MYSTERY KNIGHT: Vivek Khushalani clings on to the IPL 5 Cup with Mamata Banerjee and Shah Rukh Khan by his side at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday. Picture by Bishwarup Dutta Khushalani hugs SRK after the winning hit in Chennai

A tall, silver-haired gentleman has been a steady fixture by Shah Rukh Khan’s side throughout every IPL tournament. At the Chepauk, just as Manoj Tiwary hit that now-historic boundary, Shah Rukh enveloped this man in a fierce bear hug. On Tuesday, this man was the Cup custodian at the Eden Gardens.

Who’s that man?

Well, hours after the Eden extravaganza, Metro caught up with the mystery Knight — Vivek Khushalani, a Delhi-based industrialist (in oil tools) who some know as SRK’s BFF (best friend forever) and others as KKR’s man of (silver) steel.

After five IPLs, the silver-haired man breaks his silence.

For us, and I can say this for Shah Rukh, for Jay (Mehta) and for Juhi (Chawla), the last time we were so happy individually was when our children were born. It is definitely one of the happiest moments of our lives.

As you know, we’ve struggled for five years. I have been with the Kolkata Knight Riders since the time Shah Rukh conceived of the team. We’ve grown up together in Delhi, we’ve known each other since we were five-six years old… we went to the same school. In fact, Shah Rukh and I met Gauri for the first time on the same night! So, we’ve both known Gauri for the same number of years. The three of us have been friends for a long time.

Cricket is a passion of mine. Shah Rukh and I played cricket as kids, we’ve played in our school team. So, when KKR happened, I told Shah Rukh that I’d like to be a part of the team in whatever way… and put in whatever little knowledge I have of the game.

Khushalani hugs SRK after the winning hit in Chennai

We like to believe that we are more emotional supporters than the others; I don’t know if that’s true but we sure feel like that. Our role is primarily to assist in any issue that might crop up within the team.

I have watched every KKR match from the balcony, beside Shah Rukh. We are all very, very tense during a match. But the biggest takeaway from IPL — as Shah Rukh has also said — is that it has humbled all of us.

I, as a grown-up, have never really seen defeat; Shah Rukh in his 20-year career has never seen defeat, but IPL and KKR taught us how to accept defeat gracefully. And obviously therefore the joy of this victory is far greater.

In the earlier years, when we were constantly losing, it was definitely disheartening. But we never lost hope. We, Shah Rukh and I, served as a good support system for each other through the rough ride of KKR. But ultimately we have come out victorious. That’s what’s important. And this victory kind of washes away the past four years. The greatest thing about this victory is that everything that happened in the past is now forgotten.

When the winning moment finally came… you see, we’ve been at it for so long and it seemed as if that trophy was our ultimate desire in life, and when that moment happened, then the only thing we could do was lean on each other.

And our celebrations after the win went on till about 7 the next morning! And they continued again here on Monday evening. We were at Dublin [at ITC Sonar Calcutta] for a while but then we — Shah Rukh, Juhi, Jay and myself — just sat and had a quiet meal and soaked in the moment. We just sat talking till 4am!

Today at Eden was something that even we didn’t expect. It was UNBELIEVABLE. Such a heart-warming experience! Shah Rukh was overwhelmed. He was actually speechless seeing the turnout and the reception the team got.

And Didi [chief minister Mamata Banerjee] has given us more love and affection than our own parents. It’s unbelievable what she has done for KKR and for Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh and I had a little joke going that we will not let the Cup out of our sight lest someone steals it from us! Yes, that’s the story behind me hugging the Cup throughout!

Now Jay and I go back to Delhi, Shah Rukh and Juhi head for Mumbai. We will regroup after a couple of weeks in London. Shah Rukh will be shooting for a Yash Chopra film but the rest of us will be on vacation