When Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara suffered a devastating injury before playing a single match for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL), few knew the role Shah Rukh Khan would play in his recovery. The Bollywood superstar and KKR co-owner ensured Pujara received the best medical care abroad, personally helping the family during one of the toughest phases of his early career.

What happened during Pujara’s time at KKR?

Pujara joined the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in 2010, full of promise and excitement. However, his debut season took an unexpected turn when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while attempting a catch. The injury, notorious for derailing athletes’ careers, forced him out of action before he could even represent the team on the field.

As his wife, Puja Pujara, recalls in her book The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife, “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.”

How did Shah Rukh Khan step in to help?

According to Puja, Shah Rukh Khan immediately extended his support to ensure Pujara received the best treatment possible. KKR took care of all logistics from passports and visas to travel arrangements and even flew Pujara’s father to Cape Town, South Africa, where the surgery would take place.

“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.

A KKR representative also assured the family of full support, saying, “We'll also fly down anyone you want for the surgery. We'll pay them here so that you have your own people around you.”

How did Pujara recover from the setback?

The surgery in Cape Town was a success, marking the start of Pujara’s steady road to recovery. Despite the emotional and physical toll, he made a complete comeback to cricket. At the time, he was already making a name for himself in domestic cricket, and the timely intervention ensured his career did not derail permanently.