I have not said anything against Mr Gavaskar - Shahrukh Khan
The IPL is just a few days away. Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood star and owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, spoke to CNN-IBN about his team’s preparations ahead of the tournament.CNN-IBN: A lot has has been said about your captains. Any clarity on who will be leading Knight Riders?
Shah Rukh Khan: We decided to announce the captain on 16th (April). Anything we say will be held against us so we will decide first, then we will make it a mystery and release it on 16th. That will be enigmatic for the team and it will be good marketing as well. Also, it’s John Buchanan who will decide. We are playing well, so the whole theory that we want to try could work well.
CNN-IBN: Many felt uncomfortable about your comments while responding to Sunil Gavaskar. Wasn’t that avoidable?
Shah Rukh Khan: I have not said anything against Mr Gavaskar. I just wanted to have a breathing space to try something new. He is my idol. I have sent him an apology letter if he also felt so because he was in America that time. Due to the wonderful methodology that television applies, that comment was for people who don’t understand cricket and are still telling me how to run this team. If Mr Gavaskar asks me to walk on my head and run this team then I would. Anything that Mr Gavaskar says that has to do with cricket, if he mentions, it should be followed.
CNN-IBN: On what scale is your involvement with Knight Riders? How much time do you intend to spend personally in South Africa?
Shah Rukh Khan: I am going tonight. I will be there five days before the first match starts and will be there till 28th (April). I will come back to cast my vote, and will go back by the first week of May. I have to get a lot of fans from Kolkata behind our team. I do the entertainment and marketing part, while Joy (Bhattacharya) takes care of the administrative part. I want to create an academy where sportspersons get motivated and get a chance.
CNN-IBN: We have seen you get an entire starry line-up including the likes of Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the IPL matches. This time of course elections are on, so they are going to be busy. Who else can we expect cheering for the Knight Riders?
Shah Rukh Khan: I will ask Mr Nelson Mandela to come! I have a lot of friends with me but I won’t name them. I have not called them movie stars but friends. They are free at different times and will keep coming.
CNN-IBN: Are we expecting Shah Rukh Khan the actor to be on break all the time while the IPL is on?
Shah Rukh Khan: I am on break because my shoulder is broken. Last year was too hectic because of IPL, TV, ads as well as films. This time there’s no need to run as it’s in South Africa. I do wish the team starts talking its own language. Kolkata Knight Riders should not be known as Shah Rukh Khan’s team but a team in which Shah Rukh Khan plays a small part.
CNN-IBN: Finally, how is the shoulder doing?
Shah Rukh Khan: I’m not supposed to move my shoulder till August. I can’t do a sixer sign but signal a four. Dr Ali is looking after me and in three months I will be fine. But I will be at the Dard-e-Disco level only by December.
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