Too early to snub Buchanan theory: SRK

Mumbai: Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday told CNN-IBN that the captaincy issue will only be settled on April 16, two days before the commencement of the IPL. Earlier, when head coach John Buchanan suggested his much talked about multi-captain theory, he diffused the rising criticism by saying Sourav Ganguly would remain the captain.


Shah Rukh Khan: There are two aspects. One, that everybody has a right and their own point of view. This is cricket. Here, cricketing greats are speaking. With full respect to Mr Sunil Gavaskar who won't find a bigger fan than me, and I'm still his fan and always will be, I take what he said very seriously and pay heed to it.


Twenty20 is a new format. I think it should be given breathing space to have new trials out. If they work out, good. If they don't, we'll reject it ourselves. We're also not stupid. John (Buchanan) is a very smart man. He is a very intelligent man and dedicated to the cause of Kolkata Knight Riders.


At the end of it all, till it is done, unless it's on the ground, making any comment about this too early. So let's see. Maybe Mr Gavaskar is right. Maybe John is right.


CNN-IBN: There was a common press statement that was issued by the Knight Riders management, saying that the captain will be decided in South Africa. Is Sourav Ganguly still the captain, or you would be looking to someone else?




Shah Rukh Khan: But didn't the press release say we will decide on the April 16? So we will decide on the 16th. The cricketing department heads that decision. They will decide on the 16th. Who the captain is, who is the opening batsman, who is the bowler, who's being retained, who's not coming in, who's going to spin the ball, who is going to bring in the water - that is decided. I will bring in the water. I'm the 12th man.


But apart from that, at this point of time, we have taken 24-25 players. The final cut also has to be made and other players sent back. So we haven't even reached that stage yet. So by 16th hopefully most of the things will be clear.


CNN-IBN: Last week you had a series of meetings with John Buchanan and Sourav Ganguly together. You were very disappointed with the way the team performed last year. What are you expecting from this core group who you have given the responsibility, headed by Buchanan?


Shah Rukh Khan: I'm not disappointed ever. I know how to lose and not be a loser. I've faced failure, and I know how to turn failure into success. That's what I stand for, that's what I believe in.


I wake up every morning believing that whatever I'm doing is the best, not compared to anyone else, but to myself. I live like that. A few setbacks don't put me off. And disappointment is a very, very strong word. I'm never disappointed. Yes, I feel sad sometimes, I'll feel a little down sometimes, I'll feel a little up sometimes. But disappointed, no.