The Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premiere League will soon have a new jersey. Actor Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of the team, decided this ever since he figured out another cause of his team’s deteriorating performance on the pitch — the colour of its jersey.
Though the star does not disclose what the new combination will be, he does say that the old colour scheme was believed to be one of the unlucky charms for the team. “Yes, there is a new jersey this season. There are a lot of beliefs why the team did not do well, starting from the coaching staff, the kind of set up, and training methods among others,” says Khan.
The new jersey, which may or may not have the black and gold colour combination, will be designed by Manish Malhotra, and will be one of the new additions to the team, apart from training methods, the coaching staff and a new administrational structure. “This is the year I will be hands-off with the team. The mistake I made was that I felt if I spoke to the team, Chak De would happen,” says Khan. “But what I did not realise is that the kids who I was talking to were 12-year-olds when they watched Dilwale Dulhaniya… so they were always overawed by me.”
Ask him if he too believes that the jersey brought about the KKR downfall in the IPL last season, and Khan says, “I’m not superstitious. I thought the black and gold was the only thing working for us, but since everyone agreed on change, we went ahead with it. If this new colour works for the team, all my films will also be of that colour,” says Khan laughing.
{{/usCountry}}Ask him if he too believes that the jersey brought about the KKR downfall in the IPL last season, and Khan says, “I’m not superstitious. I thought the black and gold was the only thing working for us, but since everyone agreed on change, we went ahead with it. If this new colour works for the team, all my films will also be of that colour,” says Khan laughing.
{{/usCountry}}Cricket apart, the Chak De star is also pledging support to India hockey. A day after the Indian hockey team went on a strike boycotting the ongoing World Cup preparatory camp in Pune in protest against non-payment of their dues, Khan tweeted on his Twitter page, "(I) feel awful for the Indian hockey team. To play for the country...national sport and have to ask for salary and we complain we don't win gold (medals)."