Shah Rukh says he let Knight Riders down

Blaming himself for his team's failure in the previous two seasons, Kolkata Knight Riders prinicipal owner Shah Rukh Khan on Monday said his "lack of knowledge" had led to few wrong decisions as the side failed to perform as a unit in the IPL.

The superstar, who attended the team's preparatory camp for IPL-3 at CC&FC ground in Kolkata, however said everything is past and he would like to win the IPL this time to prove that he can deliver.

"We did not go about it the right way. I think I let down the side in the sense that I could not make it a cohesive team. I would like to take the responsibility.

"Somewhere down the line, I think a lot of decisions were taken by me or I was atleast part of some of it... maybe a lot of things with lack of knowledge about how things should be done in a new format like Twenty20," Shah Rukh told reporters.

"This season the attempt has been there. Let's forget everything. I want to win IPL to prove to myself that I can win. If I take on something, I will deliver," Shah Rukh asserted.

KKR was mired in controversy last season, especially after former coach John Buchanan floated a "multiple captaincy" theory that was never implemented but the side had decided to remove Sourav Ganguly from captaincy.

The side finished at the bottom of the standings after Australia's World Cup-winnning coach John Buchanan was sacked and replaced by Dav Whatmore, who was Sri Lanka's coach during their 1996 World Cup truimph.

Shah Rukh further said he was feeling bad to come to Kolkata as his side had finished second last and last in IPL's first and second editions respectively.

"I regret losing. With all honesty, I'm saying that I regret for having let down the people of Kolkata. I don't owe them anything and they don't expect anything from me. But for the love they have showered on us, we should have done better. We are a better team from the way we have done so far.

"Hope is always to make Kolkata proud. People here are very warm... I feel little bad as I have a team here; we all belong to the city and we have not been able to do well.

"I am genuinely a wrong person to talk about cricket. There are more experienced people around... Dada (Sourav Ganguly), Wasimbhai (Akram), Dav (Whatmore) they all are here and guiding the side.

"We are thinking positive. Hope this season the city feels very proud of Kolkata Knight Riders for the way we play here. This season we have been able to base most of our work here. We have time now," he said.

Asked whether they have decided to bid for any particular players in the IPL auction on January 19, Shah Rukh said he is not aware of it as yet.

"The decision will be taken by 17 or 18th (January). We want to wait till the last. We want to get a clearer picture of the availibility of international players. Of course, if Dada and Dav decide we'll go for that player."

The KKR has a new jersey and colour this time around and Shah Rukh said they have changed everything.

"Everything is fresh now. We have a new staff, starting with the coach. We have made few changes in the administration. We have a mix of old and new now. One of the things Dada suggested was let's even change the colour."

He jokingly added, "Let's not have anything left from the past side. I'm glad they have not changed me. They only retained me."