SRK, Gambhir Superfan Sarthak Ranjan’s Dream Turned Reality With KKR Selection

“Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho… to puri kainaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.”

The famous Shah Rukh Khan dialogue from Om Shanti Om appears to have played out in real life for Sarthak Ranjan, who has earned a spot with his favourite IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). KKR picked up the 29-year-old batter for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction, following his impressive run in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025. Ranjan emerged as the second-highest run-scorer of the season, scoring 449 runs in nine matches, including four fifties and a century.

During the DPL, Ranjan had openly expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan and his desire to play for KKR. A video of him saying he would love to represent the franchise later went viral on social media, though the exact timeline of the clip could not be independently verified.

“Any team that picks me, I will be grateful and give my 100 percent,” Ranjan said in the video. “But if I had to choose, I am a big fan of SRK and KKR.”

‘Gambhir, My Idol’

Ranjan has also spoken about his respect for India head coach Gautam Gambhir, whom he considers a major influence. “Being from Delhi, it has always been Gautam Gambhir,” Ranjan said. “Talking to him feels like attending a school of cricket. It’s no surprise he is coaching the Indian team—I’ve learned a lot from him.”