SRK is the Best Owner I’ve Ever Worked With”: Gautam Gambhir

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team mentor Gautam Gambhir has praised Shah Rukh Khan, calling him the best owner he’s ever worked with. After leading KKR for seven years as captain, Gambhir returned to the two-time IPL winners in a managerial role for the ongoing season.

Gambhir was appointed team mentor in November last year and has helped KKR find their groove again. This season, the team has soared high, and Gambhir credits part of their success to the supportive presence of co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

In a candid conversation on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Gambhir revealed his unique relationship with the Bollywood superstar, emphasizing that they never discuss cricket. “It is the trust of the owner as well,” Gambhir said. “I think SRK is the best owner I have ever worked with. In the seven years of me captaining, we had not spoken 70 seconds about cricket. He had never asked me a single question on cricket in those seven years. Can you imagine?”

Gambhir highlighted the trust and freedom Shah Rukh provides, allowing him to lead the team without interference. “Since I have come back, 20 days we haven’t spoken about cricket. We don’t talk about cricket. The first thing he told me in 2011 when I met him for the first time, he said, ‘I don’t like anybody telling me how acting needs to be done. I am sure you will not like someone telling you how cricket needs to be played.’ I said absolutely, and that was the only conversation I had with him.”

Gambhir noted that this hands-off approach fosters accountability and honesty. “He has never asked me a single question on cricket. That’s the trust. It comes with honesty, with accountability because he knows if something goes wrong, I will be the first person in the room to put my hand up and say yes, we messed it up, and I am accountable for it,” he added.

KKR struggled last season, finishing in seventh place with 12 points. However, since Gambhir’s return, the team has shown a remarkable turnaround, finishing at the top of the table for the first time in their history. As IPL enters its final week, Gambhir mentioned he still hasn’t discussed cricket strategy with Shah Rukh.

The Riders are set to face second-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ahmedabad in the Qualifier 1 match on Tuesday.