Gautam Gambhir at AMRI Women and Children’s Hospital. (Pradip Sanyal)

Did you expect KKR to do so well before the tournament started?

When you enter a tournament you expect success. You don’t think whatever has happened in the past would go on happening in the future. It hasn’t come as a surprise to me that the KKR team is doing well this time. We’ve just tried to play good cricket and we are doing that.

How important is a KKR win to Shah Rukh Khan?

More than him, a win is important to the players who are actually on the cricket field. And he has been tremendous. He is someone who does not interfere too much in cricketing matters and that is something you want from your owners. He is as passionate as we guys are. The amount of passion he has, if he sees the same passion on the field in the players, he is happy. A win is equally important to him and the entire team. Winning is something special to any cricketer.

How do you like Calcutta as a city?

I love the hospitality. I love the kind of craze the people have for sports in the city. And the kind of support I have got from every person in Calcutta has been tremendous. Just after the World Cup, I kept hearing that the people will not support KKR for... for whatever reasons. But the kind of support I have got, the kind of messages, the kind of love they have given me... is just tremendous. I consider myself lucky playing for KKR and as I have said before, I am now a Calcutta boy! My heart and soul is with Calcutta. I was a Delhi boy but not any more. I just want to give a lot of joy to everyone in Calcutta.

What about playing your home matches at Eden Gardens?

There is so much tradition involved in the Eden Gardens. Especially, earlier, (when) there were a hundred thousand supporting the whole team, it was tremendous! The kind of history it has always makes it a special venue. That’s why whoever comes to India wants to play at the Eden Gardens. Playing here has always been very special for me. The crowd cheering for the home team does make it difficult for the opposition as well and that is the home advantage we have been enjoying. For the players, the experience makes you feel very special and eggs you on to do something to make the crowd happy. They are also a very loyal crowd, which is great for any team and any franchise, and hopefully we can bring them lots of happiness this time.

Did you watch Sourav Ganguly’s comeback innings on Tuesday?

No.

Have you interacted with him recently?

No... hardly got the time. Things moved very fast after the World Cup and we got into the IPL. So, didn’t get time.

When you were starting out as an international player, you had said in an interview that you were a fan of Sourav Ganguly’s game. What was it like playing with him for India later?

Sourav was the left-hander in the Indian team… he was the player I loved to watch. But I never had any idols in cricket. The only person I admire is Bhagat Singh.

Some people are pitting you against Sourav because you’ve succeeded him to the KKR captaincy…

We don’t take the cricket field to succeed each other. Neither have I ever thought of this as succeeding Sourav. He is a legend in his own way. And it’s just life… there are times when things move on. People move on. It’s just that I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been given the role of captaining KKR this time and I will try and do it to the best of my ability. For me, I go out to represent KKR with the same passion as I take the field to represent my country. So for me, the passion remains the same.

Favourite cricket ground: Mohali

Favourite shot: Cover drive

Best fast bowler faced: Zaheer Khan. Lucky to be in the same team!

Best spinner faced: Muttiah Muralitharan

Favourite city: Calcutta

Favourite author: No one. I am not much of a reader

Favourite actor: Shah Rukh Khan.

Favourite actress: Rani Mukerji

Favourite cricketer: No one!

Rith Basu

Who is the better KKR captain — Ganguly or Gambhir? Tell t2@abp.in