Kochiites faced a strange dilemma at the starry clash between Kochi Tuskers (KTK) and Kolkata Knightriders (KKR). The Badshah of Bollywood , the owner of KKR was here and has a huge fan base. His team was off against our home team. Whom to support? SRK's KKR or our KTK? But the ups and downs of “what a match!” as the display board said gave the crowd more than they had asked for: SRK in a cameo role and a real cracker of a match.
Everyone went back home happy presumably except our esteemed guest King Khan, whose team lost, but who has promised to return.
Hot and muggy, noisy, crowded and as overheard, “more than 30,000 strong crowd,” were all waiting for the match to unfold. Expectancy was high, higher than the six hit by Hodge. If the Tuskers won (which they did) it would be great but if not we had had our date with SRK.
But did King Khan disappoint or did he steal our hearts away?
“I would say, he came, he saw but he did not conquer…. You know why? Shahrukh chettan looked distant and was minding his p's and q's too much. On screen he seems such a fun guy. I felt he was ‘mood spoilt' here, for some reason,” reasoned a dismayed fan.
“He was quite itchy,” said one from the crowd who managed to take three shots of the star, scratching his neck and one almost tearing his hair.
Charming
But then there were many in the excited crowd who had their fill by ‘simbly' looking at him…. “He is so charming and so well maintained,” gushed a young lady. And from time to time, when the air ranted with ‘Sharukh' slogans, he would wave and blow kisses, much to everyone's delight.
But for die-hard admirers looking for a glance, an acknowledgment and just a few words, nothing was there.
At the hotel too, as an insider said, he had so many fans waiting to catch a glimpse that he had to be whisked away from the rear. He was constantly being cheered on but he looked a bit restrained. He seemed uncomfortable. But in public he was perfect, clapping on a good shot, at good fielding and bowling.
And then the game began. Tuskers trudged slowly, till Hodge changed the match with a great finale knock. SRK clapped sportingly.
When KTK owners greeted him, he was the perfect gentleman and, from afar, he seemed to make the right noises.
Even to the KCA officials, it is learnt, he was full of praises on the standard of the stadium, and it is believed that he said he would be back here in the future. During intermission, he slipped away to a personal enclosure and the news came that he was on the phone. So we waited outside for a byte and a smile but none came.
And the match began again, at that juncture looking good for Kolkata. But somewhere KKR seemed to lose the plot and were wavering but before long we knew there were 31 runs to be scored and 12 balls to go.
The match could go any which way. But then our own Sree gave away so many runs till we had to scream out ‘nammude maanam kakkanam' (keep our respect).
It was as if Raiphi heard and struck twice, in a maiden over, and by Jove, where were we!? So close to victory. “Poor thing he's our guest…imagine his team losing,” said one thoughtful soul in the crowd.
But KKR lost and KTK won. And SRK? “O, did you see him go up to Prashanth Parameshwaran, and offer him encouragement and pat him on the back?
O! what a good gesture. Did you see him congratulate our team? That's the spirit. He is a winner,” agreed the crowd in chorus.
But the best quip heard from a die-hard, sour grapes fan was, “SRK is not as important as endosulfan.” Well true, true but SRK was impeccable and nearly did win our hearts.
Next time in Kochi, as he has promised to return, we wish him a better game and hope he spends some time with his fan club in waiting.
