The three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), have announced a new partnership with Disha Eye Hospitals, which has joined the franchise as their vision partner for the 2026 season of the IPL.
The collaboration brings together the Kolkata-based T20 franchise and one of East India’s leading ophthalmology networks, with the partnership aimed at promoting awareness around eye health while strengthening community engagement through cricket.
Speaking on the agreement, Venky Mysore, Chief Executive Officer at KKR, said, “This partnership strengthens our commitment to Kolkata’s community through a collaboration rooted in shared values of excellence and accessibility. Our association with Disha Eye Hospitals will enable us to deliver meaningful impact for fans on and off the field.”
Dr Debasish Bhattacharya, Chairman and Managing Director, Disha Eye Hospitals, added, “When we founded Disha Eye Hospitals in 1997, our vision was simple yet profound: to ensure that world-class, affordable eye care is a fundamental right for everyone, not a privilege. Partnering with a champion team like the Kolkata Knight Riders feels like a natural extension of that very ethos. KKR represents the passion of Bengal, and Disha represents its care. Together, we are taking our decades-old commitment to the masses, championing the cause of eye health with the same relentless spirit that KKR brings to the pitch.”
Headquartered in Kolkata, Disha Eye Hospitals operates a network of more than 20 eye care centres across India and has built a reputation for providing accessible and specialised ophthalmology services since its founding in 1997.
The partnership reflects the growing presence of healthcare brands within sports sponsorship, particularly in the IPL, where franchises continue to expand their commercial ecosystems with category-specific partners across healthcare, technology and consumer services.
KKR remain one of the league’s most recognisable franchises, having won the IPL title three times while building a strong domestic and international fan base.
The team also entered the IPL 2026 auction with the league’s largest purse of ₹64.30 crore, assembling a 25-player squad built around a strong all-round core and a balanced bowling attack. The franchise made headline signings, including Australia’s Cameron Green and Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, while retaining key players such as Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh.
The agreement with Disha Eye Hospitals further expands KKR’s commercial portfolio as franchises finalise partnerships and squad preparations ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
