Shah Rukh Khan has praised the Indian cricket team when they won the T20 World Cup The whole world saw King Khan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Monday, shouting “Chak De, India” and punching the air in success as M S Dhoni’s team beat Pakistan to win the initial Twenty20 World Cup.

Shah Rukh Khan talked to news-persons after the excitement had sunk in.

He said that his trip was not planned. The BCCI and Sharad Pawar had invited him.

Shahrukh said, “It was kind of them. I was sitting at home doing nothing because of the Ganpati holiday. The game was just for three hours, I could make it. I would never have been able to go for a day-night One-dayer. My son Aryan wanted to go. And I was glad I could take him for a World Cup final, everything just fell into place.”

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif had states earlier that it was Sharukh’s existence, which cheered Dhoni and his team to win. Mr. Khan was the ‘X’ factor that added up that extra power to a team, which was already riding a wave of self-belief with Lady Luck next to them.

Smiling at being named as Team India’s lucky charm, Khan said, “That’s not true at all. Success isn’t about one person, it’s a collective effort. Let’s not take away from the boys their dues. This success belonged solely and only to Dhoni and his boys. They played superbly. We can only thank them for making us proud.”

But did he not believe that his character as hockey trainer Kabir Khan in ‘Chak De India’ had cheered all of India to fight at whatever it was doing more ferociously and with pride?

“Well, yes, Chak De has enthused India with a new spirit. But Chak De, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai are defining movies of my career. I am glad to be able to contribute through them. But, in this case, I was another Indian among the spectators cheering the boys with my mind, body, heart and soul. Yeah, I was praying fervently as well, but then so was everyone else,” Shahrukh said.

His task as the hockey coach has heartened Shahrukh to provide this tip to the new One-day captain M S Dhoni, “It’s important to instill confidence in the team. A captain has to be in sync with his players. Success is all about team spirit. Treat every player as an adult who has his own mind. Leave them with responsibility and you see magic. You just channelise their energy and help them put things in perspective when they require it.” He added, “Dhoni scores on all these counts.”