IPL 2019: Gautam Gambhir Reveals How KKR Picked Andre Russell in the Auctions

Apr 7, 2019 at 3:56 PM

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IPL 2019: Gautam Gambhir Reveals How KKR Picked Andre Russell in the Auctions

There is certainly no doubt about the fact that Andre Russell has been the game changer for the Kolkata Knight Riders in Vivo IPL 12 so far. He has been literally incredible and his power hitting has been of a different level altogether. Russell has just smashed the ball to all corner of the ground and he had done that quite consistently over a period of 4 matches. Every critic has been in awe of the super striker and his six hitting abilities.

Current he has won KKR at least a couple of matches from the jaws of defeat. In the last match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, KKR needed a humungous 53 of 16 deliveries. From there on it was mayhem by Russell. He kept depositing most of the deliveries over the fence and Mohammad Siraj and Tim Southee just had no answer to his hitting.

IPL 2019, KKR Predicted Playing XI, RR vs KKR
Russell’s power is enough to dictate terms. Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.

Andre Russell collected 23 runs from the Siraj over and followed it up with 29 runs over of Tim Southee. It was carnage on display by the big man from Jamaica. Former Kolkata Knight Riders Gautam Gambhir who helped the franchise win two titles under his leadership revealed how KKR had bought Andre Russell in the auctions as a backup for Jacques Kallis.

“A lot of people ask me how KKR discovered Andre Russell. Was it modern-day cricket analytics? Was it a genius head-hunter who recommended him? Or was it a masterstroke at the auction table?

“Being a former KKR captain I can tell you that it was none of the above. It was a classic case of not finding a table at the best Italian restaurant in your city and ending up at a lesser known joint. Let me explain.

When KKR picked up Dre Russ, he was a lesser known player without a doubt and was just a backup option for the great former South African all-rounder. Back then Russell had only made 58 runs from 7 matches and was yet to make a substantial impression in the tournament. However, KKR had very little kitty left and he was bagged for a price of just Rs 60 lakhs.

“In 2013-14 we were searching for a backup for the great Jacques Kallis. One of the very few options available was Russell. Till then he had played two seasons for Delhi. With 58 runs in seven games, Russell was the lesser-known Italian joint waving at the customers passing by.

“They would stop, look, ponder, and move on. KKR booked a table purely as there was no choice. And the Rs 60 lakh price tag for Russell didn’t hurt at all.”

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir was also critical of Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli. The former KKR skipper felt Kohli should have in the ears of Tim Southee and reminded him of the team plans when he was going for hammers and tongs by Andre Russell. Gambhir has been vocal about Kohli’s captaincy.

 “That is when Virat the leader should have been in the ears of Southee reminding him of his plans for Russell.”

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