I'm supposed to be the person who keeps the team happy: Shah Rukh Khan

Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan revealed that his role is to keep the team happy regardless of the results in the game. Although the superstar finds it hard to attend his team’s matches during the IPL, Shah Rukh took time off to watch the Knight Riders’ clinical victory over the Gujarat Lions. The Lions, in spite of playing in their fortress at Rajkot, were given a thrashing by Australia’s Chris Lynn and skipper Gautam Gambhir. KKR chased down a target of 184 without losing a single wicket, thus creating a record in T20 cricket.

Shah Rukh Khan watched from the stands with little AbRam beside him, as Chris Lynn lay waste to the Gujarat Lions bowling attack. King Khan has always been KKR’s most enthusiastic cheerleader over the years, and makes sure to back his boys when they take the field. In their opening game for the 10^th season of the IPL, the KKR opening batsmen decided to put on a special spectacle of clean-hitting for the ‘Baadshah’.

Opting to field first, the KKR bowlers were up against some of the strongest overseas batsman in the world. Jason Roy, making a debut in the IPL, opened with Brendon McCullum, who needs no introduction to his ability to send the ball into orbit. Roy however didn’t last too long, perishing to a top edge off Piyush Chawla. In came skipper Suresh Raina and showed exactly why he is the highest run-getter in the history of the IPL. His 68 along with Dinesh Karthik’s quickfire 47 meant that the Lions finished with 183 on the board.

Breaking up one of the most consistent opening partnerships in the IPL, Gambhir decided to open with Chris Lynn and asked Robin Uthappa to watch from the sidelines. Little did Robbie know that he’d have to simply admire a show of ferocious hitting from the dugout.

Chris Lynn took no time to settle down. He took the GL bowlers to the cleaners, spinners and pacers alike. Lynn struck 8 humongous sixes in his 41-ball 93. It was up to an inexperienced Indian bowling line-up to face Lynn’s wrath, which they did in abundance. Veteran Praveen Kumar, who is rightfully one of the best bowlers in IPL history, bowled 2 overs and went for just 13.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir’s brilliant 76 was completely overshadowed by Lynn’s brilliance. The Aussie bloke was the Knight who rode Kolkata home with 31 balls to spare. Shah Rukh Khan was obviously ecstatic as his team had kicked off the season on an unprecedented high.

King Khan took to twitter to express his excitement in a short video. “I’m the happiest when the team does well and I’m happy when the team doesn’t do well because I’m supposed to be the person who keeps the team happy. It’s very nice, I think it’s a good start, long way to go,” he said.

“I’m happy with how Chris is shaping up and Gautam. I think all the boys when you see them in the changing room they are all gelling well, that’s nice. So I wish them all the best and hope I can come for the matches and do what I do best – party with them once the matches are over. Ami KKR,” Shah Rukh said.

KKR will next face off against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 9 in what is sure to be a cracking contest.