India, April 10 -- Kolkata Knight Riders were one of the first eight teams involved in the inaugural Indian Premier League back in 2008, owned by the nation's heartthrob, Shah Rukh Khan. The franchise has come a long way, with many ups and downs alongside the IPL's success on the global stage. The iconic purple and gold jersey, with the "Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re" motto, has since become the backbone of cricket fans in Kolkata, playing at the iconic venue of Eden Gardens. Past captains, Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer, have successfully defended their colours, securing three titles along the way in 2012, 2014 and 2024.

However, despite every journey involving a transition period on the road to a championship, this 2026 IPL edition has witn...