IPL 2021 – KKR vs MI: It’s fair to say that Mumbai Indians came into the IPL 2021 as the favourites and more so in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders. But thanks to Andre Russell, Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians find themselves on the back foot. If you thought the West Indian all-rounder has smashed Jasprit Bumrah & Co all over the park, you will be wrong. Russell brought his bowler side of him, scalping five wickets against Mumbai Indians in just two overs. His 2-0-15-5 was the factor that set MI and KKR apart at the innings break. It was also the second five-wicket haul against MI — in IPL after RCB’s Harshal Patel managed that in the first game of IPL 2021.
KKR captain Eoin Morgan brought Russell up very late on Tuesday after he wasn’t that successful against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first match, going for 32 runs in exchange for 1 wicket. But on Tuesday, the KKR all-rounder cleaned up the Mumbai tail, taking five wickets in just 12 balls giving away 15 runs.
It was also the best bowling performance by any KKR bowler. Russell eclipsed Sunil Narine’s 5/19. Rusell’s victims were Keiron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Marco Jansen, Rahul Chahar and Jasprit Bumrah.
Best bowling figures for KKR in IPL:
5/15 – Andre Russell vs MI, Chennai 2021
5/19 – Sunil Narine v KXIP, Kolkata 2012
5/20 – Varun Chakravarthy v DC, Abu Dhabi 2020
Andre Russell, although, said that he worked on his pace before the IPL and that would help him in IPL 2021, he wasn’t expected to be the ace bowler for KKR, especially not on a turning track like Cheapuk. But Russell proved everyone wrong.
“I have been working very hard behind the scenes, taking responsibility. There’s a possibility of going for runs (in the death over), but there’s always a chance to take wickets. I always keep stretching in the field and jogging around, you got to be ready in the 18th over. Bowling against Hardik and Pollard is always a difficult thing, happy we could restrict them. It’s always good to get Polly (Pollard) out early, we all know what he can do,” Russell told the broadcaster at the innings break.
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