Story of Knight Riders-1

Bengal has always been a sports loving state. Not long ago, it used to be power center of Indian sports, be it football or cricket. But soon, new centers of sports, especially cricket, emerged across the country and Baroda, Mumbai, Chennai & Bangalore started matching Calcutta's steps. This entire phenomenon was also accompanied by gradual decline in charm & prowess of Bengali society. Clutches of Marxism siphoned out vigor and enthusiasm of Bengal, and its glory and status as India’s intellectual & sports hotbed waned.

After MAK Pautadi, Saurav Ganguly was the only Bengali cricketer to make an impact in the international arena. He not only went on to become India’s best-ever left-handed batsman, world’s leading One-Day cricketer and Nation’s most successful captain, but also reignited the lost Bengali Pride. Prince of Calcutta became poster boy of the state and made heavy inroads in the conscience of an average Bengali.

Ganguly’s rise, fall and the final phoenix like resurrection became a part of the Bengali folkfore and the state was simply not ready to think beyond him. Blame it on dearth of idols in Bengali society or sheer love for their favorite son, Bengal wished to have Saurav in its life in any and every capacity. 

But all heroes are mortal and every medicine has an expiry date. When the time of Saurav’s retirement from cricket arrived, Bengal was appalled and unable to face the reality. Dada exited gracefully from international cricket, though many say that he had a couple of years left in him. Bengal took Saurav’s decision to retire in its stride but found a new ray of hope in form of Indian Premier League.

It was potentially the most lethal combination IPL could ever imagine. Shah Rukh Khan, India’s reigning Superstar and Saurav Ganguly, cricket’s adorable spoiled kid, joined hands to form the Kolkata Knight Riders. The franchise hoped to cash on Saurav’s unmatched popularity in Kolkata and SRK’s unbeatable charisma. However, three editions since 2008, proved that every tempting beginning does not have a fairytale ending.

KKR languished at the bottom of IPL tree for all its 3 editions. Controversies, Saurav’s step-brother, surfaced from nowhere and the going became extremely tough for the Knigh Riders…

To Be Continued..