Tamil Nadu all-rounder Shahrukh Khan hit it big in the IPL 2021 auction when he was bought by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 5.25 crs on a base price of INR 20 lakhs.
Shahrukh Khan had made his Tamil Nadu debut in 2014 but came into the spotlight this year during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy. His knock of 40* in 19 balls in the quarter-final against Himachal Pradesh helped Tamil Nadu get into the semi-final.
And he then played an entertaining cameo of an unbeaten 18 off 7 deliveries helping Tamil Nadu lifting the trophy as well.
He has played 31 T20 matches thus far, scoring 293 runs at a strike rate of 131.39. He also featured in 5 First-class and 25 List-A games and managed 231 and 484 runs respectively so far.
His burly built and powerful batting style even got the PBKS coach Anil Kumble to compare him to West Indies’ Kieron Pollard and received his debut cap from Chris Gayle.
In an exclusive interaction with Ms. Ishan Yadav Mahal, Digital Head of Circle of Cricket, Shahrukh Khan shared his experience of playing in the IPL 2021 tournament, him being compared with Kieron Pollard and his favorite Shah Rukh Khan movies, amongst other things.
Here’s the excerpt of the candid chat:
Q. How was your first experience of IPL with Punjab Kings?
A: “The first experience with Punjab Kings was wonderful. Throughout all these years seeing IPL on TV and following certain teams, one of my favorite teams last year was Punjab Kings, and to be playing with them this year was a surreal feeling. It was a really good experience playing with the team, and looking forward to a good second half.”
Q. Anil Kumble compared you to Kieron Pollard even before the tournament began. How did it feel to be compared to one of the great T20 batsmen and did it add any pressure?
A: “Being compared to Kieron Pollard is a really big compliment and that too right before the season, you know turned heads of the media towards me. But the feeling of confidence, that was for me when Anil Sir said that I am somewhere close to Pollard or I remind him of Pollard was the feeling to cherish you know. I have been seeing Pollard on TV, he was smashing the ball all-around, and for him (Kumble) to compare me to Pollard was wonderful and it did add a bit of pressure, I must say.
But I mentally thought that I should be the best of what I can do. I shouldn’t take all these things into consideration, because I have come with my own mindset and with my own gameplay so far and I never want to change that.”
Q. How was it like to share the dressing room and play with 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle?
A: “The Universe Boss what can I say. I saw him for the first time on the bus when I went to the last seat and he was sitting right next to me and he was really welcoming. Never thought he would be so welcoming, such a big player in such a big franchise. The way he kept me comfortable was wonderful and that’s it. His batting is wonderful and he spoke to me a couple of times about the game and about how to go about and it felt good.”
Q. How are you keeping yourself fit and ready for the resumption of the season in UAE, despite the COVID-19 challenges?
A: “As of now the lockdown has just opened in Chennai and I have been training right beside my house and I have got my trainer’s place and he’s got gym facilities where I go and train. I've been running on the roads, grounds have been closed here but trying to keep as much in touch as possible with the fitness. Because you know when things resume it's gonna be fast and quick and as a player, playing in such a high level, you've got to keep in touch with your fitness and keep yourself fit.”
Q. Punjab Kings find themselves in a difficult position despite a strong squad. Can they turn it around straight away in UAE?
A: “The first half of the IPL was a mixed bag for our team and we had a couple of challenges with certain teams and most of it didn’t go our way. But thankfully there is a break in between where we could go back home and regroup, think about our game, and come back fresh in the second half.
Obviously, it is going to be a tough task for us to win five games in the next half but as you can see that it’s not impossible. Last year Punjab Kings were in a similar situation and things turned around in the second half for the team, so hoping for the best now.”
Q. How much Punjabi did you learn from the local lads in the dressing room, and have you got hooked to any Punjabi hit number?
A: “I know a bit of Punjabi from the beginning but knowing the local Punjabi lads, they are so vocal and so full of energy. I didn’t get a chance to learn Punjabi from them. I had asked Harpreet Brar that I really need to learn Punjabi because I have always been fascinated by that language, so probably in the second half will learn much more and say a few dialogues from a film as well.
Any Punjabi number as you asked, I think I liked AP Dhillon now and listening to Brown Munde. So AP Dhillon is one of my favorites at present.”
Q. It's hard to talk to Shahrukh Khan, and not talk about 'Shah Rukh Khan' the filmy one. Which are your favorite 'SRK' movies and have you mastered his moves?
A: “Yeah it’s hard to talk about me and not talk about the filmy Shah Rukh Khan. This is probably the thousandth time that people ask me about my connection with the filmy Shah Rukh Khan, but yeah I liked him a lot in the past.
My favorite SRK movie has been ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ and yeah one movie that I can say is Kal Ho Na Ho and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. So yeah, he has been one of my favorite Bollywood actors in the past and I have mastered his moves, obviously his iconic moves, I can come somewhere close to him, but some I can do it better than others though.”
