As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for sports and entertainment, I find myself captivated by the fascinating journey of Shah Rukh Khan and his significant role in shaping the Indian Premier League (IPL). His relentless pursuit of ownership across various cities, culminating in the acquisition of Kolkata Knight Riders, is a testament to his unwavering passion for cricket and entrepreneurship.
As the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches, IPL founder Lalit Modi shared insights about the tournament’s origins and the story behind Shah Rukh Khan becoming the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). While KKR is now a cherished team, Modi disclosed that KKR wasn’t initially Khan’s first preference. Instead, he had initially sought franchises in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad before ultimately choosing Kolkata.
During a chat on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Lalit Modi shared that during the first IPL auctions, anyone had the opportunity to place bids for any team. He mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan was keen on placing bids for teams in Ahmedabad or Mumbai, but his bid wasn’t high enough, which resulted in him acquiring Kolkata Knight Riders instead.
Modi revealed that Khan initially preferred Mumbai, but it ended up with Mukesh Ambani. Meanwhile, SRK had Bangalore as his second preference, but it was claimed by Vijay Mallya. His third option, Delhi, was also taken by another bidder.
Modi pointed out that Shah Rukh Khan’s bid was roughly between 70 and 80 million dollars, while the bids for other cities were typically around 100 million. However, it was Kolkata, with a bid of approximately 85-87 million, where Shah Rukh Khan’s bid was ultimately successful.
During the same interview, Prime Minister Modi recognized SRK’s significant role in the IPL, explaining that his presence contributed to drawing more women and young viewers to the sport, thereby boosting the tournament’s popularity in terms of its audience reach.
He said, “For me, Shah Rukh was going to bring in women and children into the game. Women and children were extremely important for IPL to click in terms of viewership.”
As a lifestyle connoisseur, allow me to share my insights on how SRK’s influence significantly shaped the growth of the IPL. In the initial year, we found it necessary to entice celebrities with compensation to participate. However, by the second year, they were eagerly attending without any incentives. By the third year, the appeal was so strong that invitations became coveted, as everyone desired to be a part of this exhilarating spectacle.
Additionally, Modi pointed out that Shahrukh Khan’s participation encouraged other stars such as Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, among others, to become IPL ambassadors, thus significantly increasing its fame.
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2024-11-24 09:22