MUMBAI, India, CMC – Brendon McCullium on Saturday underscored West Indies superstar Andre Russell’s value to Kolkata Knight Riders, following their disappointing defeat to Indian Premier League leaders Gujarat Titans.
Russell snatched four wickets for four runs in his only over as Titans posted 156 for nine at the DY Patil Sports Academy, and then returned to blast a 25-ball 48 with half-dozen sixes as KKR came up short by eight runs.
“The way our bowling lineup is set out, we’ve got three outstanding seamers and two world class spinners so [Russell] is our sixth bowling option,” said McCullum, in his third season as KKR head coach.
“He’s very much there when we need him and with that last over [today] he was obviously called upon and he did a fantastic job.
“I thought the way he batted today as well was simply superb and another eight or nine runs and he probably would’ve got the Man-of-the-Match award but that’s the way the game goes sometimes.”
The 33-year-old Russell is in his eighth season with KKR and has established himself as one of their key figures in the squad.
Already this season, he has gathered 227 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of nearly 179, and has been good enough to pick up ten wickets at an average of 15 and an economy rate of ten.
With KKR needing 18 runs from the final over, Russell clobbered the first delivery from West Indies teammate Alzarri Joseph for six before holing out off the very next delivery.
Fast bowler Joseph, 25, has made an instant impact for Titans since playing his season-opener last week, and McCullum was quick to pay tribute to the franchise’s attack.
“Gujarat Titans’ bowling lineup is very well balanced. They’ve got some raw pace, they’ve got a bit of bounce and they’ve got some left-arm variety as well,” the New Zealand legend said.
“It’s a really good pace line up and you throw Rashid Khan in there as well, it’s a pretty good bowling lineup – full stop.
“They probably give a little bit away with their batting with regards to strength because they stack their bowling so much, but the way they bowled today, I thought they attacked us where we expected them to … and unfortunately we weren’t able to find a way to counter that.”
KKR, who also feature West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine, lie seventh on six points while Titans are top on 12.