Juhi Chawla Backs Lalit Modi's Proposal to Shift IPL Window to January

Actor and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Juhi Chawla has publicly supported IPL founder Lalit Modi's proposal to move the tournament from April and May to January to avoid extreme heat. Chawla stated on social media that the league has earned the right to influence the cricketing calendar rather than being dictated by it. Modi argued that the Board of Control for Cricket in India does not need permission from the International Cricket Council to set its own schedule. He suggested shifting away from punishing spring temperatures by either starting in January or adopting a structured October to April calendar.

Team History

Chawla co-owns Kolkata Knight Riders alongside her husband Jay Mehta and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who serves as the majority owner. The group jointly acquired the franchise in 2008 before the inaugural season. After initial struggles, the team secured its first championship victory in 2012, followed by another title in 2014. Chawla previously recalled blaming the team's early bad luck on its original black jersey designed by Manish Malhotra, which she believed brought negative energy. She also connected Shah Rukh Khan with filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh, who ultimately created the team's iconic slogan, Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo.

Context

Discussions around the Indian Premier League schedule often surface as global cricket boards try to manage crowded international calendars and player workloads. Moving high-intensity sports events away from peak summer months is a common consideration in tropical climates to ensure better player safety and fan comfort.