IPL 2019 | Andre Russell is the billion dollar man for KKR, opines Chris Lynn

The 2019 Indian Premier League season is proving to be a treat for cricket lovers all across the globe for its high-paced entertainment thus far. Friday night’s high-scoring encounter between Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata Knight Riders was a thriller right up until the very last over of the match. A late flurry of shots from in-form Kolkata batsman Andre Russell ensured his team victory in the most epic fashion.

KKR opener Chris Lynn, who scored 43 off 31 deliveries last night, reserved all praise for his teammate who almost single-handedly won the match for his team with a thunderous 13-ball 48*.

"We keep putting him in tough situations and he keeps lifting his game. He is just too good. Two-hundred and fifteen was probably par on that wicket. Both teams gave opportunities. We dropped Kohli and AB de Villiers and RCB also dropped a couple of chances. Luck was on our side. Change of fortune for us. It is unbelievable and entertaining for us. He keeps doing it. He is a billion dollar man for KKR," Lynn said at the post-match interview.

Away team captain Karthik too lavished praise on Russell for putting together another masterpiece but added that his bowlers too needed to step up their game and take more responsibility. The India wicket-keeper also had some words of appreciation for Lynn's knock at the top of the innings which set up a good base for the KKR side at the start of the run chase.

"Those kind of knocks, you don't talk much. We trust him as a player. It's important to give him an atmosphere where he's happy and he just keeps performing. Yes, it was hard to play strokes against spinners with the ball gripping but was easier against the fast bowlers.

"I think as much as well he batted, it's time we all started to bowl better and help the batters. It was nice to see Lynn bat like that and take responsibility," Karthik added.