XtraTime Web Desk: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) power hitter Andre Russell and Coach Brendon McCullum joined the team’s training on Friday in Abu Dhabi. Both Russell and McCullum were undergoing mandatory 6 days quarantine since returning from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL T20). The duo was seen during the training session ahead of an intra squad match between Shubman Gill XI and Dinesh Karthik XI.
The Kolkata Knight Riders shared a couple of videos on their official twitter handle announcing that both their Head Coach and star cricketer has joined training.
In the first tweet it read, “Baz is in the house! Our head coach @Bazmccullum joins the squad today for the very first time in #AbuDhabi! #KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL
The second tweet read, “@Russell12A in the house! #ToofaniFans taiyaar? The storm has officially made a landfall in the UAE tonight! 🌪️#KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL
Brendon McCullum will be high on confidence having coached Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) to their fourth title. The TKR side set an outstanding record this season in CPL T20, winning the tournament unbeaten. Russell too enjoyed a rich form throughout the CPL season with Jamaica Tallawahs.
Playing nine matches, the Jamaican scored 222 runs at a strike-rate of 141.40, with three half-centuries in the process. Another KKR cricketer who also represented TKR in CPL T20, Sunil Narine has been rested as he recently underwent a kidney stone operation. The mystery spinner enjoyed a decent all round show in the CPL T20 season. He scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 148.85 in five matches and also bagged six wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.55.
Two more cricketers Chris Green (Guyana Amazon Warriors) and Ali Khan (Trinbago Knight Riders) who played in the CPL T20 will also start training soon. Meanwhile, the Australian and English cricketers, who reached Abu Dhabi on Thursday night, after completing ODI series in the UK, will have to quarantine themselves for 6 days and clear COVID-19 test to be eligible for training. The list includes Oz pacer Pat Cummins, England ODI captain Eoin Morgan and new sensation Tom Banton.