Victory parade today for KKR, Mamata Banerjee to felicitate IPL champs
After four years of underachievement the Knight Riders have given the people of Kolkata and all their fans across the world the one thing they wanted the most - the IPL trophy. And the City of Joy is in no mood to let go this opportunity to celebrate the win and felicitate their heroes.
After four years of underachievement the Knight Riders have given the people of Kolkata and all their fans across the world the one thing they wanted the most - the IPL trophy.
And the City of Joy is in no mood to let go this opportunity to celebrate the win and felicitate their heroes. The KKR team will do a 6-kilometer victory parade on an open top bus from Hazara crossing to Writers Building.
The procession will be followed by a grand felicitation of the team at the Eden Gardens where the entry is free. The Eden Garden seats 60,000 people.
At the ceremony, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be given the IPL trophy by the team owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The team will be greeted with a 'Sandesh' cake and there would be song - "Chak de India type of songs," Ms Banerjee reckoned.
Last night, the IPL champions returned to a rousing welcome after beating the Chennai Super Kings.
Gautam Gambhir's three Bengali words "ami Kolkata r chele (I am son of the city)' won the hearts of fans gathered at NSC Bose International airport to welcome 'home' their Knight Riders.
Thousands of fans danced to drum beats and cheered the team, which arrived at 10:30 PM, for their maiden IPL success after five seasons.
The state ministers welcomed the team members with bouquets and garlands on a makeshift stage near the VIP gate No 5, close to the international terminal of the airport in Dum Dum.
Team CEO Venky Mysore hailed Gambhir and coach Trevor Bayliss for the success.
"Gambhir has done a fantastic job as a leader so was our coach...I am proud of the team. Thank you Kolkata for all the support," he said.
The fans waited patiently for their triumphant team members to arrive as their flight was delayed by more than two hours.
A makeshift stage was erected just outside the gate to welcome KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan and players, who arrived in two batches.
Slogans like 'Three cheers for KKR, hip hip hurrah', 'KKR. KKR', 'Shah Rukh. Shah Rukh' rent the air as fans dressed in KKR jersey and carrying purple flags gathered at the airport.
Many had come with lifesize posters of Shah Rukh Khan and team captain Gautam Gambhir. There were also posters with congratulatory messages.