Russell supports SRK tweet after embarrassing defeat
Kolkata Knight Riders allrounder Andre Russell bemoaned the failure of their big-hitters to get the team across the line against Mumbai Indians but backed the two-time champions to bounce back in the Indian Premier League.
Kolkata, chasing 153, were cruising at 84-1 in the 11th over but Eoin Morgan’s side then paid the price for overaggression and finished on 142-7 on Tuesday.
England’s World Cup-winning captain Morgan, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and Russell all failed to reach double figures, with Kolkata falling short of the 22 runs they needed from the last three overs with half the batting line-up intact.
Franchise co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said on Twitter it had been a “disappointing performance” and apologised to the fans, and Russell said they had let themselves down.
“Yeah, I support that (Shah Rukh Khan) tweet but at the end of the day the game of cricket... you are not sure until it’s over. I think we are still confident, we still played some good cricket and I am proud of the boys. You know, we are definitely disappointed but it’s not the end of the road, it’s only the second game and we are going to learn from it,” Russell said in the virtual postmatch press conference.
“Unfortunately, good finishers like myself and DK (Dinesh Karthik), we didn’t get bat to balls,” he told reporters after the loss.
Russell managed nine runs before giving a return catch to Trent Boult, who bowled a tidy final over.
“As a new batter, to come in and hit from ball one is very challenging,” Russell said.
“The ball was a bit up and down, so it’s not the easiest pitch to hit on.”
This was Kolkata’s 10th defeat against defending champions Mumbai in the last 11 completed matches between the teams.
“We definitely feel disappointed but at the end of the day it’s not the end of the road,” Russell said.