Ahead of the match against the “Mumbai Indians (MI)” team in the ongoing IPL series, Dubai’s tallest architectural marvel - the Burj Khalifa - lit up in purple and golden colours, cheering up the other team playing tonight – the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which are proudly owned by the king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan.
As videos of the lit-up building keep surfacing on social media timelines, netizens have been sharing ecstatic reactions and hilarious memes mocking the other IPL teams for not getting this kind of a grand gesture from Dubai.
Fans have also noted that this is the first time ever that the Burj Khalifa has lit up in support of an IPL team.
#BurjKhalifa gave tribute to KKR....
— Sairaj Sonne (@_i_am_s_s) September 23, 2020
#SRKs IPL TEAM KKR on the #BurjKhalifa.. First ever team. Burj Khalifa welcome #KKR in #Dubai #ShahRukhKhan.... Ise bolte hai king.
— MD Asrar Alam (@MDAsrarAlam14) September 23, 2020
Jo @mukeshambani ke liye nhi huaa wah @srk ke liye huaa pic.twitter.com/tUAsYtMQa8
#BurjKhalifa after seeing kkr on burj khalifa
— Crazy Zd (@crazy_zd) September 23, 2020
Meanwhile other #teams ~ pic.twitter.com/WOLTvVT5GN
Netizens also noted that this grand gesture from the Burj Khalifa is a testimony to the superstardom that the epitome of romance, Shah Rukh Khan, enjoys around the world.
Earlier this year, famous American talk show host David Lettermen, in an interview with the superstar, revealed that the actor has around 3.7 billion fans around the world.
Power Of Srk 💪#KKRHaiTaiyaar ✌️#BurjKhalifa #IPL2020 @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/PQbAKwUq0o
— 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐣𝐢𝐝 _ساجد خان (@Mr_khan_0092) September 23, 2020
BREAKING NEWS 💥
— 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐚𝐧 (@ImAmaanSRK) September 22, 2020
Burj Khalifa Lights up
Welcome KKR for IPL 2020
Just bcoz of one and only SHAH RUKH KHAN #BurjKhalifa #KKRHaiTaiyaar https://t.co/jUYPLj9OAF pic.twitter.com/ooqnfOB6oH
The official Twitter handle of former IPL champions KKR also acknowledged the gesture with a sassy post.
شكران 🙌🏽
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) September 22, 2020
Before the fireworks tomorrow, here's the curtain raiser! We won't stop, on our way to the 🔝
Thank you @BurjKhalifa for lighting up in #KKR colours.
What a welcome to the UAE tonight! 💜#KKRHaiTaiyaar #IPL2020 #Dream11IPL #BurjKhalifa pic.twitter.com/LgUe9hNdW1
The two teams will be facing each other at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi later today.
In recent years, the IPL has emerged as the most-attended cricket league in the world. According to BCCI, the IPL season of 2015 contributed $160 million to India’s GDP.
Indian celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan and business tycoons like Mukesh Ambani own teams made up of international cricketing legends who are “auctioned”, and the highest bidder gets the player in their team.
Along with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, other teams are – the Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.