New Delhi: Elated at being part of an IPL-winning team thrice, swashbuckling Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Yousuf Pathan has credited team owners Shah Rukh Khan, Jai Mehta and Juhi Chawla for his fine form, saying that they backed him even after a lacklustre run at the start of the season.
“I would give credit to Shah Rukh bhai, Jai bhai and Juhi behen for backing me. All the three wanted to retain me after the 2013 season but for some reasons they couldn’t. So I have always been their preference and it’s good to be the chosen one. They always want me to do well,” Yousuf said in an interview.
After a low-scoring first half this season, Yousuf found his lost touch post a 22-ball 72 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens and he felt relieved on finally justifying skipper Gautam Gambhir’s faith.
“Gautam trusts me immensely and had told me a number of times that I am his match-winner. And it felt good when I finally came up with a knock that helped my team end second before the play-offs. That innings justified his trust in me,” said Yousuf.
Yousuf, who was part of the Rajasthan Royals team that won the inaugural edition in 2008, also credited former skipper Shane Warne for instilling confidence in him.
“See, Shane Warne helped me immensely. He had a knack of handling youngsters and he handled me pretty well. He laid trust on me. So both Warne and Gambhir have utilised me differently and their respective styles have benefited me,” said Yousuf.
