Shah Rukh Khan Wants AbRam to Play Hockey for India

Shah Rukh also urged KKR fans to extend full-hearted support to Dinesh Karthik in the post-Gautam Gambhir era.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on Monday, 9 April, said he wants his youngest son, five-year-old AbRam, to grow up to be a hockey player and represent India internationally.

The star of the 2007 Bollywood film 'Chak De! India', Shah Rukh's love for hockey is no secret.

In Kolkata along with AbRam and daughter Suhana to cheer his Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders, Shah Rukh said AbRam has "not yet started playing cricket. Right now, he's playing a little bit of football”.

I would like him to play field hockey for India.

Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh, his daughter Suhana and his entourage cheered for KKR as the team got off to a winning start under new skipper Dinesh Karthik. They were seen taking a victory lap of the stadium after their four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday night.

Chasing a stiff 177, KKR rode on blistering half-century from Sunil Narine to prevail over the star-studded RCB.  

Shah Rukh urged KKR fans to extend full-hearted support to Karthik in the post-Gautam Gambhir era.

"I think it's our duty as people of Kolkata and Bengal to make Dinesh happy being here. Dinesh is ready to take on that mantle and hopefully he will do well. But first we have to show support", he said.

My whole idea is to make Kolkata and my team proud. I hope each boy in our team plays well, stays healthy and is happy, and I think Kolkata would want that.

Shah Rukh

KKR parted ways with Gambhir amicably, following a successful association of seven years during which he led KKR to their two IPL trophies in 2012 and 2014.

"He's (Karthik) a very settled man, and so was Gauti. I can't thank him (Gambhir) enough. We had some conversations and it was mutually decided the way we're looking at the team was a little different concept... Dinesh was very happy (with the decision). We thought that we would have everything new. We had done that before also – change the whole team and start anew."

KKR picked three Under-19 World Cup-winning youngsters in Shubman Gill, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and went in for relatively little known faces in Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh at the auction.

Shah Rukh took pride in the fact that they may be the youngest team in the IPL this season.

"Always the idea was to bring in young people and hone their skill. There have been so many instances in the past. Like Jaydev Unadkat, Sanju Samson, they have played for us and done well. We just thought about the concept of bringing the young ones. God willing they will do well and make Kolkata proud.

"The idea is to continue that. This year we thought about changing the whole team. We might have the youngest team in the whole of IPL. It just makes everyone feel more happy, and there are opportunities for youngsters (sic)", he said.

Shah Rukh is currently busy shooting overseas for his upcoming film ‘Zero’ but despite the hectic schedule he promised to keep coming back.  

"No, no, I'm not going back... I will keep coming to support KKR", Shah Rukh concluded before leaving.

Meanwhile, KKR left in the afternoon to play their first away match against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.

KKR's next home match is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 14 April.