Players, coach and physio make a team of 25. A team of Seasoned stars and budding talent. a team fighting for supremacy in the indian premier league. Meet our boys — the Kolkata Knight Riders

 

GANG-U-LEAD

Sourav Ganguly
Captain

Nicknames: Maharaj, Prince of Kolkata, Dadi (to his Bengal team-mates), Dada (to the Boys in Blue).

Date of birth: 8.07.72.

Family: His wife Dona, six-year-old daughter Sana.

Bio: Arguably the most successful captain Indian cricket has seen, Sourav has been responsible for a number of finds — Mahi, Yuvi, Bhajji, Viru — who are now the spearheads of Team India. From the day he scored a ton at Lords in his debut Test, he has always sought to prove a point.

One of the most controversial characters of international cricket, the Behala boy who can also bend it — maybe not like Beckham — has also been one of the greatest ODI players, piling on more than 11,000 runs.

“Tough, tough, tough” is what his new Kolkata Knight Riders team-mate Brendon McCullum has to say of him. We hope he can do for the KKR what he has done for India, over and over again.

Hottest score: 183 scored off 158 balls versus Sri Lanka.

Strength: A superb stroke-player blessed with the uncanny ability to find the gap and hit huge sixes. If need be, he can also bowl a few tight overs.

Weakness: Running between the wickets. Not the quickest on the field.

Why Twenty20: He hasn’t played much Twenty20, having had to back out when the other two members of the Big Three, Sachin and Rahul, pulled out of the World Cup. But whatever be the form of the game, there’s no denying Dada’s great leadership skills and all-round abilities.

SRK on Sourav:

“Great determination. I personally feel he will be the best player of this tournament. I like his grit. I think he is really a solid mind player.”

 

 

Ajit Agarkar
Bowler 

Nickname: Bombay Duck.

Date of birth: 4.12.77.

Family: Wife Fatima Ghadially, has a son named Raj.

Bio: The lanky medium-pacer from Mumbai burst onto Indian cricket in 1998. He played his first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare. He got picked for the ODI squad in 1998 for an Australia-India encounter at Kochi. His T20 debut was two years ago in Johannesburg against South Africa. Besides Mumbai and the national squad, Agarkar has also played for Middlesex.

In over a decade, he has collected 58 wickets, averaging 47.32 with an economy rate of 3.39. His wicket count in ODIs is 288, at an average of 27.85. Agarkar had raced to the 50-wicket mark in ODI matches before you could say Ajit. He has also posted a century at Lord’s.

Hottest spell: He is at his best against Australia. He has 30 wickets in his kitty from his encounters with the Baggy Greens.

Strength: The potential to bowl with fire and hit match-winning knocks.

Weakness: Inconsistency.

Why he was chosen for IPL: He might prove to be an effective all-rounder.

SRK on Agarkar:

“He is one of my choices. I personally like him very much. He is a decent guy and physically very fit, very tight. If he wakes up on the right side of the bed, he can destroy any attack.”

Mohammad Hafeez
All-rounder

Date of birth: 17.10.80.

Bio: Hafeez was another one to make it to the Pakistani team after the country’s washout at the 2003 World Cup. An opening batsman and offspin bowler, his debut was in a three-Test series against Bangladesh. He scored a half-century in the first Test and his first 100 in the second. Subsequent lack of form saw him dropped, but he was back in the ODI team by 2005. He scored a 95 in the Oval Test in 2006.

Hottest score: In Tests, 104 against West Indies in 2006. In ODIs, 92 against West Indies the same year.

Strength: He showed good technique and temperament at the top of the order and did a neat job with his offspin. But his strongest point is fielding.

Weakness: Inconsistent form.

Why he was chosen for IPL: His vigilant fielding has saved many runs.

Ishant Sharma
Bowler

Date of birth: 2.09.88

Bio: Munaf Patel’s injury gave him a foothold in the team and now, he’s a star. Ishant’s has been a meteoric rise. This is what English commentator Mark Nicholas had to say about the 6’4” Delhi teen after his impressive performance Down Under: “Has the spell been broken? Did a 19-year-old from Delhi, slim as a girl and strong as a boy, end an era? This was Ponting as not seen before, a Ponting without reply. For more than an hour Sharma picked him apartuntil he cut him open…. The man is a born assassin.”

He made his Test debut in Bangladesh in 2007 and followed it up with an ODI debut the same year versus South Africa.

Hottest spell: A five-wicket haul against Pakistan in 2007.

Strength: He has speed, he has bounce, he has guile. Deceptive with his in-cutters and reverse swing, the lanky pacer will make survival tough on the 22 yards.

Weakness: His inability to wield the willow.

Why he was chosen for IPL: The brightest star on the Indian cricketing horizon. Period.

SRK on ishant:

“He is what young people should be like. He is thin, wiry… And he bowls his heart out. I hope physically he can maintain himself. He is very simple… I really like him.”

Ricky Ponting
Batsman

Nicknames: Punter, Chinaman.

Date of birth: 19.12.74.

Family: He’s been married for six years to Rianna.

Bio: Punter Ponting debuted in 1995 with a 96 against Sri Lanka at Perth. Over the years, he has played over 100 Tests, hit 34 hundreds and maintained an astonishing average of 58.53. In ODIs, he has over 11,000 runs under his belt and a strike rate of 80.50. A terrific fielder, he has 133 catches in Test cricket and 134 in ODIs. He has proved himself an able successor to Steve Waugh, leading Australia to successive World Cup triumphs.

But Ponting has his detractors — he’s been hauled up for sledging and drink and disorderly behaviour.

Hottest score: His debut 96.

Strength: A sharp cricketing mind and leopard-like moves on the field make him a deadly competitor.

Weakness: He, like Shoaib Akhtar, is a wild child. But he’s grown up while Shoaib has not. His poison tongue might not have been welcome in Sydney, but we may not mind it at the Eden, for the KKR.

Why he was chosen for IPL: A world-class player, he is an asset in any version of the game.

SRK on Ponting:

“I think he is the shrewdest fighter of the game in the world. He is physically very fit at whatever age he is. He is intelligent, smart… the smartest cricketer in the world.”

SHOW-AB OR
NO SHOW-AB?

Shoaib Akhtar
BOWLER

Will he play? Not in the first couple of matches at least. The Rawalpindi Express has steamed straight ahead into a murky mess. The 33-year-old hothead has for years let inconsistency, injury, strained relations with captain and coach overshadow his sporadic brilliance on field. Among other things, Shoaib’s now facing a five-year ban for disciplinary violations following a quarrel with team-mate Mohammad Asif. That may mean no Knight Riders. We’ll have to wait and see.

SRK on Shoaib:

“He is the most aggressive and scary player on the planet. He is the kind of guy… you don’t know whether he will take your wicket or your head off. I like that about him. He will never hurt anyone but he will give you that impression. He asked me one day to face him with a rubber ball. I said, never, not even with a table tennis ball.”

Murali Kartik
Bowler

Date of birth: 11.09.76.

Family: He’s married.

Bio: Kartik first made it to the Indian team in 2000. He proved himself as a One-Day bowler against West Indies in 2002-2003. In 2004-2005, in a match against Australia at Mumbai, he took seven wickets, thus spearheading India’s victory.

Hottest spell: 4 for 44 in a Test innings and 6 for 27 in an ODI.

Strength: He is a decent left-arm spinner.

Weakness: Sloppy on the field.

Why he was chosen for IPL:To ensure the team has variety in its bowling attack.

SRK on Kartik:

“He’s a personality. Spinners should have a strange personality. I think he will be a very important element of the Knight Riders team.”

Aakash Chopra
Batsman

Date of birth: 19.09.77.

Bio: The Agra-born Delhi opener made his Test debut against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in 2003. His career, however, has failed to take off. His Test outings stand at 10 with a tally of 437 runs to his credit. The average is an unimpressive 23. And, he hasn’t played even a single ODI. The Indian Premier League will be his first brush with any form of limited-overs cricket.

Hottest score: His 60 against New Zealand in his debut series in 2003.

Strength: He is known for his ability to stay put in the middle for long hours.

Weakness: Not really a free or fiery hitter of the ball.

Why he was chosen for IPL:He might be the anchor as Chris Gayle blazes at the other end.

Chris Gayle
Batsman

Nicknames: Cramps, Crampy.

Date of birth: 21.09.79.

Bio: The gutsy king of Kingston made it to the West Indies national Test side in 2000 when he was all of 21, against Zimbabwe at Port of Spain in 2000. By then he had already made his place in the One-Day international line-up.

The flamboyant left-hander has a triple ton in Tests to his credit. A hard hitter of the ball, his ODI strike rate is a mammoth 80.03.

Hottest score: 317 against South Africa at St John’s. The innings, with 37 fours, was scored in 483 balls.

Strength: Big shots, huge sixes.

Weakness: Shot selection.

Why he was chosen for IPL: He has all the ingredients to make him a cool customer in the slam-bang game. He is fast and furious and looks to score off every ball. In T20, his average is 164.95.

SRK on Gayle:

“One of the hardest hitters of the ball and that too with grace and ease. He is also a very awkward bowler to face. He bowls very strangely. The height… the broken action. I really enjoyed watching him score that only T20 century.”

Salman Butt
Batsman

Date of birth: 7.10.84.

Family: Mother, wife and two sisters.

Bio: Often compared to Saeed Anwar, Salman Butt is known for his delicate wristwork. In 2004, Butt scored his first ODI century at Eden Gardens against India and scored 50 and a maiden Test century in Sydney later that year. He failed to live up to it in the following year and was not part of the Pakistani team for World Cup 2007. On his return in June 2007, he was named vice-captain.

Hottest score: 122 runs in a Test innings against England in 2005. 132 runs against Bangladesh in an ODI this year.

Strength: An established opener and an impressive stroke-player, Butt is a good bat to bank on.

Weakness: Limited experience.

Why he was chosen for IPL: He can score fast.

SRK on Salman:

“He is a very tough customer, a tough nut to crack. He has got an amazing presence on the field.”

Tatenda Taibu
Wicketkeeper, Batsman

Nickname: Tibbly.

Date of birth: 14.05.83.

Family: Has a brother called K.J. Taibu.

Bio: He’s had an eventful journey so far. The 25-year-old from Harare made his international debut even before he could gain domestic experience. He was picked for Zimbabwe’s Test squad in 2001 and made his One-Day debut the same year. At 19 he was given the cap of vice-captain and in 2004, he was named captain. Not only was Taibu the country’s “first black captain”, he was also the youngest Test cricket had ever seen. But dogged by controversy, Taibu resigned in 2005 and bid adieu to cricket, only to return in 2007.

Hottest score: His highest in Test cricket is 153 against Bangladesh with 48 caught behinds.

Strength: Energetic and nimble behind the wickets.

Weakness: His lack of exposure.

Why he was chosen for IPL: Besides being a good keeper, he is a good bat and can bowl a bit, too. He can be good foil for Brendon McCullum.

SRK on Taibu:

“My son’s favourite player. Before going for the auction, he told me you have to take Tatenda Taibu. I think that’s because he is the only guy who is as tall as my son. He is an opener,a wicketkeeper. Should come in very handy.”

Umar Gul
BOWLER

Date of birth: 14.04.84.

Bio: Gul was selected for the Pakistani team in the wake of the country’s poor performance in the 2003 World Cup. In 2004, he helped Pakistan win the Test series against India. But he came down with injuries immediately afterwards. He returned to the team in 2006 and in 2007 he signed a one-year contract with Gloucestershire.

Hottest spell: Five wickets for 31 runs in an innings in a Test match vs India at Lahore in 2004. In ODIs, 5 wickets for 17 runs against Bangladesh at Lahore in 2003.

Strength: The deadly yorkers that befuddle batsmen.

Weakness: He is injury-prone and a weak link down the batting order.

Why he was chosen for IPL:For his unpredictable bowling that confuses the opponent.

SRK on Gul:

“Great bowler. Because of hisinjury he’s missed out onbecoming even bigger but let’s not forget he was the highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup. Even in the finals, he had India shaken up.”

David Hussey
BATSMAN

Nickname: Huss.

Date of birth: 15.07.77.

Family: His brother Michael Hussey has been picked for the Chennai Super Kings.

Bio: He hit 1,000 runs in his debut season for Nottinghamshire and followed it up with another 1,000 the next season.

Hottest score: His highest stands at 275 in First-Class matches.

Strength: Mr Little Cricket is an explosive lower-middle-order bat. Agile between the wickets with an array of shots in his weaponry, the younger of the two Aussie brothers should take the fight to the rival camp.

Weakness: Lack of international exposure.

Why he was chosen for IPL:He grabbed headlines for his county exploits back home and might be effective in the final overs of the game.

Ashok Dinda
BOWLER

Date of birth: 25.03.84.

Bio: Dinda made his First-Class debut playing for Bengal against Maharashtra in 2005. In 2006, the medium pacer took 5 for 57, helping Bengal to a 14-run win against Punjab at Mohali. His bowling has also put the East Zone in a commanding position more than once.

Hottest spell: 6 wickets for 52 runs.

Strength: His bowling.

Weakness: Lack of exposure.

Why he was chosen for IPL:Dependable wicket-taker. Coach John Buchanan reportedly said in an interview that he is good enough to prove his worth in this form of the game.

John Buchanan
Coach

Date of birth: 5.04.53.

Family: He has two sons.

Bio: Inspiring coaches need not have splendid stats of their own if the teams they work with shine. So it doesn’t matter that former Australia coach John Buchanan did not play
international cricket. It was he who coached Australia to a World Cup victory last year. Let’s see if he can work some of that same mastery into his latest assignment — coaching Kolkata Knight Riders.
The towering Queenslander is known for his methodical and, at times, unconventional approach to the game. At last week’s Eden Gardens practice sessions with KKR, it was business from the get go. Buchanan spent the first day taking notes and the second taking lessons, winning strategy being drawn out for all to see on a white board.

Claim to fame: His World Cup tryst as the coach of the Australian cricket team.

SRK on Buchanan:

“He is the Kabir Khan of the team. We are constantly on email and he is always so excited to know of the different kinds of plans we have for the team. He and Sourav are the brains behind Kolkata Knight Riders.”

Adrian Le Roux
Physical trainer

The South African fitness expert was a part of the golden quartet comprising Sourav Ganguly, coach John Wright and physio Andrew Leipus that gave India some of its most memorable wins. Though his stint was short (April 2002 to June 2003), his training techniques resulted in the team emerging as a much fitter unit. Former India coach John Wright has also claimed that “he used physio Andrew Leipus and trainer Adrian Le Roux to keep track of the ‘temperature and mood’ of the dressing room”.

No one is as excited about the indian premier league as the fresh faces who have not yet shown the world just what they are capable of. Here are the nine new stars of Kolkata knight riders. All the very best!

Laxmi ratan Shukla
Batsman

Nickname: Bittu.

Date of birth: 6.05.81.

Hometown: Howrah.

Family: Parents, brother, boudi and my niece.

Studied at: Umesh Chandra College. I studied commerce.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: I have always enjoyed playing the game and have been playing cricket since my schooldays.

How and where you started: I started at the Bally Cricket Clinic. Kalyan Ghosh was my coach.

Role models: Sourav Ganguly.

Your strength: I am a very hard hitter of the ball.

Your weakness: There are more of these! I am working hard to improve my hook shot.

Your best innings: I scored a match-winning 84 against Madhya Pradesh in a relegation final.

Has IPL changed your life: Not yet. I’ll only be able to answer this after April 18.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: It is good to be a part of such a team.

Is IPL a stepping stone to the Indian team: Maybe.

Who is your favourite cricketer and what do you hope to learn from him: It has to be Ricky Ponting. Despite being so famous, he is very down to earth. I would ask him how he manages to play so many shots.

How does it feel to be captained by Sourav: It has always been a great pleasure to play with him. He is a big motivating force on the field.

What will you tell Shah Rukh when you meet him: I’ll ask him how he is doing.

Are you a fan? What is your favourite Shah Rukh movie: I like Shah Rukh. I am not a fan though. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is my favourite Shah Rukh movie.

Favourite Bolly and Tolly heroines you would like to see on field: Madhuri Dixit. I like all the Tollywood heroines.

Your cricketing ambition:To play well for my team.

Saurasish Lahiri
Bowler

Nickname: Sun.

Date of birth: 9.09.81.

Hometown: Howrah.

Family: There’s just the three of us — my father, my mother and myself.

Studied at: I went to South City College and studied commerce.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: Though I wasn’t sure whether I would play the sport seriously, I have always loved playing it.

Role models: Sachin Tendulkar.

Your strength: I am consistent.

Your weakness: I wouldn’t like to reveal them!

Your best bowling spell: 7 for 91 against Maharashtra in Pune two years ago.

Has IPL changed your life: Nothing has changed.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: I was ecstatic. It took some time for the news to sink in.

Is IPL a stepping stone to the Indian team: Yes, it is.

Who is your favourite cricketer and what do you hope to learn from him: Ricky Ponting is my favourite cricketer. I would also take tips from Shoaib (Akhtar).

How does it feel to be captained by Sourav: Oh! Great. Dadi is the best captain India has ever produced. It’s great to follow his thinking process, the way he makes a comeback into a match.

What did you tell Shah Rukh when you met him: He gave me a big hug at the launch and said: “You are an important part of the team.”

Are you a fan? What is your favourite Shah Rukh movie: I am a big fan. I liked Baadshah.

Favourite Bolly and Tolly heroines you would like to see on field: Can’t really say about heroines, but definitely Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan.

Your cricketing ambition: I want to play for India. If I am given a chance today itself, I’ll go for it.

Debabrata Das
Batsman

Nickname: Raja.

Date of birth: 22.09.86.

Hometown: Siliguri.

Family: I stay with my parents.

Studied at: Adarsha Bidyapith till Class X. I could not write my Madhyamik examinations though.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: I inherit my interest in cricket from my father. He is a huge fan of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar and has always wanted me to be a cricketer.

How and where you started: I joined Siliguri Agragami when I was six.

Role models: Sachin Tendulkar.

Your strength: I am very hardworking.

Your weakness: I ponder a lot.

Your best innings: An unbeaten 55 against Mumbai in this year’s Ranji Trophy. It is one of my favourites because it came under tough conditions.

What do you think of IPL: It is a big platform for junior talent.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: I had an inkling that I might be selected because there were reports from various sources. I was very happy...

What will you say to Shah Rukh when you meet him: I’ll be speechless.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movie: Swades.

Kareena or Rani: Kareena.

Your cricketing ambition: I want to put in consistent performances.

Iqbal Abdullah
Spinner

Nickname: Iqqi.

Date of birth: 2.12.89.

Hometown: Azamgarh.

Family: Parents and four brothers and four sisters.

Studying: I’ll be writing my Class XII exams.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: Bachpan se cricket khel raha hoon. It was the 1999 World Cup, however, that inspired me to take up the sport seriously.

How and where you started: It started with gully cricket and I have played for Anujuman Islam School. I haven’t had any formal training though.

Role models: Sachin Tendulkar and Daniel Vettori.

Your strength: My belief in my self and my belief in God.

Your weakness: None.

Your best bowling spell: 10 wickets against Madhya Pradesh.

What do you think of IPL: It is a great concept. And I don’t think that Test cricket will lose any of its charm because of IPL.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: Felt great!

What will you say to Shah Rukh when you meet him: If he tells us “jeeta de” we will say inshallah, jeet jayenge.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movie: Devdas.

Kareena or Rani: Both (laughs).

Your cricketing ambition: Will try to perform to the best of my ability.

Yashpal Singh
All-rounder

Nickname: Yash.

Date of birth: 27.11.81.

Hometown: Delhi.

Family: I stay with my father and have been married for a year now.

Studied at: Hindu College for my bachelor’s degree.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: My father encouraged me to pursue cricket. He used to play cricket for Sonnet Cricket Club.

How and where you started: I started playing at the Sonnet Cricket Club as well. Players like Atul Wassan and Ashish Nehra used to play at our club. I have learnt a lot by observing them.

Role models: Steve Waugh. I have always wanted to play like him.

Your strength: I am a middle-order batsman who can play spin well.

Your weakness: None.

Your best innings: A double hundred against Punjab in the 2001-2002 Ranji Trophy match. There were big names playing that match and I did well.

What do you think of IPL: It’s a great venture.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: It is a great feeling. I have been to Calcutta before and I love the city. I even have a Man of the Match award at the Eden Gardens from a Duleep Trophy game. So, it is my lucky city.

What you will say to Shah Rukh when you meet him: I’ll tell him that I will give my 110 per cent.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movie: Baazigar.

Kareena or Rani: I would really like to concentrate on the game.

Your cricketing ambition: I would be very happy to play for India and am working hard for it.

Cheteswar Pujara
Batsman

Nickname: Chintu.

Date of birth: 25.01.88.

Hometown: Rajkot.

Family: My parents.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: I have been interested in cricket from a very young age. Initially, I used to play with a plastic ball and then graduated to a tennis ball. I started practising with a seasons ball when I was eight.

How and where you started: I started training at home under my father Arvind Pujara’s guidance. He is an ex-Saurashtra player.

Role models: My motivation to play cricket is my biggest inspiration. I learn something or the other from every player I meet.

Your strength: I am young and I think the Indian team needs youngsters. My love for the game is also one of my biggest strengths.

Your weakness: I think my coach will be able to provide a better assessment.

What do you think of IPL: It is a good opportunity for youngsters. We will get good guidance. It is also a form of cricket in which we will be able to enjoy ourselves.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: I wanted to be a part of IPL and was expecting a call. I was happy.

What did you tell Shah Rukh when you met him: We had a good laugh. We spoke about Knight Riders.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movie: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Kareena or Rani: Both (smiles). I would ask them about their hobbies and how they unwind.

Your cricketing ambition: I want to concentrate on the present. I am sure I’ll get to play for India someday.

Siddharth Kaul
Fast bowler

Nicknames: Sid, Kaul, Sidhu.

Date of birth: 19.05.90.

Hometown: Punjab.

Family: My parents, brother and my dog.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: Mine is a family of sport stars. My father was a Ranji Trophy player and my mother, Tej Kaur, is a Haryana gymnastics champion. My brother, Uday Kaul, has been selected for Kings XI Punjab. I have always wanted to play cricket.

How and where you started: I used to accompany my father to the SAI academy in Gwalior when I was very young. I remember having watched Mohammed Kaif train. I started playing when I was in the sixth standard.

Role models: Allan Donald and Sachin (Tendulkar) sir.

Your strength: I believe in myself.

Your weakness: Everyone has weaknesses. I also have some and I am working to improve upon them.

Your best innings/bowling spell: 11 wickets, 90 runs, in a U-17 match in 2007.

What do you think of IPL: It is a good experience, especially for the Indians. You learn how to keep your cool when you are hit for runs.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: I thought I’d get selected because we had won the U-19 World Cup and in the finals I had bowled the crucial last over. It is good to play for one of the bigger teams.

What will you say to Shah Rukh when you meet him: Haven’t thought about it.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movies: Chak De! India, Om Shanti Om.

Kareena or Rani: Both.

Your cricketing ambition: Whatever cricket is left in me, I’ll try to give it to Punjab and India.

Wriddhiman Saha
Wicketkeeper, batsman

Nickname: Pops (from Papali).

Date of birth: 24.10.84.

Hometown: Siliguri.

Family: My parents and my elder brother.

Studied at: Till Part I at the Siliguri College of Commerce.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: There isn’t one particular moment. I have always been cricket crazy and have been following the game from a very young age. Even though I didn’t have much understanding of the game at that age, I used to like watching the matches.

How and where you started: It all started for me in 1997 when I joined the Siliguri Cricket Centre. I train under Jayanta Bhowmick.

Role models: My coach and my father are my biggest inspirations. My role models are Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary among others.

Your strength: My never say die attitude.

Your weakness: None.

Your best prey behind the stumps: VVS Laxman’s catch in this year’s Ranji Trophy.

What do you think of IPL: It is a big opportunity. If we can perform here, we’ll be in the reckoning.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: It definitely felt nice!

What will you say to Shah Rukh when you meet him: I will decide when I meet him.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movie: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Kareena or Rani: Kareena for sure.

Your cricketing ambition: I want to better my performance and definitely play for India someday.

Rohan Banerjee
Batsman

Nickname: Babu.

Date of birth: 10.12.88.

Hometown: Durgapur.

Family: I stay with my parents and have two sisters, both of whom are married.

Studying: At South City College for BA.

That one moment when you decided to be a cricketer: It was 1998. Our Durgapur Cricket Club had won the Ambar Roy Trophy. The picture of the winning team with the trophy really inspired me to take up cricket. That was the moment I decided to be a cricketer.

How and where you started: I joined Durgapur Cricket Club in 1998. For the past two years, I have been with the Kalighat Club.

Role models: Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara.

Your strength: I think my biggest strength is my attitude. I always try to give my 100 per cent on the field.

Your weakness: Can’t think of any.

Your best innings: 185 against North Zone in last year’s Coochbehar Trophy.

What do you think of IPL: It is a great platform for juniors like us. It will also teach us to adapt.

Your first reaction when you heard you were part of Kolkata Knight Riders: I was in Calcutta when I came to know about my selection. The first thing I did was call up my father.

What will you say to Shah Rukh when you meet him: I don’t think that I will be able to utter even a word.

Your favourite Shah Rukh movie: Mohabbatein.

Kareena or Rani: Both.

Your cricketing ambition: I would like to play for India as soon as possible.