Andre Russell, the big hitter from West Indies, wreaked havoc at the Wankhede Stadium as Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Punjab Kings by six wickets to register their second win of the ongoing IPL 2022. Russell, who is known for his big-hitting skills, was at his destructive best as he smashed the Punjab Kings’ bowlers to all the corners of the ground.
Umesh Yadav with 4/23 turned out to be the star of the game with the ball as KKR managed to bowl out Punjab Kings for 137 runs before Andre Russell assaulted Punjab Kings’ bowlers and chased down the target with 33 balls to spare.
A stunning assault from Andre Russell has rescued KKR against Punjab Kings.
His side were 51-4 when the West Indian came in, but he smashed EIGHT sixes to take them to their target at a canter.
It’s his highest IPL score since 2019 ?#IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/yzZ03xpwRw
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 1, 2022
The star all-rounder walked out to bat when the side had lost some crucial wickets when KKR were 51-4. Russell alongwith Sam Billings steadied the ship for KKR and soon the Russell Muscle show began.
Openers Russell’s unbeaten 70 off 31 deliveries included two boundaries and eight sixes. He was at his destructive best as KKR chased down 138 inside 15 overs.
Meanwhile, social media went berserk over his brutal power-hitting by Andre Russell. Here are some of the best reactions:
Andre Russell loves KKR, KKR loves Andre Russell – the franchise has sent him to Texas for working his fitness after IPL 2020, had tough times again in IPL 2021 but has started well in IPL 2022 with his brute power. pic.twitter.com/50lgfOvkT3
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 1, 2022
The andre russell show ?#KKRvsPBKS #IPL2022 #KorboLorboJeetbo pic.twitter.com/N1yBaoRtes
— depressed gill fan (@ceoofgilledits) April 1, 2022
Andre Russell the current Orange Cap holder of IPL 2022. pic.twitter.com/kvMkYAYnnT
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 1, 2022
ANDRE RUSSELL
THE GREATEST THERE IS. THE GREATEST THERE WAS. THE GREATEST THERE EVER WILL BE. #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/ciTgpcJ8Xj
— Á. (@stfuarshu) April 1, 2022
Kolkata Knight Riders is at the top of the table, Orange Cap is with Andre Russell and Purple Cap is with Umesh Yadav.
KKR is owning IPL 2022!!! ?#KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/b4L6auh1q2
— Sohom ᴷᴷᴿ (@AwaaraHoon) April 1, 2022
THIS IS PEAK ANDRE RUSSELL INNINGS, never ever underestimate Dre Russ ??? pic.twitter.com/DrxC8xo7i5
— Sohom ᴷᴷᴿ (@AwaaraHoon) April 1, 2022
To me the sight of the day was watching Andre Russell, having demolished Odean Smith, taking the young man aside and telling him where to bowl. That is what the #TATAIPL is about
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 1, 2022
andre Russell that’s the tweet#KKRvPBKS that’s the tweet man #KKRvsPBKS #KKRHaiTaiyaar ?
pic.twitter.com/9QNxGdYu6M
— God Of Death (Depress KkR fan) (@GodOfDeath728) April 1, 2022
Andre Russell today was in monstrous form !
What a show of powerful hitting ! Towering 8 sixes ! #KKRvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/36PCxklo1A
— Sushil Gaikwad (@onlysushil) April 1, 2022
ANDRE RUSSELL – THE GREATEST THERE WAS, THE GREATEST THERE IS, THE GREATEST THERE WILL BE. ?
LEGEND.
That’s Called Single-handedly Winning The Match. ? pic.twitter.com/nKuzpl9Rsw— Arijit | #KKR ? (@SRKzArijit) April 1, 2022
This innings should be enough for people who were doubting Andre Russell’s retention, if it wasn’t already. pic.twitter.com/tXd6PuRq62
— Š? (@Soham718) April 1, 2022
Of all the master-sloggers, and of all the torture-inducers, Andre Russell takes the podium.?
What An Interesting Inning Hitman?@KKRiders pic.twitter.com/EOvRSZeoPk— Omkar Chhabilwad (@omkarchhabilwad) April 1, 2022
Kkr is so much stronger with Andre Russell in the best mode! #KKRvsPBKS
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 1, 2022
Andre Russell completed 150 SIXES in his IPL career. He completed in just 72 Innings – Incredible. pic.twitter.com/ipe2eUhCVB
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 1, 2022
Andre Russell saving KKR from a big mess and winning the game with such ease, IPL is officially back in India
— Dave (@CricketDave27) April 1, 2022
Later, after the match, during the post-match presentation KKR captain Shreyas Iyer lauded the brilliant performance of Andre Russell. He had said:
“To be honest, it was great to see Russell hitting. It was Russell Muscle.”
Punjab Kings’ captain Mayank Agarwal also hailed the performance of Russell and revealed how they lost the game once he walked in. He said:
“We didn’t bat well enough. We showed some real fight with the ball initially and then Dre Russ came in and got going. Credit to him for taking the game away from us like that. I think it was a 170ish wicket. We started off well but could not capitalize, there were a few soft dismissals. But it is fine as it is the start of the tournament. They (bowlers) pulled back nicely for us with 4 for 50 we were in the game, but Russell took the game away. There were a lot of positives to take away.”
