Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar believes it was crucial for Andre Russell to play a match-winning knock against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Monday otherwise he would have received criticism from the pundits.
Russell hasn’t been at his absolute best in the ongoing season as he has failed to deliver for KKR but the experienced batter rose to the occasion to take his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Monday.
Russell scored a blistering knock of 42 runs off just 23 balls with the help of three fours and as many sixes to get the job done for his team. In fact, the hard-hitter from Jamaica, turned the match on its head in the penultimate over when he smashed Sam Curran for three sixes. 26 runs were needed off the final two overs and that over was the turning point of the game.
Russell has scored 208 runs in 11 matches at an average of 23.11 and a strike rate of 154.07 but he was at his best on Monday. The hard-hitter made most of his power and he also added a match-winning alliance of 54 runs off just 27 balls with Rinku Singh, who played a fine cameo of 10-ball 21.
Gavaskar told Star Sports: “He has been there and played a match-winning hand, you know, how Kolkata has seen. That’s where he has come to the party. It was important for him to score because otherwise people would have said what is he doing and all that kind of things.
“He’s got plenty of cricket, matches to win for his team and that’s fantastic for the IPL because look what has happened.”
With this win, KKR vaulted to fifth place in the standings with five wins in 11 matches.
Gavaskar cheekily commented: “Suddenly from being no. 8, KKR have climbed to no.5 and then there’s a traffic jam that everyone keeps on talking. This is the kind of win that you see in Mumbai’s traffic.”
Kolkata Knight Riders will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday.
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