukh Khan seen smoking at the ground or the Fake IPL Blog, everything worked to keep the Kolkata team in the focus.

Contrary to the past, it has been much quiet on the Eastern Front this time round. Unlike John Buchanan, their new coach Dav Whatmore is happy working quietly, in the background. Saurav Ganguly was confirmed as the captain long back, and there seems to be no controversy surrounding the captaincy this year round. Shahrukh Khan too seems to have decided to be not exposing himself too much. Overall, they seem to have decided to shift the focus to cricket this year.

One interesting change they have made this year is to go for a change in their colours. The ‘black and gold’ of the past has been shed, and this spring you will see the KKR team in their new PURPLE jerseys.

IPL 2010: Saurav Ganguly in the Kolkata Knight Riders' New Purple Jersey