The Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, saw Kolkata Knight Riders batter Andre Russell smoking sixes and sending the ball to every pocket of the stadium during their game against Chennai Super Kings. He bludgeoned three fours and six maximums during his spectacular knock of 54 from just 22 deliveries. When the purple fans were anticipating a surreal victory for KKR, a tricky delivery from Sam Curran and Russell’s humongous knock came to a halt.
Kolkata’s wizard refrained from offering any shot to a ball that was on his leg. He anticipated that the ball would go off the stumps, but the ball ripped through Russell’s leg stumps. After the studded innings, the West Indian all-rounder went back to the pavilion, but he had half-baked KKR’s chase in the pursuit of 221.
After Russell storm at the Wankhede Stadium, to remove the stain from KKR’s batting lineup, Pat Cummins went whirlwind and assaulted the bowlers by smashing 66* off 34. However, with no one to stand at the other end, KKR lost the match by 18 runs to register three defeats on a trot.
After Russell’s dismissal, he was seen sitting on the stairs in a distraught manner. His glance broke the hearts but simultaneously, the fan lauded his guts.
Here are some of the reactions from the fans:
I hope @Russell12A had a good night's sleep. I really do. @KKRiders please take care of him. As much as he is brutal with his stroke-making, Andre Russell is a man with a heart of gold. It's morning, and this scene still hurts, hurts very bad. #CSKvsKKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/QEuN7FOf9A
— Sabyasachi Chowdhury (@sabya0912) April 22, 2021
Another fan was of the view that without Andre Russell Kolkata would be the worst IPL side.
Gave his best 💔💔#IPL2021
Remove Andre Russell from this KKR Side and they're the worst IPL side of all time. pic.twitter.com/pQkPnkL8jp
— Y C D (@D17333) April 21, 2021
“KKR lose today too… But so proud of this man… U did ur job. Don’t be so disappointed like this… We all proud of u. #AndreRussell after losing 5 wickets in power play, if there was any hope left it was only coz of u.,” wrote another Twitter user, Tushar.
https://twitter.com/iwastushar/status/1384921834282528777
Russell came out to bat when KKR were reeling at 31/5 and his innings made the fans envisage an improbable win.
Cricket is more than just a game. ❤️
Dont forget the innings of Andre Russell, it was his Innings which gave hope to KKR that then can comeback after 31/5. Well played Andre. https://t.co/sSMF4xtjzt
— THE REAL CRIC INFO (@RohanSatpati) April 21, 2021
Good batting Andre Russell don't be sad
Plz convey it to Russel @KKRiders @DineshKarthik— Sagnik🇮🇳 (@SagnikAdhikary4) April 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/Abhicricket18/status/1384930158080110593
https://twitter.com/gowtham7gowtham/status/1384921092352008195?s=20
https://twitter.com/Abhicricket18/status/1384930158080110593?s=20
After their significant win against SunRisers Hyderabad in the opener, Kolkata Knight Riders went off the colour and lost the other three games.