Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara shared a memorable story about meeting Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan during his time with the team. He described it as a “fanboy moment” while speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Cheeky Singles’.
Pujara played for KKR in the 2009/10 IPL season, scoring 122 runs in six innings with an average of 30.50 and a strike rate of 106.08. He reflected on how focusing on the team environment and learning from experienced players helped him improve his game during his brief IPL stint.
While meeting SRK was exciting, Pujara emphasized that his main goal was to make the most of the opportunities provided by KKR. Over the years, he played for several IPL teams, including Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings, and later became part of the 2021 IPL-winning Chennai Super Kings squad, though he didn’t play any matches during that season.
Pujara also shared a funny incident involving Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood. After facing him extensively during India’s successful series against Australia in 2018 and 2021, Hazlewood jokingly refused to bowl to Pujara in the nets ahead of the IPL.
A Test cricket specialist, Pujara retired from international duty last year with impressive stats: 7,195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He also played five ODIs for India.
Pujara’s journey highlights his dedication to improving as a player and the impact of playing alongside legends like Shah Rukh Khan and Josh Hazlewood.