‘SRK was dancing in the stands’ – Manvinder Bisla recalls KKR's maiden win in IPL 2012

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2012 would be unforgettable for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as they won their maiden title in that season. On the night of the final, KKR needed 191 against defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The task became even more daunting after skipper Gautam Gambhir got out after scoring just two runs. Nevertheless, Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis joined forces and brought Kolkata back in the hunt.

Notably, Bisla was picked ahead of New Zealand dasher Brendon McCullum in the summit clash. The move raised plenty of eyebrows, but Bisla went onto justify the decision. The opener scored 89 off mere 48 balls and pushed the MS Dhoni-led side on the back foot. Kallis (69) also scored a half-century while significant contributions from Manoj Tiwary and Shakib Al Hasan took KKR to a five-wicket triumph and the title.

While the players on the field were jumping and running out of jubilation, KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was seen dancing in the stands. After all, the Bollywood star had to wait for five seasons to see the Knight Riders getting the glory. In a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo, Bisla recalled how Shahrukh Khan celebrated with the team after the victory.

I wanted to see the team home: Manvinder Bisla

“I wanted to see the team home but got out with us needing 50-odd. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, and the disappointment of not seeing the team over the line pricked me. I didn’t even take off my pads until the winning runs were hit,” said Bisla.

“The next 30 minutes after I got out seemed rather long, but when Manoj Tiwary hit the winning runs, I can’t remember the next few seconds. We’d won, it was mayhem in the dressing room. Shah Rukh Khan, the team owner, was dancing in the stands,” he added.

Further in the conversation, the 36-year revealed that Shah Rukh talked to his parents during the celebrations in the KKR dressing room. “We stayed in the dressing room for a good two or three hours after the game. I was on a call with my parents when SRK asked if he could talk to them, and he spoke so glowingly about me. That was another special memory. It was also a perfect gift for my wife,” Bisla recalled.