Andre Russell trusts his power after another blitz in IPL
What's the story
Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Andre Russell is in the form of his life at the moment. The powerful big-hitter was, once again, among the runs as he plundered the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers at the death to help KKR pull off a stunning victory. Russell's heroics have become a recurrence in the ongoing Indian Premier League. And here's what he had to say.
RCB vs KKR
What happened in the match between RCB and KKR?
Virat Kohli (84) and AB de Villiers (63) helped RCB get to 205/3. And the hosts had the match under control while KKR batted. The visitors were 153/5 after 17 overs and a win was unthinkable. They needed 54 runs from the last three overs. And they went on to win the match with five balls to spare, thanks to Russell.
Russell
Russell has been in supreme form for KKR
Russell has the best strike-rate this season (268.83). He has hit the most sixes in IPL 2019 (22). And he is only the third batsman to go past 200 runs this term after David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. The T20 stalwart has been clearing the boundaries with ease at the death. Russell has scored 207 runs from 77 deliveries in IPL 12.
Words
'No ground is big enough for me I guess'
Russell hit a 13-ball 48* that included seven sixes against RCB. "A part of me was saying that the runs needed were too much but I wanted to fight. The support is good from the boys and I am in a good space so that I can express myself. No ground is big enough for me I guess, I just trust my power."
Quote
Russell tries to explain how he hits sixes
"Hand-eye coordination is the key (for low full tosses) as they aren't easy to hit. I try short arm jabs as extending the arms can put you in trouble. Can't explain much, rather show that on the field," added Russell after the win against RCB.
Impact
Russell has been the knight for KKR
Russell's season has been defined by pure hitting. He helped KKR pull off a stellar victory against Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens. KKR chased down 53 in the last three overs. Against Punjab, it was Russell's blitz (49) that helped KKR score 56 runs from the last 19 deliveries. His 62-run knock against DC saw KKR gain momentum after being 61/5 at one stage.