Andre Russell will bat higher up if situation arises, says KKR coach Jacques Kallis

Just when captains were feeling worried over thinking out ways to stop Dre Russ, none but some bizarre tactics from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have stopped the Caribbean giant. They simply refused to allow him to get the maximum exposure and build on his superhuman form in this Indian Premier League (IPL). Even in games that KKR needed to win to fancy a chance of making the playoffs, Andre Russell remained seated in the dugout, waiting for his chance at the fag ends of the innings.

The Knights’ captain and team management have come serious criticism over the decision to send Russell to bat late when he has been their only player this season who has made a difference. The Jamaican all-rounder has scored 392 runs in 10 games this season with an incredible strike-rate of 217 plus! He has single-handedly carried the KKR batting on his shoulders and snatched some unlikely victories for them. However, it’s the collective failure of the two-time champions that has hurt them in the tournament.

Following the KKR’s fifth consecutive loss in this tournament which was against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the RGI Stadium, their coach Jacques Kallis conceded that things could have been done differently and that they will make amends in the future if the situation so demands.

After his terrific knock of 65 off 25 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) the other night that had almost pulled off an unbelievable victory, the supporters were shocked to see the man coming out at No.7 in the next match against the SRH and a lesser-known Rinku Singh coming ahead of him. The innings had only four-and-half overs left when Russell came out and he could only manage 15 off nine balls.

Karthik didn’t agree Russell is unhappy with his batting position

Russell himself had opined that his going up the order might help the team but skipper Dinesh Karthik expressed the view that the Windies cricketer was not unhappy with his batting position, adding that he was playing to the role he is assigned in the team. Kallis though felt that Russell could have been sent a bit earlier in the game against SRH.

“It certainly hadn’t been one of our plans but if the situation arises then it’s something we’ll think of. It’s a matter of what the team needs in such a situation and what the captain and management come up with, and we feel where each player is suited to play. But like I said, if a situation arises where Andre or someone else can up the order, we’ve got to perhaps try one or two things a little differently,” ESPNcricnfo quoted Kallis as saying.

The KKR next play Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

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