Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan sent a long SMS to his team asking them to give their best in the remaining two IPL matches despite having virtually no chance of making it to the semi-finals.
The SMS, which was carried on the NDTV website, reads: "Story time boys... I told you if you keep losing you have to bear with my long, boring msgs.... This is your punishment.... Many times I have made movies which don't do well.... When I'm doing them, of course, I don't know they won't do well.... The story is written by somebody else and I just do my bit as an actor. But I have a way of dealing with flop stories, I try my best to keep my character in the film at a level that it makes a failed story also special for me...."
"I enjoy the work.... I make jokes about the failure.... And, of course, feel awful about it too.... So, right now, all of us have become part of a failed script... A bad IPL script.... Let's try and keep our characters worthy of still looking back at this story and remembering it as a special story becos we all worked very hard at this....
So, chin up and don't spoil yr character in the next two games.... Let's go out with a bang and not a whimper.... In films, we say u r only as good as yr last film.... So let's make the whole world know how good we r in the last (maybe not) two games..."
The actor also made it clear that there is no rift between him and captain Sourav Ganguly. According to some reports, both Shah Rukh and Ganguly fallen apart on several issues including team selection and also on coach John Buchanan being given more power by the owner in running the team.
"Also, do ignore all this bit about Dada, me and John having issues.... It's a normal thing in the world.... People like to hit you when u r down.... So, we will be hit.... No stress.... It will make us stronger.... The only way to avoid this is to win.... That's one of the reasons why everybody likes to be a winner...."
He also gave reasons for his absence from the stadium in the team's last match and added that till the rules are clear to him, he will not come to the stadiums to cheer the Knight Riders.
"I am still trying to understand the code of conduct expected of me at the matches of the IPL.... ICC... etc.... After I understand it, I will decide whether to accept it or not.... Till such time, I will be with you guys at the hotel... in the meetings etc., but won't come for the matches.... So, please don't ever feel it is anything to do with us as a team...."
"I am as dedicated to my Knights as I am to my kids.... Only, I won't be coming to the class room till the headmaster's rules are understood by me.... I am a bit anti-establishment kind of a guy, so I apologise for this quirk to u all.... So, head's up.... Have a good match and let's make 200 runs tomorrow.... This 150 seems to not work any more."
