Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fans had reason to rejoice as their team, led by captain Nitish Rana, registered a resounding 81-run win against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2023 IPL season. The victory was made even more memorable by the presence of Rana’s wife, Saachi Marwah, who celebrated with a congratulatory hug from Bollywood superstar and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
Marwah, an interior designer and niece of Bollywood actor Govinda, took to Instagram to share her excitement. She posted, “As they clinch their first victory, many many more to come @kkriders @nitishrana_official. No brownie points for guessing my ‘Carpe Diem’ moment.”
The win is expected to boost Rana’s standing as the team’s leader. Following his appointment as KKR captain, critics questioned the decision given the presence of T20 veterans Sunil Narine and Andre Russell in the squad. Despite an early loss, the team has rebounded under Rana’s leadership, and he now hopes to guide KKR to another IPL final, even in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.
KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit praised the team’s performance and singled out debutant Suyash Sharma as an impact player. Sharma took three wickets in his first IPL match, earning accolades from Pandit. After the victory, Shah Rukh Khan joined the team in the dressing room to celebrate, singing the KKR anthem with the players. The “Pathaan” actor even danced with RCB’s Virat Kohli to the song “Jhoomey Jo Pathaan” from his film.
With this victory under their belt, Kolkata Knight Riders have shown their potential in IPL 2023. Fans and players alike are now eagerly looking forward to the rest of the season, hoping for more moments of celebration.