“The best he’s ever batted in his career” – Dinesh Karthik hails KKR power-hitter

“The best he’s ever batted in his career” – Dinesh Karthik hails KKR power-hitter

Dinesh Karthik

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is all set to begin their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 journey on April 11 during the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Former KKR skipper and their current wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik leapt praises for Andre Russell before the start of the tournament. 

The 35-year old recalled the 2019 IPL clash between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Andre Russell won the ‘Man of the Match’ award to clinch the victory for his side from the jaws of defeat. The West Indian all-rounder played a marvellous knock 48* runs off just 13 deliveries. Meanwhile, he smashed seven sixes and one four. 

“Andre Russell… in 2019 batted the best he’s ever batted in his career. Some of the innings he played, he single-handedly won the game for us,” Karthik said in a video on ESPNCricinfo.

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“I very vividly remember one over when some bowler started it, and he got injured after one ball. Comes in Marcus Stoinis… my god, the way he hit Stoinis and that’s where things started. And then he took out Southee. These two overs and in a span of 10-11 balls, he hit six or five sixes, I’m not sure, completely changed the game,” Karthik added.

‘Absolute treat to watch Russell bat’: Karthik

Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik further talked about how it was an absolute treat to watch him bat during that game.

“Till about 16 overs, which is about 36 overs of this game, RCB were all the way up and running. They were killing it. But just that point, in walks Andre Russell and the way he batted was just an absolute treat to watch him,” Karthik said.

After a successful run in 2019, Russell failed to leave an impact during the last IPL edition. He looked sluggish in most of the matches and failed to cement his place in the playing XI for all 14 games. However, the all-rounder will look to start fresh in the upcoming season for the Kolkata-based franchise.

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