Kolkata Knight Riders’ mentor Dwayne Bravo has come forward to defend Andre Russell’s underwhelming performances in IPL 2025, shifting the spotlight onto the team’s struggling top-order.
Despite Russell managing only 21 runs off 15 balls in KKR’s recent defeat to the Gujarat Titans, Bravo emphasized that the power-hitter alone cannot be blamed.
“Andre Russell is a proven match-winner, but he’s coming in when the required rate is already touching 14 or 15. That’s a tough ask for any finisher,” Bravo stated, highlighting that poor starts from the top-order are putting undue pressure on players like Russell and Rinku Singh.
Russell’s Spin Struggles Not a Major Concern
Russell’s troubles against leg-spin have been noticeable this season. In six matches, he has crossed double digits only twice and has been dismissed twice by wrist spinners—Suyash Sharma and Rashid Khan. However, Bravo dismissed concerns over Russell’s spin vulnerability.
“He’s up against world-class bowlers like Rashid. It’s not just about Russell failing; it’s about the collective batting unit underperforming,” he clarified.
Bravo reiterated that Russell remains a key asset and just needs better support from the top to perform his finishing role effectively. “If the top-order gives a solid foundation, the likes of Russell will have a better platform to do what they’ve always done for KKR,” he added.
Top-Order Falters Again Despite Batting Changes
KKR made tactical changes in the batting lineup by bringing in Rahmanullah Gurbaz and moving Venkatesh Iyer to No. 4, but the issues remained unresolved. Gurbaz and Sunil Narine failed to give a strong start, while Venkatesh Iyer (14 off 19) and Ajinkya Rahane (50 off 36) couldn’t accelerate the innings when needed.
The team fell short by 39 runs, finishing at 159/8 while chasing 199. Rahane admitted after the match that the top order has underdelivered throughout the tournament.
“We’ve been struggling to get strong starts, and that’s something we must fix quickly,” he said.
While KKR’s bowlers have steadily improved, the batting department, especially in the powerplay and middle overs, continues to falter, leaving finishers like Russell with too much to do in too little time.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
