Juhi Chawla Reflects on KKR’s Early IPL Journey
Invitation to Join IPL
Juhi Chawla, co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) along with Shah Rukh Khan and her husband Jay Mehta, recently shared insights into their journey before the first season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking at an event hosted by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Juhi revealed that Lalit Modi invited her and Shah Rukh to buy a team, aiming to bring “glamorous people” into IPL team ownership.
Glamour Meets Cricket
Juhi highlighted that Shah Rukh and Jay took on most of the initial groundwork for KKR. She reminisced, “Lalit wanted the owners to be glamorous and he approached us, saying, ‘Shah Rukh and you are one of the team owners.’ At that time, I thought in India, cricket and the film industry are the two most popular things, so it would be nice to be part of cricket.”
Challenges of Running a Cricket Franchise
Despite their enthusiasm, the trio faced significant challenges due to their lack of experience in running a cricket franchise. Juhi recalled, “We didn’t know anything about running a cricket franchise. I remember going to Shah Rukh’s house for meetings. Everything from putting the jingle together to designing the uniforms was done in-house.”
Uniform Disagreement
One memorable moment Juhi shared was her initial dislike for the team’s first uniform. “He made it black and gold, and I was not happy with it. I thought, ‘What is this black and gold?’ because black is considered inauspicious.”
Late-Night Meetings
Juhi also spoke about the unconventional meeting times, driven by Shah Rukh’s busy schedule. “Our meetings would be scheduled for 10 pm and start by 11 pm. By the time everyone finished talking, it would be 12 or 12:30 am, and I would start dozing off. After 2-3 meetings, I stopped attending. I said, ‘You guys do this, I am not coming.’”
Triumphs Despite Trials
Despite the initial hurdles, KKR has achieved significant success, winning the IPL title three times—in 2012, 2014, and 2024. The team continues to be owned by Shah Rukh, Juhi, and Jay, showcasing their enduring commitment to the franchise.(live score cricket ipl)