How Shah Rukh Khan's Timely Intervention Saved Pujara's Career? Cricketer's Wife Reveals – Cricket.com

Cheteshwar Pujara, who bid adieu to all forms of cricket earlier in 2025, was once helped by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who had arranged for his medical treatment in South Africa. 
Pujara, who made his India debut in 2010, could have been in serious trouble in 2009 if it was not for the timely intervention of Shah Rukh. 
Recounting the incident from 2009, Pujara’s wife, Pooja Pujara, in her book, ‘The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife’, wrote, “Destiny impelled him to dash heedlessly to a ball for a catch that was never there; and the result: a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an impending surgery and a temporarily halted cricketing career — all without playing a single game for KKR.”
Pujara, after stunning home seasons, had been bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Shah Rukh’s team for the 2009 IPL season. However, it was during a practice session that he had the ACL injury.
After hearing about the injury to his son, Pujara’s father, Arvind Pujara, had received a call from Shahrukh himself. In the book, Arvind, talking about the incident, said, "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," Arvind was quoted as saying in the book.
"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," was the message from KKR to Pujara’s family, as mentioned in the game.
As for Pujara, he never played for KKR that season, but in the very next season, he featured in 10 games for the team from Kolkata.
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