‘For him, win or defeat by no means mattered, he all the time instructed us to provide our greatest and by no means fear concerning the outcomes.’

IMAGE: Shah Rukh Khan celebrates with Gautam Gambhir after Kolkata Knight Riders received the IPL 2014 title. {Photograph}: BCCI

 

Shah Rukh Khan, the Badshah of Bollywood, celebrates a landmark sixtieth birthday on November 2, 2025.

Former India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan was considered one of Shah Rukh’s favorite gamers when he performed for the Kolkata Knight Riders for seven seasons in a row — from 2011 to 2017.

Impressed by Pathan’s swashbuckling batting performances for India and the Rajasthan Royals, Shah Rukh made positive KKR went all out for the big-hitting Baroda batter on the IPL 2011 public sale.

KKR paid a whopping $2.1 million to amass Pathan — the second costliest participant on the IPL 2011 public sale after Gautam Gambhir, who was additionally purchased by KKR for $2.4 million.

Pathan repaid SRK’s religion in full as he proved to be a vital participant for KKR and was integral of their two IPL title triumphs in 2012 and 2014.

For Pathan, assembly Shah Rukh Khan, interacting with him up shut and seeing his magnanimous persona off display was a memorable expertise.

“He would sit with the gamers after the match, spend time with them, make them really feel comfy,” Yusuf Pathan tells Rediff‘s Harish Kotian.

‘SRK by no means behaved like he was the proprietor’

IMAGE: Shah Rukh Khan with Yusuf Pathan. {Photograph}: Form courtesy Yusuf Pathan/Instagram

It was an excellent expertise taking part in for KKR, I loved lots, and achieved lots on the membership. I wish to specifically discuss concerning the fan following of KKR, it’s a dream come true for any participant to play in entrance of such passionate followers on the historic Eden Gardens. To get a lot love as a KKR participant was actually heartening. So there are some superb recollections.

And probably the most particular recollections are successful the 2 IPL titles within the seven years I performed there. So it was fairly particular taking part in for KKR.

Shah Rukh was just like the elder brother for us, he handled us like household at KKR. He by no means behaved like he was the proprietor. He’s an enormous persona, he has achieved a lot, he’s liked by everybody.

Each time he got here for the matches, he got here there like a workforce member, like a good friend. The best way he spoke it was very motivating.

Shah Rukh is somebody who has come up the onerous approach, he has seen numerous struggles in his early days. He used to speak about his journey generally.

For him, win or defeat by no means mattered, he all the time instructed us to provide our greatest and by no means fear concerning the outcomes. He wished us to entertain the followers.

Even after we misplaced a recreation, he would nonetheless come and see us, he would reward the gamers who carried out properly and tried to inspire the gamers who weren’t in a position to carry out properly.

He would sit with the gamers after the match, spend time with them, make them really feel comfy.

We felt he was the elder brother within the household, that’s how he handled us gamers.

He is stuffed with power. He can cheer up somebody rapidly and make them really feel optimistic. That’s the impact he had on everybody.

‘SRK made positive that KKR purchased me on the public sale’

IMAGE: Shah Rukh Khan teaches Virat Kohli some dance steps. {Photograph}: BCCI

I shared an excellent bonding with Shah Rukh. I met him for the primary time through the T20 World Cup in 2007 when he had come right down to South Africa to observe the matches. He appreciated my performances within the World Cup.

Then in 2011 he wished me to play for KKR which occurred after that in 2012 we received the primary IPL title.

It was a proud second for me that an excellent man like Shah Rukh personally wished me to play for his workforce and he made positive that KKR purchased me on the public sale.

These seven years have been memorable for me, he took nice care of me.

I performed for 3 franchises throughout my IPL profession, however the workforce which I most performed for was KKR, which exhibits how a lot I liked the franchise.

I hit my quickest fifty for KKR and my quickest century was for Rajasthan Royals, the place I performed the primary three seasons, there additionally I obtained numerous love, we received the primary season of IPL in 2008.

Shah Rukh was a unique type of a boss. A participant’s efficiency won’t ever be on the identical stage, generally they’ll carry out properly, generally they’ll wrestle.

However Shah Rukh by no means put undue strain, he all the time stored encouraging his gamers.

The most effective half was that he handled each participant equally at KKR, whether or not it was an enormous worldwide star or a home participant, for him each participant was the identical. That’s the reason KKR gamers liked him.

He has such a fan following in all places. When he got here for the matches at Eden Gardens, the followers used to find it irresistible. He had such an excellent join with the followers.

‘That is the period of Shah Rukh Khan’

IMAGE: Shah Rukh Khan with Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara. {Photograph}: BCCI

I bear in mind Shah Rukh organised such grand events whether or not it was at his residence in Mumbai or at any time when we have been travelling for the matches. Even once we misplaced matches, he handled us to fantastic events. He was a beautiful host.

I bear in mind at these events, he made everybody really feel at residence, he used to talk everybody and provides them a lot love.

Assembly Shah Rukh, speaking to him, attending to know him so carefully will all the time be memorable.

He’s so humble, so right down to earth, such a beautiful human being. He is aware of how you can make buddies and deal with folks properly.

The individuals who work for him, for his firm, he’s very pleasant and cordial with them. He treats them with a lot respect. That’s the reason he’s liked by everybody.

I really like all Shah Rukh films. I can watch all his films repeatedly. I can not decide one as a result of I get pleasure from all his films.

On his sixtieth birthday, I pray for his happiness, well being and properly being. Even as we speak you may see him working onerous, making fantastic films to entertain his followers.

When my father was younger, you had the legendary Dilip Kumar’s period, folks have been loopy for him, my father was additionally an enormous fan of his.

Equally, I really feel as we speak’s instances belongs to Shah Rukh. That is the period of Shah Rukh Khan and I want it continues for a very long time.