MAM
KKR gets a new brand identity
MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla co-owned IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders has got a new brand identity starting season 5 of the IPL.
Created by global branding agency Lambie Nairn, the new design stags with the traditional team colours of purple and gold but incorporates a striking new logo unit.
The new logo is the centerpiece of the franchise‘s marketing campaign for the upcoming IPL season christened ‘New Dawn. New Knights’.
Team owner Shahrukh Khan said, “The new team we put together last year made us proud with the refreshing approach, winning attitude and professionalism they brought to KKR. Add to that our new coach and our new players this year, I am excited about the upcoming season and our new campaign New Dawn. New Knights.”
KKR CEO Venky Mysore said: “We have been fortunate that the KKR brand has become the leading brand in the IPL. We are working very hard to add value to our sponsors, grow our fan base and build a profitable business. I am confident that our new logo and our new campaign will help us achieve our objectives.”
According to Larnbie-Nairn Creative Director Sophie Lutman, the new identity was designed keeping in mind so that it would work across every touch point, from the screen to merchandising.
The new look has been polled out across a wide range of applications including the team Hit, online, social media applications and merchandising.
Post the unveiling of the team’s new logo, replying questions about the uncertainty the IPL following Sahara’s pullout, Shah Rukh said the off-field controversies will have no impact on the league.
“All such leagues in India would be confronted with issues as they are a new concept. But these leagues are needed not only in cricket but also in other sports such as soccer, hockey, badminton… IPL is a very good property,” he said.
He was also unperturbed about the drop in the viewership during last year’s IPL which was held after ICC World Cup.
“It‘s too early to say the passion and viewership for IPL is down. All things popular will have controversies. Slowly it has settled down and will get forward. We should resist the temptation to write it off. Let‘s not jump the gun,” he said.
He was also in favour of a more pro-active role in the running of the league, a long held demand of most IPL franchises.
“Last year and this year there have been a lot of unforeseen issues in the IPL and they have been slowly rising. We all franchise owners have to be active participants and it would be better to be on the board (Governing Council),” Shah Rukh said in response to a query.
“The BCCI is run by a lot of cricketing and thoughtful minds. We are given forums to discuss issues with the BCCI,” he added.
MAM
Walkabout launches India’s first athlete recognition for over-55s
Walkabout Athlete Program offers Rs 25,000 stipend and national spotlight to active seniors 55 plus in track, badminton, cycling, swimming, kabaddi and more.
MUMBAI: Age may be just a number, but for India’s over-55 athletes it’s finally getting the medal it deserves without anyone having to hang up their boots. Walkabout, India’s largest community platform for active agers (55 plus), has rolled out the Walkabout Athlete Program, the country’s first formal initiative to recognise and support older adults who continue to compete seriously in organised sports. From track and field to badminton, cycling, swimming, martial arts, kabaddi, hockey, pickleball and even chess, the nationwide search is on for anyone over 55 who simply hasn’t stopped playing.
Selected athletes will receive a Rs 25,000 recognition stipend to help with training, equipment, entry fees or travel. They’ll also earn official Walkabout Athlete status, exclusive gear, and a national platform through content features, press interviews, social media spotlights and priority access to Walkabout events across India.
The first cohort will pick 4 to 5 athletes in the initial phase. Applications are open pan-India, with a selection panel judging consistency of participation, community influence, the quality and relatability of each athlete’s story, willingness to engage, and diversity across geography, sport and gender.
Walkabout co-founder and MD, BD and partnerships Ashwini Kapila put it perfectly, “I know a 58-year-old still competing in badminton tournaments. A community member took up athletics at 65. These people are everywhere in India, yet almost none get recognised. India has strong systems to find its next Olympic medallist, we’re building one that finds the 55-year-old who never stopped training. Both matter. Competitive sport doesn’t have to end at 30 or 40.”
The programme builds on Walkabout’s growing momentum in active ageing. In December 2025 the platform hosted its first Walkabout Senior Games in Mumbai (Juhu), followed by the nostalgic Senior Ball Night at Pioneer Hall in Bandra in March 2026. Founded in 2024 by Deval Delivala and Ashwini Kapila (formerly Getsetup India), WalkAbout has raised seed funding from HDFC Bank and partners with names including Raymond Realty, Bblunt, Furtados and Uber.
While India pours resources into spotting young talent, Walkabout is quietly championing the millions of adults over 50 who never left the field. This isn’t about nostalgia alone, it’s about giving late-life athletes the recognition, support and visibility they’ve long earned. Applications are now open for anyone ready to step into the spotlight and show that the game isn’t over until you decide it is.
