'My dream is to lead Knight Riders': KKR Co-owner Jahnavi Mehta on Auction Learnings, Ambitions, Love for Arsenal

'Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo!', this Bengali phrase has become household to the world, courtesy of the Kolkata Knight Riders. Since the inception of the Indian Premier League, KKR has become a brand, courtesy of its

star-studded ownership.

As we look forward to another IPL auction, the recent editions have witnessed a passionate face at the auction table, Jahnavi Mehta.

KKR co-owner Jahnavi Mehta, scion of Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, emerges not merely from privilege but from a crucible of passion, ambition, and relentless dedication for the Knight Riders. KKR has been her lifelong love, and as she steps in to reach loftier heights, it remains her nucleus. In an illuminating and exclusive conversation, Jahnavi unwraps her sources of inspiration, defining career milestones, and visionary outlook for transforming sports both domestically and internationally.

'KKR and the IPL Have Shaped My Childhood Memories'

Reflecting nostalgically, Jahnavi attributes her earliest driving force to KKR and the spectacle of the Indian Premier League.

"I was six, seven, seven or eight years old when my parents invested in the team. I honestly cannot recall life before the IPL; it wove itself into the very fabric of my years and was something I eagerly awaited every season. "

She describes the 2012 championship victory as "one of the most magical nights of my life," igniting within her a yearning to delve beyond fandom into the deeper realm of sports management.

In recent years, she has been a known face to the KKR fans. And after a decade, Jahnavi tasted another KKR triumph, when they lifted the title for the third time in 2024.

Forging Her Path: A Masterclass in Education and Global Immersion

With a clear vision after her studies at Columbia University, Jahnavi embarked upon a master's program in sports management, intimately aware of the vast opportunities that the American sports market presented. She worked in the T20 World Cup in 2024, and also had more of a public marketing role at the MLS, with a fan engagement organization named Live Like.

"I knew I wanted to learn in the heart of the sports industry, so I pursued my master's in sports management at Columbia in New York, where most league headquarters and sports business operations are based. The program provided invaluable networking opportunities, leading to internships with startups, MLS, and the T20 World Cup. My first real sports internship was with a fan engagement tech company called LiveLike, which showed me how sports intersects with technology and investments, revealing the industry's diverse and dynamic nature. "

Her formative internships spanned emergent sports tech ventures to intense operational roles for landmark events like the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, which still remains a vivid and joyous memory.

She recalls, "Those two months were among the most adrenaline-fueled and exhilarating of my life. Arriving at 7 am and only departing when the last crowd filtered out. The thrill of making the magic happen, behind the scenes, was unforgettable. "

Auction Room Realities: Navigating the Chessboard of IPL Bidding

Though often associated with high-stakes IPL auctions, Jahnavi has been a calm and lively present at the auction table. Despite being a peripheral character so far at the auction table, Jahnavi has already learnt the biggest lesson from the auction table, which is to accept the unpredictability and be prepared to innovate.

"You can plan as many, you could plan A, B, C, D, E, F, G, you'll end up at plan Z. Because that's just how these things go. And we do plan. We have five contingency plans, six contingency plans. You should see some of the Excel spreadsheets that are put together. They're actually quite cool. And I've asked Venky to show me how he makes them. But that's probably the number one thing I've learned is you cannot predict anything. And you cannot let the misses affect you. "

The Dream to Lead Knight Riders

Looking toward the horizon, Jahnavi openly shares her aspirations. She longs to lead the Knight Riders and wants to enhance the infrastructure of women's cricket in the country.

"My ultimate ambition is to lead Knight Riders and harness our platform to uplift sport across India, transcending cricket. We have an unparalleled opportunity to champion women's sports as well, something I hold close to my heart. While we don't yet have a WPL team, but hopefully one day we do.

"I think we can do a lot more beyond cricket. And so I would love to be at the forefront of that. And if Knight Riders can help me achieve that goal and be a vehicle for change in India, I think that would be wonderful. "

Jahnavi expresses keen enthusiasm for KKR's burgeoning ventures abroad, especially in the US with LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket.

"The US market holds immense promise, particularly with the Olympic spotlight on LA. We are building from the ground up, cultivating a fan base and establishing our identity in the West-this is a challenge I would relish. "

Grassroots Football: Transformative Initiatives in Uganda

Drawing from personal ties to Uganda, Jahnavi highlights their grassroots football development endeavor. The Mehta Football Academy in Uganda for underprivileged youth was a big part of her ambition, and she wishes to revive that soon. She underscores infrastructure challenges common to both Uganda and India and hopes to replicate such grassroots models to nurture diverse sports.

"Witnessing the raw talent of local kids playing barefoot on rough terrain was humbling. We started by providing basic equipment and jerseys, and evolved to establish a proper grass pitch and structured coaching sessions. "

The love for Arsenal

As we reached the final part of the interview, Arsenal came up. A lifelong Arsenal supporter, Jahnavi concludes with hopeful realism for Mikel Arteta's boys, who have come extremely close to lifting the Premier League title. As the Gunners embark on a positive 2025-26 season, Jahnavi keeps the faith in her beloved Gunners.

"My Arsenal allegiance was shaped in childhood by friends and shared passion. This season, it's not about aesthetics but results. We have been so close thus far, this has to be our year. "

Her own journey mirrors that resilience and determination to keep pushing forward, and don't be surprised if you witness Jahnavi Mehta spearheading the Kolkata Knight Riders in the coming years.