Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is the franchise team representing the 'City of Joy' in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Kolkata-based franchise is jointly owned by Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla (Red Chillies Entertainment), and Jay Mehta, who represents the Mehta Group.

The iconic Eden Gardens serve as the home ground for the Knights in IPL. The Bollywood superstars-owned franchise has clinched the silverware thrice in 17 years of the competition. In the 2021 edition, against all odds, they ended up as runners-up under the leadership of Eoin Morgan.

In 2011, they qualified in the playoffs for the first time but failed to grab the title. However, the following year, in 2012, they did get their hands on the silverware by beating defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at their home ground of Chepauk. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) repeated the feat in 2014 to clinch the title for the second time by beating Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the final at Bangalore.

In both successful campaigns, Gautam Gambhir was the skipper of the Kolkata-based franchise. They still hold the record of 14 consecutive wins by any Indian team in T20 cricket. They made it to the playoffs in 2016, 2017, and 2018 but failed to clinch the title in those three consecutive years.

Ahead of the 15th edition of IPL, they roped in Shreyas Iyer for INR 12.25 Cr and announced him as the skipper of the team. They failed to make it to the playoffs with topsy-turvy performances and were shown doors.

The very next year, the Mumbaikar was deemed unfit for the whole season and Nitish Rana had to lead the side. They also roped in a new head coach in the form of Chandrakant Pandit, who had a successful run as a coach for different sides in domestic cricket.

Without their regular skipper, KKR struggled to maintain consistency throughout the season and were erratic in their performance. They could manage only six wins in 14 matches, which did not prove to be enough to seal a playoff spot.

Leading up to the IPL 2024, KKR signed Gautam Gambhir as their mentor. Shreyas Iyer also returned as the captain after regaining full fitness. They released 12 players from their squad, including domestic names such as Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur, and overseas bowlers Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.

The franchise created history in the IPL 2024 auction, splurging 24.75 crore on Mitchell Starc, who became the costliest buy in the league's history. Some of their other prominent hirings for the season include Sherfane Rutherford and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. 

They had also added Jason Roy and Gus Atkinson ahead of IPL 2024 but both opted out of the tournament, prompting KKR to sign Phil Salt and Dushmantha Chameera as their replacements, respectively.

KKR's 2024 campaign was characterized by consistent excellence. They recorded only three losses throughout the season, setting a new benchmark for the fewest defeats in a single IPL edition. This dominance culminated in their third IPL title, following previous victories in 2012 and 2014. 

One of KKR’s beasts, Sunil Narine, became the fourth player overall, and the first from KKR, to play 500 T20 matches, also making him the first spinner to achieve this feat.

Further elevating his season, on April 16, 2024, Narine scored his maiden IPL century, blasting 109 runs off 56 balls against the Rajasthan Royals. His stellar performances throughout the season earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the third time, the most by any player in IPL history.

Captain Shreyas Iyer, despite earlier back injury concerns, led the team with determination. His leadership was instrumental in navigating the team through the season's ups and downs. 

Iyer's strategic acumen and on-field decisions were pivotal in KKR's journey to the finals. Reflecting on the team's performance after clinching the IPL 2024 title, Iyer remarked, "We played like invincibles throughout the season," highlighting the comprehensive nature of their victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. ​

​Following their triumphant IPL 2024 season, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) embarked on a strategic overhaul to bolster their squad for the 2025 season. The franchise aimed to retain its core strengths while integrating fresh talent to maintain its competitive edge. 

Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made strategic decisions by retaining six key players, ensuring a balance between experience and emerging talent. Among them, Rinku Singh was secured for ₹13 crore, the mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for ₹12 crore, Sunil Narine was also held for ₹12 crore, along with Andre Russell for ₹12 crore.

On the bowling front, young pacer Harshit Rana was kept for ₹4 crore, highlighting the franchise’s faith in his potential as a fast bowler. Another emerging player, all-rounder Ramandeep Singh, was also retained for ₹4 crore, adding depth to KKR’s squad.

The IPL 2025 mega auction, held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) make some bold acquisitions to strengthen their squad. The most notable signing was Venkatesh Iyer, who was bought for a record ₹23.75 crore, making him the most expensive all-rounder in IPL history. The team also added South African speedster Anrich Nortje for ₹6.50 crore to bolster their fast-bowling attack. Wicketkeeping duties were reinforced with the acquisitions of experienced South African Quinton de Kock for ₹3.60 crore and dynamic Afghan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for ₹2 crore.

Additionally, England’s Moeen Ali was secured for ₹2 crore to provide an all-round option, while Indian pace sensation Umran Malik was signed for ₹75 lakh, adding raw speed to the bowling unit. These acquisitions reflected KKR’s intent to enhance both their batting depth and bowling firepower.

Post-auction, KKR’s 21-member squad featured a strong mix of experienced international stars and promising Indian talents. Under the leadership of CEO Venky Mysore, the franchise focused on blending experienced match-winners with young prospects, ensuring a squad capable of defending their 2024 title. With a balanced combination of explosive batting, versatile all-rounders, and a lethal bowling attack, KKR positioned itself as a strong contender for the 2025 championship.

(As of March 2025)