Shah Rukh - The face of the IPL?

The Kolkata Knight Riders may have underachieved through the IPL, but on the bright side, have managed to draw the maximum supporters throughout the country

Kanishkaa Balachandran

25-Feb-2013

The Kolkata Knight Riders may have underachieved through the IPL, but on the bright side, have managed to draw the maximum supporters throughout the country. Much, if not all of it is due to their team owner Shah Rukh Khan, whose brand value in Bollywood has successfully made the transition to cricket. An eight city survey commissioned by the Economic Times and carried out by market research firm Synovate shows that Shah Rukh is the undisputed winner in the business end of IPL sweepstakes. Read more.

While a cricket crazy Kolkata is firmly behind SRK’s team, he has managed to charm followers across cities to root for his team rather than their ‘home’ franchisees. KKR is the first choice team for nearly a third of cricket followers across India. Fans even in big metros, which have strong corporate-backed teams of their own, seem to be cheering for eastern side with greater gusto. While just 21% of Mumbaikars supported the Reliance-owned Mumbai Indian’s, 30% backed SRK’s team.

While plenty remain in denial about Twenty20 as an acceptable form of cricket, Greg Chappell begs to differ. Writing for the Times of India, he feels Twenty20 is legitimate cricket that demands great skill from the participants. He recounts his early days as a one-day player and how the pressure to score quickly could easily become stifling.

As the bowler began his run to the wicket my mind began to race and the noise inside my head became distracting. I need a boundary; the run rate is going up; this game is getting away from us; what is a good total to set under these conditions? Where can one possibly get a boundary? I had better take some chances.

Before the ball was bowled my heart was racing, my blood pressure was rising, the rushing sound in my ears was deafening and the tension in my arms was causing them to ache. The veins in my arms and hands would have been clearly visible had one not been wearing gloves and had my cream shirt not been long sleeved and buttoned down at my wrists. My eyes were darting from the bowler to the vacant areas in the outfield where a boundary could possibly be scored. I must get a boundary; we need a boundary; the pressure is becoming intolerable; to hell with the consequences. I'm going over the top, this ball.

Yusuf Pathan's performances with bat and ball in the IPL should push his chances of joining his brother Irfan in the Indian squad. Speaking to the Hindu, Pathan Yusuf remembers the days of struggle with Irfan.

“We used to travel around 15 km a day in Vadodara for practice in the same bicycle. We used to toss about who would be the pillion. I miss those days”

Indian Premier League

Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo