Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell attributed his teammate Sunil Narine’s outstanding performance against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam as the catalyst for his own success on Wednesday, April 3.
Russell played a crucial cameo, scoring 41 runs off 19 balls, aiding KKR in posting a formidable total of 272/7 in their 20 overs. However, he believes that Narine’s brilliant innings of 85 runs provided the team with the momentum they required to freely express themselves on the field.
In a video shared on the IPL’s official website, Andre Russell addressed Sunil Narine, saying:
“You (Narine) gave me a good motivation to come out and smash it. But I decided to take a few deliveries, picking up the pace of the wicket. I was happy that Gambhir gave me the opportunity as well. The most important thing is we win by a 100-plus runs so that’s good for our run-rate.”
Narine scored his second consecutive half-century in IPL 2024, posing a significant threat to the opposition’s bowling attack once again. Reflecting on his mindset during the innings, Narine stated:
“Starting, it was tough. They were getting swing and you were studying where the boundary was coming. Once you connect with one or two balls, it forces the bowlers to bowl in different areas and then everything came a little easier.”
Narine expressed his delight in being able to contribute effectively with the bat as he had hoped, and he felt that achieving this feat in the presence of KKR co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was the perfect finishing touch.
Andre Rusell and Sunil Narine praise Angkrish Raghuvanshi of KKR
Both experienced all-rounders praised KKR’s young talent, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who made a significant impression in his debut IPL innings. Batting at No. 3, Angkrish scored 54 runs from only 27 deliveries, effectively capitalizing on the momentum created by Phil Salt and Sunil Narine.
“I am just happy for a young man on debut who played with confidence, and play the way he did. To do it in front of an amazing owner like Shahrukh, that’s going to boost his confidence going forward in this tournament. So very happy for him,” Andre Russell said.
Sunil Narine also chimed in on Angkrish’s impressive performance, stating:
“I think the young guy Angkrish, he has been showing his talent and what he can do in the nets. He works hard, he bats long, and keeps growing from strength to strength.”
The remarkable 106-run victory over the Capitals has significantly improved KKR’s net run rate. They currently lead the table with three wins out of three matches.
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