I knew Manish Pandey was going to win the final for us, says KKR owner Shahrukh Khan
Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, who had got the crowds at Eden Gardens on their feet with his somersaults and flying kisses when his team KKR made into the finals of the IPL-7 had also become the show stopper at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore when his men decimated the KXIP to win the title second time in three years. He danced with his players, shared congratulatory handshakes and hugs with every member in his team as they were all soaking in the celebrations under a confetti downpour.
When asked about the brilliant performance by Manish Pandey, who was the architect of the KKR’s win with 94 off 50 on his home ground, Khan said, “I told my whole family in the morning that Manish Pandey is going to win this match for me.This one tonight had to be won. I had my Quran in my pocket and we had to win it".
Pandey’s 94 was the second highest by a Kolkata batsman in an IPL, the highest being 158 not out by Brendon McCullum against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18, 2008. This was Pandey's 10th fifty in Twenty20 apart from a hundred. kolkata’s total (200/7) was the highest successful chase in an IPL final.
Shahrukh was all praise for his team and said the entire credit goes to the players. “I just give them my love before every match they play.I don't play the game and I know nothing about it; they all do the hard work. They are the caterpillars who do all the hard work and I am the butterfly who takes the publicity."
It will be an eye fest when the Bollywood Badshah will again be the man in focus on Tuesday when the Knight Riders celebrate their victory at Eden gardens along with the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.