Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) are currently facing each other in the 35th match of IPL 2022. Gujarat Titans captain won the toss and decided to bat first. This is the first time a captain decided to bat first after winning the toss in IPL 2022. Since the match is being played on a used wicket and it’s a day match too ,it was a good and brave decision from Hardik to bat first.
Andre Russell has always been the X- factor player for KKR who has the unique ability to give impactful performances with both bat and ball. Russell has been in amazing form in IPL 2022. Russell has scored 179 runs at strike rate of 177 in IPL 2022. Along with it , he has also grabbed 10 wickets at a bowling average of 15.3.
The KKR all-rounder was given responsibility to bowl the last over of the innings against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 . Russell didn’t disappoint and he dismissed Abhinav Manohar, Lockie Ferguson, Rahul Tewatia and Yash Dayal to restrict KKR on a score of 156/9. Russell picked 4 wickets in the last over giving away just 5 runs.
Bowling the brilliant last over ,KKR all rounder also created a unique record. Andre Russell became the first-ever pacer to pick four wickets in an over in IPL. Picking 4 wickets in an over in IPL has been done by only 2 players on previous occasions. Amit Mishra ( 2013) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2022) were those 2 instances of a player picking 4 wickets in an over in IPL.
Watch the clip here:
Captain Hardik Pandya continues his purple patch with bat
Earlier in the day, KKR made three changes to the playing XI with Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi and Sam Billings replacing Pat Cummins, Sheldon Jackson and Aaron Finch. While on the other hand , Gujarat Titans made only one change to their playing XI. Captain Hardik was back in the playing XI in place of Vijay Shankar. Gujarat Titans won the toss and decided to bat first.
Gujarat didn’t get a good start and lost the early wicket of Shubhman Gill. Captain Hardik Pandya had a big responsibility to take Gujarat to a good total. Hardik led from the front and scored brilliant 67 runs in 49 balls which helped Gujarat Titans post a total of 156.
The 28-year-old ace all-rounder is in brilliant form in IPL 2022. He stands at 2nd position in the race of Orange Cap in IPL 2022.
Written by Harsh Gupta
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