Sourav Ganguly and Shah Rukh Khan took fans down memory lane when the two superstars met and greeted each other on the eve of the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 in Bengaluru. Shah Rukh was at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday, rehearsing his moves for what promises to be a star-studded opening ceremony.

Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly shared a warm embrace and mutual respect was evident. Notably, Shah Rukh and Ganguly shared a fine working relationship when the former India captain was the skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sourav Ganguly has been overseeing the preparation of Delhi Capitals ahead of their WPL 2024 opener against defending champions Mumbai Indians. Ganguly, the Director of Cricket of Delhi Capitals, was in Bengaluru on the eve of the tournament opener.

WPL 2024: All You Need To Know

Shah Rukh Khan will be performing in a star-studded opening ceremony of the WPL which will also feature performances from the likes of Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra. In a video that was widely shared on social media, the King of Bollywood was seen rehearsing his steps at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium which is set to wear a festive look on Friday.

Notably, Shah Rukh Khan was also seen teaching his trademark pose to Delhi Capitals and former Australia captain Meg Lanning. The video went viral even as Jemimah Rodrigues expressed her delight to pose with ‘coach Kabir Khan’.

GANGULY STINT WITH SRK’S KKR

Initially leading KKR as the icon player and captain in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, Ganguly’s leadership saw the team finishing sixth. However, the subsequent season brought about a radical change in leadership strategy that would eventually lead to his departure from the team.

In 2009, under the guidance of coach John Buchanan, KKR introduced a novel yet contentious concept of split captaincy. This decision was rooted in Buchanan’s belief in exploring different ways of managing the team, aiming to bring fresh perspectives to the game’s shortest format. The captaincy was rotated among Ganguly, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, and Brad Hodge, a move that Buchanan insisted was not aimed at sidelining Ganguly but rather to diversify leadership within the team. Despite Buchanan’s assurances and attempts to downplay any controversy, this shift was seen by many as a demotion for Ganguly, who had been a towering figure in Indian cricket.

The experiment with multiple captains did not yield the desired results, with KKR finishing last in the 2009 IPL season. This period of turmoil and underperformance led to a reevaluation of strategies and personnel, ultimately resulting in Ganguly’s exclusion from the team in the following seasons. His departure from KKR marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for both the franchise and Ganguly himself, who later joined Pune Warriors India