IPL 2019: Russell ‘storm’ hits Eden Gardens again. Will his ‘lucky’ stay be the game changer?

XtraTime Web Desk: 36 balls 97 runs and a massive strike rate of 269. This is the batting stat of Kolkata Knight Riders star power hitter Andre Russell in the first two matches off IPL 2019. He single handedly won the game for KKR in the last outing against a quality side of SunRisers Hyderabad and today his classy knock of 48 runs in just 17 balls against King XI Punjab today can be the game changer as well at the end of the night as well.

But scenario could have been different. Russel’s score was just 3 when Shami clean bowled him in the 17th over of the game. It was a fantastic yorker right into the blockhole at 138km/h. it got under his bat, and knocked him over. But it was called a no-ball. There was only three fielders in the ring and that’s why umpire called it a no ball.

After that it was all Russel show. He hit two sixes and two fours against Andrew Tye in the next over and then hit three back to back sixes and a four against Shami in the 19th over of the game. At one stage KKR was struggling to cross the 200-run mark but due to Andre Russell storm the home side reached 218 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Now it will be interesting to see whether KXIP batting take the game away from KKR or Russel getting life on just 3 runs would be the turning point of the match.