Eoin Morgan, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, revealed that West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has a Grade 2 hamstring tear. The all-rounder is working hard with the medical team to be fully fit for Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.
On Monday, Sunil Narine stole the show with both bat and ball as KKR beat RCB in Eliminator in Sharjah. After the match, Eoin Morgan said KKR will take a decision on Andre Russell’s availability on how the all-rounder presents himself on Tuesday.
Eoin Morgan: Andre Russell Has A Grade 2 Hamstring Tear
The KKR skipper added it had been a couple of weeks since the hamstring injury, and precautions have been taken on a daily basis in bringing back Andre Russell. The latter missed Monday’s Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“Andre has a Grade 2 hamstring tear, and it’s only been a couple of weeks since that injury. He has worked incredibly hard along with our medical team with intensive rehabilitation to try and get himself back on the park,” Eoin Morgan said in the post-match press conference.
“We only have 48 hours before the next game. So we’ll have to take that decision (on whether he is fit to play) based on how he presents himself tomorrow (Tuesday) and the next day,” he added.
Andre Russell has been the trump card for KKR. He has scored 183 runs from 10 IPL 2021 games averaging 26.14, and also has picked 11 scalps averaging 17.09, including a career-best 5/15. Andre Russell has missed his fifth straight game for Kolkata ever since injuring his hamstring against CSK. However, Shakib Al Hasan, who replaced him in the XI, has delivered consistent XI performances and played his part in the team’s success.
Eoin Morgan: KKR Bowlers Shown The Way To Be Aggressive With The Ball Trying To Take Wickets
KKR had won only two games out of seven in the IPL 2021 during the first half staged in India, but the side came back with strong performances in the UAE leg, winning 5 out of the next 7 to qualify for the playoffs.
“In the first phase of the tournament, we were still trying to implement Buzz’s (Brendon McCullum) mantra of trying to play positive, aggressive cricket. In the first phase it didn’t quite happen,” said Morgan.
“Throughout this second phase, people have turned up with a different motivation and drive to try and play the aggressive brand of cricket.”
“Our bowlers have shown us the way – how to be aggressive with the ball in trying to take wickets and identifying when to hold back and be a little bit more defensive. That’s led the way with our batting as well,” he signed off.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan attributed the team’s massive reversal in fortunes in the second leg of IPL-14 to his bowlers’ aggressive approach. Eoin Morgan added that Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was available for selection in Qualifier 2. However, he will miss the final if KKR qualifies to play for his national team in the T20I World Cup qualifiers.
During the eliminator on Monday, Sunil Narine gave glimpses of his ‘old mystery’ with the ball and then topped it up with three monster sixes, as KKR’s four-wicket victory dashed Virat Kohli’s dream of winning an IPL trophy while leading Royal Challengers Bangalore.
KKR struck in the 10th over as Sunil Narine picked a wicket in his first over, dismissing KS Bharat. Then, Sunil Narine landed two massive blows in his next two overs. First, he disturbed the timber to get Virat Kohli out for 39 and then bamboozled AB de Villiers to pick his third wicket, pushing RCB on the backfoot.
Sunil Narine continued to make merry, and KKR dominated the proceedings as Glenn Maxwell was dismissed in the 17th over. KKR plays Delhi Capitals on Wednesday for a place in the final, where Chennai Super Kings await.
Kolkata Knight Riders 139 for 6 (Gill 29, Narine 26, Iyer 26, Chahal 2-16, Harshal 2-19, Siraj 2-19) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 138 for 7 (Kohli 39, Narine 4-21, Ferguson 2-30) by four wickets