IPL 2018 | Andre Russell seeing the cricket ball as big as a soccer ball, says Jacques Kallis

IPL 2018 | Andre Russell seeing the cricket ball as big as a soccer ball, says Jacques Kallis

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Jacques Kallis has praised Andre Russell in a high note by saying that the big-hitting batsman is seeing the cricket ball as big as a soccer ball after his knock against Delhi Daredevils. He also advised Kolkata Knight Riders' players not to take the eye off the ball despite two consecutive wins.

When Kolkata decided not to announce a replacement for Andre Russell ahead of the IPL 2017 - when he was banned from the game for a year for his failure to attend the dope test - it was expected that the team would anyway retain him in 2018 and they did. However, what was under severe doubt was that whether Russell would be able to retain his batting prowess after a one-year ban from the game. However, Russell ensured that no one would doubt the logic behind his team’s gutsy faith in him with two innings magnificent ability against Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings. 

Kolkata Knight Riders head coach and mentor Jacques Kallis was all praise for Russell and remembering the match on 16th April, Kallis in his column for TOI penned that as a team, they were looking for a target around 175-180, but Russell's arrival single-handedly took the score to 200.

“Andre Russell is seeing the cricket ball as big as a soccer ball at the moment. What a staggering intervention against Delhi! We were comfortably heading towards a total of around 175-180 when he arrived at the crease. He smashed six out of 11 balls for six and was out to the 12th. Wow. Just wow,” Kallis, who has scored almost 25,000 runs for South Africa, wrote.

Against the Daredevils, KKR defended a total of 200, which is as good as any chasable target on any day, at least from the small sample size that we have in IPL-11. Nitish Rana’s 59 and an explosive 12-ball 41 from the West Indies all-rounder helped the team touch the 200-run feat. Next up, against the Rajasthan Royals, KKR comfortably chased down a target of 141 runs with seven wickets remaining. Back-to-back wins have put two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders back in the top two of the IPL 2018 Points Table, and no one is happier than Kallis. 

The former KKR player, who has scored 1,295 runs for the franchise between 2011 and 2014, said that although the wins have come at the right time, KKR need to carry forward the good work to sustain this winning momentum.

“Two outstanding victories have put us back on track, but you can never take your eye off the ball in this game – literally and metaphorically. We have to give it another mighty push on Saturday against the in-form Kings XI,” the legendary cricketer wrote. 

Sunil Narine’s 4 overs cost 48 runs and Andre Russell didn’t come to crease in Kolkata’s last match against Rajasthan Royals. Despite all this, KKR won convincingly against RR, which is a good sign, believes Kallis. The South-African star also applauded Narine’s efforts with the bat and ball and gone on to say that the player has become better than before. 

“One of the most pleasing aspects of our start is the number of players who have contributed and the fact that we are not relying on certain individuals. Having said that, you just can’t stop certain guys from performing, like Sunil Narine, who has been in prolific form with bat and ball. Only those who have seen him regularly behind the scenes will know just how much work he has put in to remodel his action and remain effective. I don’t think he’s as good as ever – I think he’s better than ever. We are very fortunate to have him.” 

Kolkata Knight Riders will face the in-form Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens on Saturday(April 21).

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