30 April,2025 01:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kolkata Knight Riders` bowler Andre Russell celebrates a wicket during the IPL 2025 match against Delhi Capitals (Pic: PTI)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell was happy that his side defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2025 on his birthday.
A fightback from spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy helped the side register a 14-run win against DC. Russell acknowledged the team effort, highlighting the importance of getting runs on the board and capitalising on the opponent's mistakes.
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Celebrating the win on his birthday, Russell credited his clear mindset. The 37-year-old also revealed that he had asked his teammates to win the game. "I asked the guys in the meeting today that I wanted a win. This is the most amazing T20 league. Happy they scheduled this match on my birthday, thanks for that. It was a total team effort from the guys".
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"Getting runs on the board that was crucial. They made mistakes (in the middle overs) and we got those wickets. Just a happy day. Just had one plan, had to be clear as I was going to bowl six yorkers, that was the mindset. Told the skipper the same," Andre Russell said in the post-match presentation. Russell made an important 17 runs in 9 balls, which powered KKR post 204 in the first innings.
Bowling the last crucial over, Russell dismissed Delhi's Vipraj Nigam. Completing two overs, he bagged one wicket by conceding 22 runs. Speaking about the team's inconsistent batting unit, he feels that the side has the ability to score good totals.
"Once you don't confuse yourself as a bowler, you do good. We have to keep it simple as bowlers, especially at the death. We haven't clicked as a batting unit this season, but we still get good totals. Maybe three batters have a good night out of the six or seven batters. I still back the guys, the confidence is still there. We just try to execute our skills and plans, don't need to think too much. Bringing himself (Narine) back was crucial at that (14th over) time, he got big wickets in that over, that's where we started believing in ourselves. Varun had one over at the back-end where he picked two wickets. It shows we have a good unit," said Russell.
(With ANI Inputs)
