As part of a lively Poila Baisakh observance marking Bengali New Year, IPL 2025 , Khalija Kolkata Knight Riders organized a cooking segment named Knight Bite, uniting cricket players Manish Pandey with South Africans Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje in an intercultural cook-off. Paturi stood as the focal point of this cooking show because it consisted of grilling fish or prawns inside banana leaves. The cricketers introduced South African peri-peri marinade to the recipe to produce a cross-cultural fusion through food. Their mutual enthusiasm combined with their rapport during cooking resulted in a celebratory mixed dish that captured the essence of their united spirit.

South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock demonstrated impressive kitchen skills when he proclaimed he is a professional chef in his family home. The girls of my household relax while I handle the entire cooking responsibility. Nortje revealed to cameras that cooking has been out of reach for him over a substantial period of time. Their mutual fishing interest enhanced the cooking experience as de Kock described the intense excitement of this sport through his words: "The adrenaline rush... places around the world you go to..." The Amazon and St. Charles, along with mid-Africa, form my list of visited places. Their mutual love for fish fit perfectly with the seafood paturi task despite the fact that they did not need to fish for their ingredients.

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A KKR veteran and 2014 IPL champion, Manish Pandey added both sentimental feeling and positive energy to the episode. The Bangladesh captain described his award-winning experience with KKR as the inaugural step in both trophy victories while noting that the IPL final took place in his residential city of Bangalore. The team’s extraordinary performance during the last season gained his admiration, as he stated, “The way everybody played last year was unbelievable, so I really hope the boys are ready to win another trophy.” His presence added warmth and a sense of KKR’s enduring legacy.

A Fusion Feast and Festive Cheer

The cricketers prepared fish and prawns using banana leaves as wrap before grilling them to completion under the peri-peri marinated solution. They directly sampled their dish which earned them great approval from themselves. The spicy dish did not bother De Kock at all because he answered directly "No, not for me." South Africans ended the episode by celebrating Poila Baisakh through toasting while trying to pronounce “Shubho Nobo Borsho” (the Bengali phrase for Happy New Year).

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The mix of cricket with food preparation showcased team members in a heartwarming way to their fans while demonstrating their individual characteristics off the pitch. The combination of Bengali and South African comfort foods in the episode symbolized how KKR represented different cultural backgrounds to create a stage for social unity. Knight Bite became a real connection between cricketers through their laughter and camaraderie during recipe creation so fans desired additional off-field adventures after the episode aired.