When Dinesh Karthik plays well, I still call him and say, 'you played well buddy, wish you had played like this for us': Shah Rukh Khan

In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Shah Rukh Khan gave his fans a closer look at the relationships the Bollywood Royalty shares with key players of the Kolkata Knight Riders, shedding light on his admiration and respect for the belligerent West Indian duo of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, and franchise mentor Gautam Gambhir.

Regarding Andre Russell who made his debut with the franchise 12 years ago, Khan emphasized his indispensable role within the team, comparing him to a hero whose presence is crucial for KKR's success. King Khan also shed light on Russell's contrasting personas, highlighting his gentle and amiable nature off the field in stark contrast to his fierce competitiveness during matches. He praised Russell's dedication to fitness and his nurturing attitude towards younger players like Rinku. SRK also admired Russell's fashion sense, reflecting on their conversations about style, including designer spikes.

Shah Rukh Khan spoke on the familial environment within the KKR franchise with Sunil Narine and Andre Russell being pivotal to the club's ethos. He said,” Just like heroes, sometimes they get a little tired even with a slight touch, so you have to be careful with Andre. He's one of those players who are an integral part of KKR. KKR, for me, means Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. They've been with us for so many years, and I think the way they have supported the team and the young players who come in, then they play together in CPL, and even in Dubai, they're like part of the family. Imagine KKR without these guys. When they get injured, it feels awful to wonder how we'll manage without them. It's so crucial.”

SRK also gave his fans a closer look at his endearing relationship with Andre Russel, “I can't have serious conversations with Andre. He's too sweet. The way he is on the field, in real life, he's the opposite. In real life, he's gentle and sweet. Even when dancing, he's gentle. Our conversations are usually about making sure he remains fit. Venky and the whole team go out of their way to train him throughout the year. If there's any problem, he tells us because he's such a wonderful sportsman, such a wonderful person to be around, and such a great cricketer. He reminds us of the first big man like Universe Boss, Mr. Gayle. He's like that, and I love the fact that he's very fashion-conscious.

He likes to dress well and do his hair. Last night, I asked him, "Do you have some two-color shoes?" He said no, but he has designer spikes. So I said, "Are they Gucci designer spikes?" Wow! Yes, well, I love the way he's a fashionista. Apart from all these great qualities, he's lovely with the younger boys. Rinku and he have such a strong bond, like the Jai-Veeru friendship. They're so different, yet they love each other and help each other as cricketers and as people.”

In discussing Sunil Narine who also joined the franchise in 2012, Khan appreciated his versatility as a player, describing him as an "anything" player due to his proficiency in various aspects of the game. Khan affectionately referred to Narine as "Superman" and praised his quiet yet determined demeanour both on and off the field.

Khan highlighted the importance of a player like Sunil Narine in the franchise, who has shared close ties with SRK and his family, “Our children love him the most. Aryan and Suhana still haven't gotten to know him well. He joined us from the Champions League. He's been regular in our team since then. We were talking to him yesterday. He's very quiet, sometimes smiling, sometimes serious. Even Chandrakant Pandit Ji doesn't smile anymore, but he hits sixes just like that, with no reaction. Chandu Sir is serious too. But he's a lovely person. We spent a lot of time with his family and friends. He's more into conversations and talks. In our house, we call him Superman, the god particle, you know. He's a boss on the field, a player, a bowler, a batsman, a wicketkeeper, a fielder.

He's an "anything" player. He's so spirited, so lovely. We're very fortunate to have players, Indian or foreign, who have deep feelings for the team. It was so sweet. Even yesterday, they were here. So, before the match, Kieron Pollard called and wished everybody well. Everyone talks, and because of CPL, there's this lovely family feeling. And Sunil, like I said, he's an "anything" player.

Regarding Gautam Gambhir who led KKR to becoming IPL champions in 2012 and 2014, Khan expressed joy at his return to KKR, noting their enduring friendship and Gambhir's significant contributions to the team's success in the past. During his reign as captain, the team won the title twice, qualified for the playoffs five times, and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014. Khan highlighted Gambhir's positive influence on the team's culture and his commitment to mentoring younger players. Despite Gambhir's initial reluctance to participate in activities like dancing, Khan expressed optimism about his gradual integration into the team's spirit and his potential to bring joy and camaraderie.

Shah Rukh Khan expressed his sheer joy at having Gautam Gambhir return to the KKR family, and how pivotal he is to the success of KKR, "Trying to free him up a bit. He's been with us for 8 years, and God willing, for the next 20 years. So what am I going to do? Whenever we discuss cricket, this is the discussion. Today, everyone else is like, "Let's just play." But today, make Gautam Gambhir dance a bit, make him do something. He's been somewhat active. Out of the three times we've gotten together, he's come twice. But I think it was a day match, so it was at 7:30 or 8:30. It's a start, and he'll get there. I've promised him that as we go along, he'll learn certain habits from us, like dancing and being happy. But the great thing about Gautam Gambhir being back with us is that I never felt like he left us. You know, there are some friendships that remain intact no matter what. Whether he's in our team or mentoring someone else, there's never any animosity or competition with him.

"When Dinesh Karthik plays well, I still call him and say, 'You played well, buddy. Wish you had played like this for us.' This is the lovely relationship with Gautam over the years, and for him, it's a big homecoming. You know, to come here, win two championships for us, and for himself to be back like this and to be doing what he's doing with the team, outside the team, and helping him, you know, from the culture that KKR stands for, I think it's immensely important. And very, very happy, just make him smile a bit.”