Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in early 2025, recently made headlines for a heartwarming story that resurfaced from his early playing days. The tale involves none other than Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who once stepped in to help the young cricketer during one of the toughest phases of his life.
Back in 2009, before Pujara had even made his international debut, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while training with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — the Indian Premier League team owned by Shah Rukh Khan. Pujara had been bought by KKR after impressive performances in domestic cricket, but fate had other plans. During a practice session in South Africa, he dashed to take a catch that wasn’t his to take and ended up with a ruptured ACL — an injury that temporarily halted his cricketing journey.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Unexpected Act of Kindness
The story came to light through Pujara’s wife, Pooja Pujara, in her book “The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife.” She revealed how Shah Rukh Khan personally reached out to Pujara’s father, Arvind Pujara, after learning about the injury. In a touching gesture, Shah Rukh assured the worried father that Pujara would receive the best possible medical care.
Arvind Pujara recalled the superstar’s words:
“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, he offered to fly me and any family members I wanted with me.”
KKR management further conveyed their 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.”
This unexpected compassion from Shah Rukh Khan left a lasting impact on the Pujara family.
Pujara’s Return to Cricket
Although Pujara couldn’t play for KKR in the 2009 IPL season due to his injury, he made a strong comeback the following year, featuring in 10 matches for the Kolkata-based franchise. The rest, as they say, is history — Pujara went on to become one of India’s most reliable Test batsmen, earning admiration for his patience, resilience, and determination.
Years later, as Pujara steps away from professional cricket, this story serves as a beautiful reminder of how kindness and humanity can make all the difference — even in the world of competitive sports.
Keywords: Cheteshwar Pujara, Shah Rukh Khan, KKR, IPL 2009, Pujara injury, The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife, Bollywood, cricket retirement.
