KKR has to listen to bad things because of me, says Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan believes that his team, Kolkata Knight Riders receives flak because of him © Getty Images

By CricketCountry Staff

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Mumbai: June 1, 2012

Shahrukh Khan has experienced the extremes during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2012 as his team took the title and he also had to bear the brunt of a few controversies. However, that hasn’t stopped him from celebrating his team’s success.

The Bollywood star believes that his team receives flak because of him. He told Rediff Cricket,”  It is also wrong that I am participating in the press conference without my team members, but somewhere I feel that because of me my team has to listen to bad things as well as good things; but both are in extremes.”

“Since I am from films, I felt for the team personally; there are other teams that lose too, but my team gets the flak mostly because of me. Young boys who have come from small towns just to play have to listen to things because of me,” he said.

Shahrukh also highlighted Kolkata’s bumpy journey in the IPL before the fifth season. “In the last three – four years we have been part of many a controversy, so it was important for me to get the monkey off our backs. Me, Jay (Mehta) and Juhi (Chawla) have always been outsiders; we wanted to do something for the youngsters, that’s why we got into this,” he was quoted.

He also expressed happiness that his franchise had played a part in the development of a number of players over the years.

“I am thrilled that L Balaji has been resurgent, I am happy that Manvinder Bisla is a known person now, Manoj Tiwary will get a chance in national cricket,” Shahrukh said.

“Even players who are not with us, like Vridhiman Saha, Mandeep Singh, Srivast Goswami, are doing well. I keep following their progress; they are young guys who started with us when they were just 19, and some even fewer than 18, now they will also be positive,” he concluded.