Living with KKR.... - Page 13

"It is tougher making a film than handling KKR. In a film, I have a big creative role; but in cricket I contribute nothing," said Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan answering questions from BW whether handling his 20:20 franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was more demanding than a film project.

When quizzed whether he had plans to continue owning the cricket franchise considering the stress and strain of handling KKR, Khan swore allegiance to his team and the sport. "I have read stories that I plan to sell KKR. I will never sell the team, Ever. Not for profit; not for anything. I speak not only for myself but for Juhi and Jay Mehta (the other co-owners of KKR)."Speaking with passion, he said: "I am going to make this team perform. I am committed to it."

Shahrukh Khan was speaking at the unveiling of a new 4-part series on Discovery Channel: Living with KKR. The story, to be aired from February 24 - 27, focuses on the initial failures of KKR over a 3-year period, till it finally tasted success in 2012 winning the IPL Cup and defeating CSK on its home turf in Chennai by 5 wickets. The series also unravels the tale of how the franchise used corporate structures appointing Venky Mysore as CEO and the daring decision to dump ageing captain Saurav Ganguli in favour of Gautam Gambhir.

When the Board for Control of Cricket (BCCI) launched the 20:20 format of cricket in 2008 as the Indian Premier League (IPL) Sharhrukh Khan and Jay Mehta bought the Kolkata franchise for Rs 300 crore. "My business friends told me I was making a big mistake as domestic cricket is not watched. But the last 5 years have proven them wrong and IPL has become a big hit," the Bollywood star said.

Replying to questions why Discovery Channel had chosen KKR for its television series and not a more successful team like Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the network's General Manager and Senior VP Rahul Johri denied it had to do with getting the SRK glitz for enhancing TRPs. "The KKR story is a more compelling one. The team did badly for the first 3 year; and then they worked hard and finally won," Johri said.

Speaking of his travails of the early years, SRK said he was battered with disappointment and unsolicited advice. "The paanwala I bought my cigarettes from had a view on the composition of my team; my mother-in-law too had a view. I was buffeted from all sides," he said. He related how Juhi Chawla, a co-promoter, put it down with the bad luck associated with KKR's black colours, and she forced a shift to purple and gold. Finally after 3 years, KKR decided to pitch for a professional CEO and selected Venky Mysore. "Thereafter Venky decided everything. We were not just cut out for it," SRK admitted.

What the superstar did concede was his penchant for pep talks to his team. "I would write down everything as I tend to forget. And then I had to write it down in both English and Hindi as we had Australians and Englishmen. And later when I opened my computer and did a search, I found 45 files. That's the number of times I lectured them." He however insisted he never "shouted" at his players since "nobody deliberately wanted to lose a game."

Talking of the tensions of losing and performing badly, the KKR owner said if his team was batting first he would deliberately leave the hotel room after the 3rd over, because he just could not stomach seeing his men get out. On his skirmish at Wankhede stadium, he reiterated he would never go back to the cricket venue.

Taking compliments of managing KKR professionally, Shahrukh Khan said: "Yes, it was said we were perhaps the only profit-making team; instead I wish we won more often."

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February 20, 2014 Last Updated at 19:08 IST