'Got nothing to do with anyone coming in KKR' - Sunil Gavaskar rubbishes 'Gautam Gambhir claim' behind Andre Russell's success

In a thrilling encounter at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders' Andre Russell stole the limelight with a breathtaking performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Russell's blitzkrieg knock of 64 runs off just 25 balls, coupled with his two crucial wickets, propelled KKR to a nail-biting four-run victory. However, amidst the celebration of Russell's heroics, Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar raised a pertinent question regarding the attribution of credit.

Gavaskar, while acknowledging Russell's brilliance, cautioned against hastily crediting KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir for the West Indian's exceptional performance. Gavaskar cautioned, emphasizing that Russell's success in the first match of the season shouldn't be solely attributed to Gambhir's mentorship. The former cricketer pointed out the unpredictability of T20 cricket, questioning whether Gambhir would be held responsible if Russell fails to replicate his stellar performance in the upcoming games.

"Let's not go ahead of ourselves, he batted well, and it's got nothing to do with anyone coming into there (KKR). If he doesn't do well in the next few innings, will you blame Gautam Gambhir? Let's take it a little bit easy," Gavaskar told Star Sports.

Additionally, Gavaskar highlighted the shortcomings of the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers, particularly Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose failure to execute yorkers played into Russell's strengths. The legendary cricketer emphasized Russell's prowess and the inability of any bowler to contain him when he's in full flow.

"When you saw someone like Bhuveneshwar Kumar, who was practising his yorkers so well on the practise pitches, bowled leg-deliveries (in the match) which was everything in the arc for Andre Russell... When somebody like Russell is hitting the ball into the stands, nobody can stop him," Gavaskar explained.

 I have tried to react with whatever comes my way: Russell

Following his match-winning innings, Russell expressed his emotional attachment to the Knight Riders franchise, underscoring the significance of wearing the team's jersey. He reflected on his journey with KKR, acknowledging the challenges he faced and reaffirming his commitment to delivering impactful performances for the team.

"Sometimes stuff pop on my Insta and I realise how well I am striking the ball. Shows that you are doing well. I have tried to react with whatever comes my way. Over the last 2 years, bowlers have their plans against me. I have been digging out the runs, and I know everyone has a plan for me. (On his journey with KKR) I was on the bench early on, and just tried to make myself useful. This franchise means a lot to me, what I did tonight was just a way to prove what this jersey means to me. Hopefully I can keep performing this way," he said.