IPL 8: KKR vs MI highlights

According to a report on IANS, Bollywood superstar and team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has said his squad is "very hungry" for the top spot in the tournament. He is quoted in the report as saying that, "I love my team and we are sticking by boys who I think are international level players and I think they are very hungry to make it there and each of them have done so well, not only tonight but for the last three or four years." SRK also emphasised the popularity of his team. He said, "We have fans all over the country just like how they are for the Indian team and I think it's beautiful that in Bengaluru, Chennai, everywhere, wherever we go in Rajasthan, Mumbai...the crowds love you."

While the match itself was engaging enough, what kept the audience glued to their screens was the star presence at the stadium. SRK was present there with his kids. Here's what happened...

SRK with his kids: While Shah Rukh Khan couldn't attend the opening ceremony of IPL 8, he more than made up for it with his presence during the first game of the tournament where his team, Kolkata Knight Riders took on the Mumbai Indians. Shah Rukh cheered for his team from the stands with his son, Aryan, AbRam and daughter, Suhana. While SRK, Aryan and Suhana seemed engrossed in the game, little AbRam was seemingly amused with the goings-on in the stadium. The four indeed made for an adorable sight!

AbRam to be banned?: Trust Shah Rukh to come up with quick ones. After KKR's win, when SRK came down on the field, little AbRam accompanied him. Like dad Shah Rukh, AbRam too wanted to hug Gautam Gambhir to congratulate him for the victory. Later, as SRK spoke to the Extraaa Innings studio members, AbRam pranced about on the ground and SRK jested that if he didn't stop he might be banned from coming on the field.

Let's take a look at what happened during the match...

Breaking Bat: Shah Rukh Khan was apparently amused with the manner in which Gautam Gambhir's bat broke into two while he was batting. The superstar jested that the games had begun and so had a new season of Breaking Bat, drawing comparisons to the American TV show, Breaking Bad. He posted a picture of the flying bat and wrote, "Some days off & I need to catch up on sleep & happy times. Started the season of Breaking Bat with Gauti & his boys."

Cracker contest: The first match of the Indian Premiere League was quite the spectacle! Played between the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, the contest was crackling. KKR won the toss and elected to bowl first. Posed with the herculean task of facing the fierce bowlers of KKR, Mumbai Indians' batsmen battled it out on the field for the first 20 overs of the game to put up a total of 168 runs. The Knights were quick in their chase and won the match by 7 wickets.

Applause-worthy efforts: Corey Anderson and Rohit Sharma tried their best to counter the KKR bowling attack. While Mumbai Indians' skipper, Rohit Sharma scored an impressive 98, Corey waltzed his way to a quick 55 runs. He also took a wicket for his side. However, their efforts were in vain as the KKR batsmen made the score seem easily attainable.

Knights in shining armour: Kolkata Knight Riders seemed all geared up to defend their cup. Their bowling attack and batting order fired at the right time and helped them make a position for themselves at the top of the table. While Gautam Gambhir played a captain's innings, it was Suryakumar Yadav and Manish Pandey's fiery knock that helped KKR secure a comfortable win. Morne Morkel, who snatched two wickets, became the Man of the Match. However, it was Yusuf Pathan's flying sixes that had the audience transfixed.