Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan shares his fond moments when India brought home the World Cup last year on this day.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan today said the Indian cricket team's World Cup triumph last year was among the most cherished moments of his life in the last quarter of a century.
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"In 1983 (when India won the event previously with Kapil Dev as captain) we were much younger, but we realised (then) the importance of a win. The last (2011) World Cup win was one of the most euphoric moments I have lived in the last 20-25 years," said the Bollywood star at a brand association event here.
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Dhoni's men defeated Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium here to clinch cricket's show-piece event and set off wild celebrations across the country. Shahrukh, who holds a big stake in the IPL franchise outfit through his Red Chillies Entertainment along with another actor Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, saw a parallel between the cash-rich T20 event and the highly popular English Premier League (EPL) football tournament.
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"IPL is about four or five favourite teams that you have every year. People would look forward to those teams that perform better and that happens in EPL also," he said ahead of IPL V opener between holders Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on April 4.
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Shahrukh exuded confidence about his squad putting up a good show in the upcoming event and said he was pleased that the Kinght Riders have started playing as a unit over the last two seasons.
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"It feels good when the entire team plays well. Individually, our team looks good. Since the past two years, there is unison in the team. There is team spirit. Even in the previous seasons, we had a good team but we couldn't play together as a team," said the KKR co-owner.
"It is a good sign for us that the team has come together. I believe since last year, we have come together in a nice team structure," Khan said.
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"The young boys like Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Manvinder Bisla and Rajat Bhatia have matured as they have been exposed to bigger platform. We have exciting players. I will be happy if the team plays as one unit and takes it forward." KKR, who open their campaign in IPL-5 on April 5 against Delhi at home, had finished 6th, 8th and 6th in the first three seasons before breaking through the top-four last year and also qualifying for the Champions T20 League for the first time.
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Khan was not too concerned about the diminished TRP ratings for IPL in 2011 and saw a bright future for the League.
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"As far as ratings are concerned, they are always going to change. When IPL started, people said there is no space for domestic leagues but that was proved wrong. It is set in Indian psyche and also people abroad, and it will augur well as the years go by."