1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) aim for their third IPL title against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 final.
2. Shah Rukh Khan reflects on KKR’s challenging times and praises Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship.
3. Gambhir, a former KKR captain, returned as a mentor to bolster the team’s morale.
Sports, May 26: In the IPL 2024 final, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to vie for their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Ahead of this crucial match, franchise co-owner Shah Rukh Khan reminisced about what he described as the “saddest moment” in KKR’s IPL journey and highlighted how Gautam Gambhir’s return as a mentor uplifted the team during tough times.
In an interview with Star Sports, the Bollywood icon candidly shared his emotions, recalling the challenging period when KKR faced criticism from cricket pundits amid a poor run of form in the IPL.
SRK expressed how such remarks used to sting, particularly when commentators praised the team’s attire but criticized their gameplay.
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“I still remember, which was the saddest moment, kisi ne mujhe aise bola ‘inka costume hi achha hai, inka game play toh achhai hai hi nahi’ (someday said to me ‘only their playing kit is nice, not their game’),” SRK reflected. “I remember some expert talking about this. It used to hurt.”
He emphasized the significance of Gambhir’s return to the franchise, highlighting the resilience and spirit it injected into the team. Gambhir, who had previously led KKR to IPL glory in 2012 and 2014, rejoined the franchise as a mentor in 2024 after stints with other teams.
Under Gambhir’s guidance, Kolkata rose to the top of the table in the ongoing IPL season, securing nine wins in 14 league matches.
Their journey to the final was cemented with a victory over Sunrisers in Qualifier 1, making them the first team to advance to the final in the 2024 season.
Looking ahead to the summit clash, KKR aims to replicate their success and clinch the IPL trophy for the third time.
Shah Rukh Khan expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, highlighting the resilience and determination instilled by Gambhir’s mentorship.
The final showdown presents an opportunity for KKR to script another triumphant chapter in their IPL journey and etch their name in the annals of cricket history once again.
