Indian Premier League

That Shahrukh is a charmer, no one denies, but the best part about the man perhaps is that he manages to say just the right things in just the right way, without saying too much.

Amidst his team’s dismal performance in the DLF IPL and the reports of a rift in the camp, SRK sent an SMS to his Knights on Wednesday, which was inspirational and commanding at the same time.

King Khan’s SMS:

“Story time boys… I told you if you keep losing you have to bear with my long, boring msgs…. This is your punishment…. Many times I have made movies which don’t do well…. When I’m doing them, of course, I don’t know they won’t do well…. The story is written by somebody else and I just do my bit as an actor. But I have a way of dealing with flop stories, I try my best to keep my character in the film at a level that it makes a failed story also special for me….

I enjoy the work…. I make jokes about the failure…. And, of course, feel awful about it too…. So, right now, all of us have become part of a failed script… A bad IPL script…. Let’s try and keep our characters worthy of still looking back at this story and remembering it as a special story becos we all worked very hard at this….

So, chin up and don’t spoil yr character in the next two games…. Let’s go out with a bang and not a whimper…. In films, we say u r only as good as yr last film…. So let’s make the whole world know how good we r in the last (maybe not) two games…

Also, do ignore all this bit about Dada, me and John having issues…. It’s a normal thing in the world…. People like to hit you when u r down…. So, we will be hit…. No stress…. It will make us stronger…. The only way to avoid this is to win…. That’s one of the reasons why everybody likes to be a winner….

On the other hand, the beauty of failure is that it brings people together…. So, let’s stick this out together…. You know me well enuff to know I am not the kind of owner who has issues with the team ‘cos of losses… I am too much of a sport myself to get beaten by defeats…. Like you guys are…. Like Dada and John….

I am still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of me at the matches of the IPL…. ICC… etc…. After I understand it, I will decide whether to accept it or not…. Till such time, I will be with you guys at the hotel… in the meetings etc., but won’t come for the matches…. So, please don’t ever feel it is anything to do with us as a team….

I am as dedicated to my Knights as I am to my kids…. Only, I won’t be coming to the class room till the headmaster’s rules are understood by me…. I am a bit anti-establishment kind of a guy, so I apologise for this quirk to u all…. So, head’s up…. Have a good match and let’s make 200 runs tomorrow…. This 150 seems to not work any more.”

Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Joy Bhattacharya on Wednesday rubbished rumours of a reported rift between team owner Shah Rukh Khan and captain Sourav Ganguly.

According to media reports, both Shah Rukh and Sourav have fallen apart on several issues including team selection and also on coach John Buchanan being given more power by the owner in running the team.

But Bhattacharya said there are no differences between the Bollywood actor and the captain and that the reports emerging from the media are “baseless and false”.

“We have nothing to say because we think there is no problem in running the team. The reports of rift between Sourav and Shah Rukh are all baseless. The report doesn’t attribute to any source or official. It was an imagination of the reporter’s mind,” Bhattacharya told IANS.

Captain Sourav Ganguly, while leaving Kolkata for his team’s match against Delhi Daredevils, said: “I have no problems with Shah Rukh.”

The Knight Riders are already in a bad situation after their loss to Rajasthan Royals Tuesday night in the Indian Premier League, and it will need a miracle for the Kolkata team to get into the semi-finals.

Bhattacharya admitted that the only problem for the team is “we are losing matches.”

This is my hunch. After reading the report from cricinfo, I did some connecting the dots and came up with a few teams who can spend in excess of $4 million. Only 3 teams come to my mind. They are certainly the teams languishing at the bottom of the points table this year. They could be :

1. Deccan Chargers
2. Royal Challengers
3. Knight Riders

I am ruling out Knight Riders on the fact that Shah Rukh is burning enough cash already and he might be savvy but all his money comes from movies. When you compare Shah Rukh with other corporate bigwigs who are in the race he falls short on cash.

Deccan Chargers might want to improve their chances next year. They already have a star packed team but did not click. They might be tempted to change the combination. But, it is not the international stars which have failed them but the dearth of local talent. They might not want to spend that amount Kevin Pietersen. Instead, they might try to get their combination together with the current team.

Do I have to say anything about Royal Challengers performance so far this year. Their performance is abysmal. If there is one team who need Kevin Pietersen so badly that they might even spend $4 million then that is Royal Challengers. It is very evident from Dr. Mallya’s statements off late about trying to get in new players or buying players from other team at a higher cost. Mallya will do whatever it takes to get back into the game. Losing is a term he is not too familiar with untill he bought Bangalore team. He definitely wants to change that. He is also called the Sir Richard Branson of India. He might use this connection to bring Kevin to Bangalore.

Will Daredevils spring in surprise? I don’t think so. I think Mallya is spinning the wheels already. Let us wait and see.