(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who captained the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2011 to 2017, shared details of a cricketing conversation he had with the franchise’s co-owner and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan.
Gambhir, who was instrumental in leading KKR to victory in 2012 and 2014, recalled a pivotal moment during the 2014 IPL season.
In the early matches of IPL 2014 held in Abu Dhabi, Gambhir faced a challenging phase with three consecutive ducks and a mere one run in the fourth game. With KKR experiencing four losses in their first five matches, Gambhir contemplated dropping himself from the team due to his stuttering form. It was then that Shah Rukh Khan, known for his passion for the team, intervened.
Speaking on the ANI podcast, Gambhir revealed, “In 2014, during the IPL in Abu Dhabi, I began with three consecutive ducks. In the fourth game, I managed to score one run. With four losses in our first five matches, as we returned to Ritz Carlton after another defeat, Shah Rukh Khan stood in the lobby. He pulled me aside and inquired about the situation.”
Despite considering dropping himself, Gambhir recounted Shah Rukh’s advice, “He said, ‘As long as you’re committed and want to be part of the team, don’t consider dropping yourself.’ He urged me to promise that I’d play every game as long as I was there.”
The impact of this brief but crucial conversation was soon evident as Gambhir found his stride, smashing three consecutive half-centuries. As the tournament progressed, KKR’s fortunes changed, culminating in their title victory in the 2014 edition.
Reflecting on this transformative advice, Gambhir emphasized, “I managed to score two or three half-centuries consecutively, and we emerged victorious in 2014. Surprisingly, that turned out to be my only cricket-related conversation with him in my seven years of captaincy.”