If you’re a fan of actor Shah Rukh Khan and watch his movies, you’re more than likely to remember the now iconic ‘Sattar Minute’ scene from Chak De India, the movie where he plays the head coach of Indian Women’s Hockey team. Khan, the owner of Indian Premier League-based team Kolkata Knight Riders, pulled a similar stunt after his team’s devastating loss at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday night.
After scoring 223 runs in their stipulated 20 overs, the home team lost to Rajasthan Royals, who managed to secure the win, and maintain their top berth, in a last ball finish.
Following the loss, SRK paid a visit to the team’s dressing room and gave an inspiring speech, where he admitted that KKR didn’t deserve to lose but was optimistic about the team bouncing back.
“There are days in our lives, in sports, especially when we don’t deserve to lose. And there are also days when we don’t deserve to win. But there are days like that when things turn around. Today, we didn’t deserve to lose. All of us played extremely well,” he said.
“We have to be very very proud of ourselves. Please don’t feel sad or down. We feel happy as well when we come into the changing room, and we are on a high. So, maintain the high,” Khan added.
The video was uploaded on social media and has since gone viral.
Shah Rukh Khan hails team’s energy
SRK went on to hail the energy the players have displayed on the field and the unity in the dressing room, urging them to keep it going moving forward.
“The main thing is the energy in all of us. And I think we have great energy on the field. We have lovely energy here. Personally also, everybody is bonding together. So, please continue to. All the very best. Honestly, it’s a proud day, the way we played. I think all of us, I won’t take individual names, that’s been taken. GG, you don’t feel down. We would all be bouncing back. It is God’s plan for today.”
What happened in the match?
Asked to bat first, KKR scored 223 runs for the loss of six wickets, riding on the back of a superlative hundred by opener Sunil Narine. The West Indian allrounder scored 109 runs off 56 balls.
In reply, the Royals looked down and out, reeling at 186 runs for the loss of eight wickets, and needing another 38 runs in 15 deliveries. Braving a cramp, Rajasthan Royals’ opener Jos Butler steered the boat to safety with a masterful century. Buttler, who hit the winning runs, remained unbeaten on 107 runs off 60 balls.
The loss to the Royals was KKR’s 2nd of the season, having lost previously to the Chennai Super Kings. The Kolkata-based team is still placed second on the table, followed by Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, all three on eight points, but separated due to their net run rate.
(The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Free Press Journal and Connected to India)