Xtra Time Web Desk: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all rounder Andre Russell can do no wrong in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). The Jamaican has been in phenomenal form with the bat as he cracked a whirlwind 62 runs off 28 balls to see the Purple army post a decent 185/8 against Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday. The Knight Riders were struggling at 61/5 with half the side back in hut. But the powerfully built Russell along with KKR captain Dinesh Karthik (50 off 36 balls) bailed the visitors out.
Russell’s knock was studded with four hits to the fence and six monstrous sixes. He is also the Orange Cap holder at the moment with 159 runs at an average of 79.50 and a whopping strike rate of 248.43. The Jamaican has already hit 15 sixes, most by anyone so far in the tournament.
He had some early hiccups as he was hit on the shoulder from a beamer by Harshal Patel. But that did not stop him from playing his shots.
“It was tough for me after getting hit on the shoulder. Karthik kept talking to me throughout the innings. I told DK that I was getting the pain, so there was no point of hanging there, I played my shots. It worked for me in the end and I think we can defend this total. At one point we were thinking of 150 but the partnership between me and DK has helped us post 185,” said Russell during the innings break.
While scoring 13 runs, Russell also scored 1000 runs in the cash rich league. He has taken the least matches (53) in IPL history to reach the mark, thereby raising the debate of being the most destructive batsman in the history of IPL.