After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third IPL title, much attention has been given to Gautam Gambhir’s crucial role in reviving the team. A recent report highlighted the ongoing communication between Gambhir and Shah Rukh Khan, even when Gambhir was not officially part of KKR. The two met several times between 2018 and 2022, although their discussions rarely touched on cricket.
Gambhir, who led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to two successful seasons, considered leaving Sanjiv Goenka’s franchise. Upon learning this, Shah Rukh Khan invited Gambhir to his home, Mannat, for an extended conversation. During this meeting, Khan made Gambhir an irresistible offer: to take charge of KKR for the next 10 years, offering him a “blank cheque.”
In an interview with Ravichandran Ashwin, Gambhir praised Shah Rukh as “the best owner” he had ever worked with, noting that Khan never interfered with his cricketing decisions. Gambhir recalled that during their first meeting, Shah Rukh compared acting and cricket, emphasizing that just as he disliked being told how to act, Gambhir wouldn’t appreciate being told how to play cricket. Since then, their conversations have focused on life rather than cricket strategy.
After KKR’s recent victory, a video shared by the team showed Shah Rukh giving a brief speech, expressing his only wish: to see Gambhir dance at the celebration party. Known for his serious demeanor, Gambhir was seen grinning widely as he shook his head in response to Shah Rukh’s playful request. This collaboration and mutual respect between Shah Rukh Khan and Gautam Gambhir have been instrumental in KKR’s success.
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