Andre Russell could finally exhale. The Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder admitted he felt like he could “breathe” again after KKR’s nerve-wracking last-ball win over Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Sunday, May 4. It was a finish that tested every nerve on the field, but it was young pacer Vaibhav Arora who held his nerve, nailing a perfect yorker to Shubham Dubey to seal a crucial two-run victory.
Russell, speaking after the match, couldn’t stop praising the calmness in the KKR camp during those tense final moments.
“As professionals, we’ve started to embrace these pressure situations. Vaibhav showed maturity beyond his years. He stayed composed and delivered a brilliant yorker when it mattered most. I was on edge thinking it might go to a Super Over, or that a boundary could ruin it. But the win is all that counts. The fans were behind us, and we made sure to fight for them,” Andre Russell told the IPL.
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With the bat, Russell was back to doing what he does best—destructive hitting. Coming in at 111/3, he paced his innings smartly before launching an all-out assault once the spinners were done. His unbeaten 57 off 25 balls, laced with four fours and six towering sixes, powered KKR to an imposing 206/4. That knock marked his first half-century of the season and a return to form at a critical juncture in the campaign.
“It’s been a bit of a lean patch in terms of scores, but I’ve been striking the ball well in training. I knew something big was around the corner. Tonight, I was just glad to clear the ropes and give the crowd something to cheer. But most importantly, we won,” he said.
Andre Russell also played his part with the ball, delivering the 19th over for just 11 runs and setting up the final showdown for Arora. The veteran spoke about the growing trust in his dual role.
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“When I get the ball, I aim to deliver yorkers, even if I miss a couple. That’s part of the job. Being an all-rounder means I contribute both ways. When the batting clicks, the confidence feeds into my bowling too.”
This win keeps Kolkata Knight Riders firmly in the playoff race—and Russell’s return to form might just be the timely boost they needed.
