Andre Russell has become the vital cog for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League (IPL). He has scored another quickfire knock of 65 off 25 which included two boundaries and nine sixes. He, along with Nitish Rana added 118 runs in the final seven overs but their efforts were not enough to get past the line. Kolkata had a rather slow pace game during the middle over when Shubman Gill scored 9 runs off 11 balls and Robin Uthappa took 20 balls to score 9 runs. Their slow innings cost Kolkata the defeat.
However, Andre Russell always comes to bat in the lower down the order and yesterday’s game was no change of that. But he seemed to be not that happy as Kolkata lost the game by mere 10 runs after his heroics and he expressed his thoughts in the post-match conference as well.
“To lose by 10 runs, it’s just two hits away. In the middle period, if we scored a bit faster we would definitely get the runs with even balls the spare,” said Russell at the post-match conference.
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Along with Russell, Nitish Rana also played a blitzy knock of unbeaten 85 off 46 balls, including 9 boundaries and 5 sixes.
“Well batted to Nitish, but this is something that we definitely are disappointed and that’s why I have a sweet-and-sour feeling,” Russell said while talking about Nitish Rana.
Asking whether he should come earlier in the batting line up while chasing 214, Russell explained his thought as well.
“I believe that (I should have batted at No 4)… Honestly, I think sometimes you have to flexible as a team. Looking at the make-up of our team, I would not mind going to bat at No 4. When I am at the crease, Virat Kohli is going to bowl his best bowlers to get me out. And those best bowlers will have less overs remaining in the back end. So even if I score 60 off 25 balls, and give the team that the early pump then bowlers like Dale Steyn will have only one over left at the death, or they may bowl out…,” expressed Russell.
“I think me going to bat early would definitely be a good thing for KKR. But with our make-up of the team, that’s a good answer,” Russell further added.
Kolkata chased down 206 last time when they faced Bangalore in this season. They scored 53 runs in the final 3 overs on the back of a strong Russell and Gill’s performance. The similar scenario was seen in the first game against Sunrisers Hyderabad; where Kolkata won the game on the ack of Russell’s performance.
“One over can make a big difference in T20 cricket. The momentum that we have in the last partnership between myself and Nitish, I hope that we can actually learn from this and how we can give the guys the belief that it doesn’t matter if we are chasing 220, we still can do it,” added Russell.
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Russell-Rana 118-run partnership nearly did the job for Kolkata. While talking about that, Russell shared his mindset as well.
“When I went to bat, Nitish came to me and said what I think. I said ‘I bat one way — and it’s positive’. So if the first ball is in my court, I don’t need to see what’s happening. So to go out and chase 14-15 an over is not the best way you want to start as a batsman but I’m used to those conditions and situation. I’m not afraid to get out. I mean, this is cricket, it won’t be the first or the last. So a clear mindset has allowed me to do what I’m doing now,” said the big hitter Andre Russell.
