Andre Russell’s venting out frustration against own team at pressers disappoints Shaun Pollock

Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stayed alive in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 after they beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by 34 runs at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Andre Russell was at his destructive best once again, slamming 80 not out in just 40 balls. The West Indian batsman was sent in at No.3 in this match, marking his biggest promotion in the ongoing tournament and it happened after some controversy.

The KKR had won four of their first five matches but then went on to lose six back to back ones, diving out of the fray almost. It was during the losing streak that the batting order of Russell, KKR’s most consistent player this season, came under scrutiny. Russell was not getting to enough balls despite hitting it better than everybody else in the team for he was being sent too late. In one game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Jamaican was sent in at No.7 even after he scored 65 off 25 balls at No.6 in the previous game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Russell himself was also frustrated with his long stay in the dugout before getting to bat and he even expressed his mind at press conferences. He spoke over the team management’s questionable decisions in batting and bowling and it was being received as an indirect jibe at captain Dinesh Karthik. The latter though claimed in another press conference that Russell was okay with his batting order.

Former South Africa quick Shaun Pollock did not take Russell’s outburst in a good spirit. The 45-year-old former all-rounder said venting out frustration against the team at press conferences don’t earn anything from the team’s perspective and advised that one should go to the team manager with complaints instead.

Take complaints to manager and not press, says Pollock

“Just from the outside, when you sit and watch those press conferences, it’s achieving nothing for your team. I firmly believe you should be careful about having an opinion. There’s nothing to be gained by going to a press conference and saying that we don’t have the right vibe in our side and things aren’t going well outside and I’m staying in my room. What’s that going to achieve from a team’s perspective? If you have those complaints, go to the team manager,” Pollock, who had played for the MI in the IPL in the past, was quoted as saying during Cricbuzz Live.

In an earlier press conference, when Russell was asked whether he would like to bat higher up in the batting order, he chose to remain silent showing a finger on his lips but wearing a smirk on his face.

The West Indian had his way on Sunday as the team sent him at No.3 after the KKR were off to a flying start and they ended up with a huge score of 232 for 2 in 20 overs and winning the game by 34 runs. Russell also took 2 wickets and bagged his fourth man of the match award of the season.

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