The season’s first game at Eden Gardens, a Saturday, and quite a few empty seats as the contest is about to start... That isn’t a common scene at the Kolkata Knight Riders’ home. But around 8pm, the mood started to change.

Mobile phone cameras started being directed at one particular area. No guesses for whom — the Badshah, Shah Rukh Khan, was in the house.

The principal owner finally appeared in Eden’s corporate box of ‘B’ block as his Knights tried to stage a fightback after losing four wickets for not many on the board against Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In a white tee and a pair of denims, the superstar waved and blew a flying kiss at the crowd from the balcony and went inside. He only came out once Andre Russell went on the rampage.

By then, Eden had become the Eden it is while hosting a game. Shah Rukh had infused cheer into the atmosphere, and the team too launched a solid recovery. Russell (64 not out off 25 balls) stitched a blazing 81-run partnership with Rinku Singh (23 off 15 balls), taking the Knights to a formidable total of 208/7.

Towards the end of the innings, one of the spectators in the Club House upper tier even braved the police on duty and video-called a friend to share a glimpse of the Pathaan nearby.

Shah Rukh though wasn’t at his animated best. Blaring foot-tapping music was on as he entered the Eden, but the star looked rather subdued for most of the time. He remained seated in one corner of the balcony while other members of his group waved the KKR flag. Perhaps, he had the premonition that it wouldn’t be too easy for his Knights in the end.

Even when Russell muscled Mayank Markande over mid-wicket and long-on for three maximums in the 16th over — with the ball landing just a few rows before Shah Rukh — he just quietly clapped. That was his only expression even when the near-capacity crowd chanted and roared “K..K..R... K..K.. R..”

As Russell launched an onslaught on Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the penultimate over, including smashing a couple of fours and sixes, Shah Rukh got off his seat. He gave the Jamaican a standing ovation as he returned to the dugout.

It was a close affair, the Knights winning by just four runs. The show a hit, Shah Rukh clapped once again as the Russells celebrated.