Sharukh Khan tired of his new toy?

We all have been seeing statements of the Kolkata Knight Rider owner Mr. Shahrukh Khan all over the place, stating that he will not return to South Africa. He has stated that he is so upset that he doesn't think it necessary to be with his team and will only be returning to South Africa once his team starts winning. And it seems that his team is determined to save their owner the trouble of making the long and tiresome journey. We are also reading that Shahrukh wants to sell off is team and is holding talks with some Industrialists to see if he can offload his burden.

With all this news floating around, it makes me and everyone wonder what was the motive of Shahrukh Khan to initially jump into this IPL Bandwagon? Is it really because of his love for sport? Is it because he was close to the BCCI power center and couldn’t refuse their request, as his name definitely meant lot of publicity for the newly conceptualized tournament? Is it because he wanted IPL to be the vehicle to increase his political clout? Is it because he wanted to be one up against his Bollywood competitors? Or, is it because he wanted to promote the brand SHAHRUKH KHAN?

He has given thousands of bytes in front of the Camera emphasizing how much he loves sport, how it was not about making money, how he plans to gradually invest for the promotion of some other sport in the future. Listening him rant and rave about his noble thoughts and motives, we actually started believing him; He was enthusiastic about his new plaything and we read about the numerous sleepless nights he spent trying to perfect every aspect of his team. His team didn’t really kick up the storm on the cricket grounds (apart from the 1st match against Bangalore), but the passion was there and the fans were behind the team. So we thought Shahrukh was happy.

But this year everything has turned horribly wrong. His move to give John Buchanan the free reign about the cricketing matters has spelled disaster. Their move to remove Saurav Ganguly from the captaincy at the 11th hour destroyed the team spirit. I blame Shahrukh more for it. He was unable to gauge the tremendous ill-will this move will generate. Suddenly he alienated himself from the millions of his fans and followers of the team. You cannot buy a Kolkata team and insult Kolkata's favorite son. The tournament won’t be played in South Africa every year, next year you have to come to Kolkata again and have to request these fans to support you.

But this year’s disastrous campaign cannot be the only reason for him to suddenly losing all his interest? How can you possibly desert your own ship and hide in the comforts of your home and that too after making such lofty statements. You mentioned in your blog that you love your players like your son. So would you desert your son, if God forbid, he fails in something he does? He himself wrote to his team in his blog that ‘It is not about how hard you hit, how well you can take a hit’. He himself preached his team that ‘you can loose a game but don’t be a loser’. Shahrukh it seems you don’t preach what you follow, and since you couldn’t take the hit well, can we call you a ‘LOOSER’?

The problem is Shahrukh was habituated being called the King of Bollywood by the press. He is used to all the adulations and hysteria he creates wherever he goes and whatever he does. He played larger than life characters in his movies over and over again. He probably started believing he can win everything and everybody with his charm. But this is sport, and if you are not sincere you will not win in sport. Shahrukh by flying back home in the middle of the tournament, talking about selling the team, has proved that he was not sincere. I am sure millions of his erstwhile fans will not forgive him for making them believe otherwise.