After starting off with a bang, Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders has turned into a nightmare for the superstar. Last night’s defeat on their home ground seems to have laid to rest any doubts about Kolkata Knight Rider’s exit from the race for the DLF IPL trophy. It is now becoming clear that the real reason for the team’s losing streak is the differences between the Bengal Tiger Sourav Ganguly, the Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper and Shah Rukh Khan, arguably Bollywood’s biggest star and the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders. The duo have differences over various aspects of the game including team selection, team combination and player selection. Shah Rukh Khan has also been trying to have a say in whether his team should bat or bowl first.

Reports indicate that the differences sprung in the initial stages itself. While Sourav wanted more batsmen to strengthen the team’s batting line-up, Shah Rukh Khan was keen on more bowlers. Both had differences of opinion about which players to acquire for the team. Shah Rukh Khan and the team coach John Buchanan have been overruling Sourav Ganguly’s judgement in several areas. Ganguly wanted Adam Gilchrist to be part of his team as wicket-keeper and opening batsman while coach John Buchanan talked Shah Rukh Khan into bidding for Brendon McCullum instead. This made a big difference as McCullum had to return on national duty after the initial matches. His departure has further weakened the already weak batting line up.

Not being able to acquire as many batsmen as he would have liked to has made it difficult for Sourav Ganguly. Speaking about the team losing to Rajasthan has admitted that his team’s batting was unimpressive. He said his bowlers have had to deal with smaller totals of their own team all through this tournament.

Shah Rukh Khan has been grappling with the entertainment tax in Kolkata. The local Bengal government levies this tax which has been exempt in all other states. The actor wanted Sourav Ganguly to speak to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and get the tax waived. Ganguly is known to be close to Buddhadeb Bhattacharya but has refused to intervene.

Shoaib Akhtar has been another point of disagreement for Shah Rukh Khan, Ganguly and Buchanan. While Buchanan was insistent that Shoaib Akhtar has yet to regain his form and should be kept out, Sourav Ganguly wanted Shoaib to play in the Rajasthan game. The coach prevailed and Shoaib AKhtar spent the evening in the dugout, biting his nails, watching his team go down.

Shah Rukh Khan is very keen that Kolkata Knight Riders should bounce back and is said to be very unhappy with the current state. The drubbing which his team got in the match against Mumbai Indians, when they were all bowled out for 67 has specially annoyed him. Shah Rukh Khan has indicated that the coach will have greater powers from the next season to decide the team strategy as he is clearly more experienced than the players and can increase the team’s chances of winning.

Shah Rukh Khan has attended all the matches played by Kolkata Knight Riders on their home ground barring yesterday’s match giving further rise to the speculation that he has fallen out with Ganguly.