Kolkata: IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be felicitated at a gala programme at the Eden Gardens on Monday in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The felicitation will be even better than the one accorded to the KKR after their maiden IPL triumph in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League two years ago, Sports minister Madan Mitra told reporters in Kolkata.
KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan will arrive on Tuesday. The hour-long extravaganza will begin at 1:00 pm and end with a cultural programme in which a host of celebrities would participate.
Keeping secret the number of gifts to be given to the members of the KKR, Mitra said that it would be announced on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens and that no gold item will be gifted.
Entry will be free with tickets to be collected from local police stations in the metropolis and through CAB affiliated clubs in the state.
Banerjee, who left for Jalpaiguri in the morning arrived in Kolkata on Monday rescheduling her programmes there to attend the ceremony at the Eden Gardens, Mitra said.
Governor M K Narayanan, who was present during the felicitation last time, would not be able to attend as he is not in town, Mitra said.
Appreciating the performance of the Kings XI Punjab player Wriddhiman Saha, whose 115 not out from 55 deliveries went in vain, Mitra said the Bengal wicket-keeper would also be felicitated, but separately. The chief minister had also praised Saha’s performance.
CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya said “With the win of the city-based franchise twice within the last three years, a trend is being set for the game.”
“We also highly appreciate the performance of Wriddhiman Saha. The CAB will arrange a felicitation for him at an appropriate time,” Dalmiya said.
After attending the felicitation, Banerjee will leave for Alipurduar to attend a government programme. The felicitation will be jointly organised by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Sports, Youth Welfare, Kolkata Police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the Cricket Association of Bengal.
