In a delightful cultural and culinary fusion to celebrate Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year), Kolkata Knight Riders` cooking show `Knight Bite` featured a special episode on Tuesday.
Proteas cricketers Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje joined Manish Pandey for a unique cooking session that blended traditional Bengali cuisine with a South African twist. The highlight of the episode was the preparation of `paturi`, a classic Bengali delicacy where fish or prawns are wrapped in banana leaves and grilled.
However, the twist lay in the marinade: a fiery peri-peri blend from South Africa that added a bold new flavour to the traditional dish. The cricketers, donning aprons, embraced the challenge with enthusiasm as they grilled the banana leaf-wrapped seafood in an air fryer.
De Kock appeared particularly at ease in the kitchen, in fact, when asked about his culinary experience, he surprised everyone with a candid revelation: “I live in the kitchen back home. My wife chills, I do all the cooking.” Teammate Nortje admitted with a smile that it was his “first time in the kitchen in a very long time.”
The episode also offered a glimpse into the players` personal interests. Both De Kock and Nortje shared their love for fishing, with de Kock elaborating on what draws him to the sport: “The adrenaline rush you get from it… places around the world you go to…I`ve been all over like the Amazon, St. Charles, and going to mid-Africa for a good time with friends.”
When asked about the spice level, De Kock casually responded: “No, not for me,” showcasing his growing fondness for Indian flavours.
Adding local flair and nostalgic charm to the session, KKR`s seasoned batter Pandey also joined the culinary crew. Reflecting on his stint with the franchise, he recalled: “My first time for KKR and my first trophy also, so it was a lot of fun. The entire season we worked hard, and then final game, luckily that match was in Bangalore and because I live in Bangalore, it was a very memorable moment.” He also expressed his optimism for the current IPL season, saying: “The way everybody played last year was unbelievable, and I really hope the boys are ready to play and get another trophy this season also.”
The heartwarming episode ended with a cheerful toast to the Bengali New Year, with the South African guests even attempting the traditional greeting: `Shubho Nobo Borsho`.