Andre Russell has literally lit the stage on fire every time he has come out to bat in the ongoing edition of the IPL. Russell’s brute power and strength were once again on display during the matchday 26 of IPL 2019 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday. However this time, it was not only the Delhi bowlers who faced the bait of Russell’s blade but also his teammate Carlos Brathwaite, who found himself on the receiving end on one occasion.
The incident took place during the the 17th over of the KKR innings when Russell attempted to smash a half-volley from Chris Morris straight down the ground. Carlos Brathwaite, who was at the non-striker’s end tried his best to get out of the line of the delivery without any success as he still ended up getting hit.
It was Russell’s sixth successive 40-plus score, his four sixes and three boundaries coming after youngster Shubman Gill stroked 65 off 39 balls to set the platform for the Knight Riders. The Jamaican, who was cleaned up by Kagiso Rabada with a toe-crushing yorker in their Super Over defeat in the first leg, also exacted sweet revenge smashing the South African for two sixes in an over that yielded 16 runs. Morris removed Russell in the penultimate over when he was caught in the deep by Kagiso Rabada after failing to connect a wide yorker from the South African.
Shubman Gill, who was promoted to open the innings in the absence of both Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn, responded with his second IPL fifty before getting dismissed for 65 off 39 balls. Gill smashed seven fours and two sixes, both coming against left arm spinner Axar Patel. The 19 year old stitched a 63 run partnership with Robin Uthappa (28) for the second wicket after his opening partner Joe Denly’s off stump was knocked over by Ishant Sharma with an stunning inswinger on the very first ball of the innings.