Bollywood superstar and Kolkata franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday launched his Indian Premier League (IPL) team — the Kolkata Knight Riders — with panache and a shrill war cry of Korbo, Lorbo, Jitbo (‘We'll do, fight and win’).
Shah Rukh stressed that cricket was a game of the young and the Knight Riders would endeavour to play a scintillating brand to captivate youngsters.
"The idea and ideology behind naming the team Kolkata Knight Riders is because I want to appeal to the youth of the country," Shah Rukh said as the logo and mascot Hoog Lee (Royal Bengal Tiger) were unveiled at a glittering ceremony.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who will lead the Knight Riders, and coach John Buchanan were present along with actor Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta.
“We are here to win the battle of life. You don't win silver, you only lose gold. It's a maxim I have followed in my life and I've been fortunate enough that it has served me well. I would like that maxim to be passed on to the youngsters. That's why our theme is Korbo, Lorbo, Jitbo," Shah Rukh said.
‘A big inspiration’
Shah Rukh described Ganguly as his 'favourite'. "Sourav has been a big inspiration. Buchanan and his trainers from Australia know the brand of cricket played here," he said. "God willing, we'll win the cup."
The majority of the earnings, Shah Rukh explained, would come from broadcast rights, sponsors and ticket sales. Players would be used for commercials, not personally, but as a team. He added, however, that he would like his players to concentrate on cricket and leave it to him to focus on promotional aspects.
Stand by team
Asked if he had plans to promote hockey or other sports in the wake of India's inglorious exit from the Olympic hockey qualifiers, he conceded that it was sad that India couldn’t make it to Beijing. “Like life, there are upheavals in sports as well. We ought to stand by the hockey team and encourage them.”
In a lighter vein, he said he would don the team's colours and even ‘help the players with water in the field when required.’ Promising to learn Bengali, he laughed, “Sourav has promised to teach me.”
The black and gold jersey of the team, he revealed, had a meaning, too. "Black is the colour of goddess Kali, and we aim for gold," he explained.
Ganguly said he felt honoured to be a part of the IPL and to lead the Knight Riders. Watching cricket in Kolkata will be a big difference with 90,000 people cramming the Eden Gardens, the flamboyant left-hander said. "We'll try to make Kolkata proud." Then, turning to Buchanan, he said, "It's a pleasure to work with you, John."
