Kolkata Knight Riders

Three-time Indian Premier League champions, Kolkata Knight Riders have been a force across the tournament's history. Their first triumph in 2012, led by the wily Gautam Gambhir, broke years of underachievement and established a core of disciplined bowling and calculated aggression. Shah Rukh Khan's ownership brought star power, but the on-field product was built on substance.

The 2014 final, where they chased down 200 against Kings XI Punjab, remains a benchmark for composure under pressure. Gambhir's captaincy, combined with the mystery spin of Sunil Narine and the late-innings power of Andre Russell, defined an era of regular playoff appearances. A decade later the wheel turned again: in 2024, with Shreyas Iyer as captain and Gambhir returning as mentor, KKR swept to a third title, crushing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final in Chennai.

Knight Riders play their home games at Eden Gardens, a cauldron of noise and history, in their signature purple and gold. Their knack for unearthing and rebuilding talent, from Yusuf Pathan to Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh, keeps them relevant in every cycle, and the hunger for a fourth crown is already sharp.