Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara hasn’t been a prominent name in theIndian Premier League (IPL) and is mostly remembered for his contributions for India in Test cricket. However, his cricketing career got revived by being a part of an IPL franchise back in 2009. Pujara started his IPL career in 2009 with Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan who played a key role in reviving his career as revealed by cricketer’s wife Puja Pujara.
Cheteshwar Pujara was a part of the KKR in the inaugural season in 2008 but didn’t get a single match in that season. However, the right-hander batter had a memorable season that year and KKR promised to give him a place in the playing XI in the next edition in 2009. However, during
a practicing game, Pujara suffered a career threatening ligament injury ahead of the season.
“Destiny impelled him to dash heedlessly to a ball for a catch that was never there; and the result: a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, an impending surgery and a temporarily halted cricketing career — all without playing a single game for KKR,” Puja revealed his book named The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife.
Shah Rukh Khan arranged Chesteswar Pujara’s medical expenses in Cape Town
In her book, “The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife,” Puja Pujara further revealed that KKR owne Shah Rukh Khan stepped in after Cheteshwar Pujara’s injury and arranged his medical expenses in Cape Town, South Africa, where the doctors were specialised in sports injuries. Pujara’s father was also hesitant to take a help and wanted his son to get operated in Rajkot by their family doctor. However, Shah Rukh Khan assured the family that Cape Town could be the best place for his surgery.
“Shah Rukh also told me that Chintu had a great future ahead of him and should have the best-available medical treatment. When he realised I was worried about the absence of a support system in South Africa and my faith in Dr Shah’s abilities, he offered to fly him and any family members I wanted with me,” Pujara’s father is quoted as saying in the book.
