New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum has gone back in time and recalled what his first IPL skipper Sourav Ganguly told him after his majestic 158* off 73 balls in the tournament opener in 2008 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Speaking on KKR’s website, McCullum revealed that it took him years to understand the weight of Ganguly’s terms. “I was just a young kid back then, so I was in owe of Shah Rukh Khan who was such a megastar. I was so out of my depth even just around the superstars in my cricket team, the megastar who owned our cricket team! I don’t remember many reactions in detail, but what I do remember is what Sourav Ganguly said to me that night,” McCullum stated.
Enjoyed playing with @Bazmccullum and can't wait to hopefully get working with him and @KKRiders soon. #flashbackfriday pic.twitter.com/wsj67YhCxK
— David Hussey (@DavidHussey29) July 24, 2020
“Dada said ‘Your life is changed forever’, and I didn’t quite know what he meant at the time, but (in hindsight), I 100 per cent agree with him,” the former New Zealand skipper expressed. McCullum also stated what Shah Rukh told him and how that was a chance for him to permit back to the team that provided him such a huge platform.
“There were times when I was with KKR, and then I got released, but we always finished on really good terms. I was always very grateful, and thankful for the opportunity that the franchise had provided for me. So when an opportunity arose again (for the role of head coach), I thought, ‘Well, Shah Rukh did say to me ‘You’ll always be very involved with KKR’ and this, I guess, is another opportunity,” the cricketer-turned-commentator said.
“I find them (the entire KKR management) to be such great people, hopefully, we can have success for them on the field this year and the years to follow. We’re trying to play a style of cricket which is a great representation of the people of Bengal and also Shah Rukh, Jay (Mehta) and all those involved in the franchise. Hopefully, we will be able to be successful, because I think we’ve got the right team for it as well,” McCullum concluded.
KKR has won the IPL title twice in 2012 and 2014. The franchise is all set for IPL 2020 in the UAE from September 19. KKK will begin their 13th edition IPL opening game against Mumbai Indians on September 23 in Abu Dhabi.
