As of February 2018, which celebrity owned the Kolkata based IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders KKR?

Introduction / Context:
The Indian Premier League IPL franchises are owned by various companies and high profile individuals. This question asks about the ownership of the Kolkata based team Kolkata Knight Riders KKR as of February 2018. It tests knowledge of the business and celebrity side of cricket, which often appears in general awareness sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The franchise is Kolkata Knight Riders, an IPL team based in Kolkata.
• The time reference is February 2018.
• Options list Sourav Ganguly, Shah Rukh Khan, Subrata Roy and Aamir Khan.
• We assume that the franchise ownership structure had not changed before that date.

Concept / Approach:
Kolkata Knight Riders are owned by a consortium in which Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan plays a leading role through his company. While other personalities may be associated with the team as brand ambassadors or past cricketers from Kolkata, the formal ownership rests with Shah Rukh Khan and his partners. The approach is to distinguish between team owners, captains and local legends.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which Bollywood actor is most closely linked with Kolkata Knight Riders since the start of the IPL.Step 2: Shah Rukh Khan has been publicly identified as the owner and face of the franchise, appearing frequently in team promotions and at matches.Step 3: Sourav Ganguly is a legendary cricketer from Kolkata and was associated with another franchise as a player and later as a cricket official, but he is not the owner of KKR.Step 4: Subrata Roy has been linked with another franchise in the past, and Aamir Khan is a film star not known for IPL ownership.Step 5: Therefore, among the given options, Shah Rukh Khan is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is easy because KKR branding constantly highlights Shah Rukh Khan presence. He appears in team advertisements and celebrations, and the ownership structure is often described in media coverage as involving his production company and partners. None of the other names are regularly introduced as KKR owners in official communications, which confirms the choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Sourav Ganguly, although strongly connected with Kolkata and Indian cricket, is not the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders. Option C, Subrata Roy, was associated with a different franchise, and option D, Aamir Khan, has no IPL team ownership role. These names are plausible distractors because they are well known, but they do not match the specific ownership fact asked.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse a city icon like Sourav Ganguly with team ownership, assuming that a famous former captain must own the local franchise. Others might guess based purely on Bollywood star power without recalling which actor is actually associated with IPL teams. To avoid such mistakes, remember that Shah Rukh Khan is the face of Kolkata Knight Riders, while other celebrities own or support different teams.

Final Answer:
As of February 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders were owned by Shah Rukh Khan and his consortium.