Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently revisited the league’s beginnings and how Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan played a key role in its success. In an interview, Modi revealed that KKR wasn’t Shah Rukh Khan’s first choice for an IPL team; instead, he initially wanted to invest in the Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions. Before the IPL’s inception in 2008, Shah Rukh Khan, along with his close friend Juhi Chawla, bought KKR for a reported INR 570 crore.
Speaking on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Modi described Shah Rukh Khan as the “pillar” of the IPL, highlighting his significant contribution to making cricket more accessible to women and children worldwide. He explained how Bollywood and cricket have always been a popular combination in India and credited Khan for turning IPL into a global spectacle.
“Shah Rukh Khan went to school with me; we are school friends. When I approached him for cricket, I didn’t know much about it myself, but I told him, ‘I just want you to be a part of it.’ He was the number one pillar for the IPL,” Modi shared. “Shah Rukh Khan bid for a team, even though he didn’t know anything about cricket.”
Lalit Modi also revealed that Khan’s first preference was to purchase Mumbai Indians, but with Mukesh Ambani securing the team, Khan ultimately chose KKR. Over time, KKR has become one of the most profitable IPL franchises, winning the tournament three times.
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Modi explained, “His first choice was Mumbai, but Mukesh Ambani took that. Kolkata was his eventual pick. But Shah Rukh’s real contribution was in making cricket entertaining. He brought women and children into the stadiums, which was critical for IPL’s success. That’s why we had music, cheerleaders, and a festival-like atmosphere—he turned it into an event for everyone.”
Reflecting on the early days of the IPL, Modi said, “In year one, we had to beg or pay celebrities to come. By year two, they came on their own. After seeing Shah Rukh, everyone wanted in – Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, you name it. Shah Rukh’s presence turned the IPL into more than just cricket; it became a cultural movement.”
KKR won its third IPL title earlier this year under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir. However, the team has not retained its captain for the IPL 2025 season, with the auction set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The franchise has retained players such as Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh. It remains to be seen which new players the team will pick up in the upcoming mega auction, as KKR also prepares for a new coaching staff with Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate involved with the senior Indian men’s team.