Is Andre Russell injured: Why did Dre Russell not bowl 19th over vs RCB?

Is Andre Russell injured: Kolkata Knight Riders’ all-rounder did not bowl the penultimate 19th over against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The 6th league game of Indian Premier League 2022 was a low-scoring thriller. After Royal Challengers Bangalore opted to bowl first on a tricky surface, Kolkata Knight Riders could not adjust to the conditions, and they were six down at 67 runs.

All-rounder Andre Russell took some charge on his own and he scored 25 runs in 18 balls, courtesy of three sixes. The 10th wicket partnership between Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy took KKR to a total of 128 runs. Wanindu Hasaranga scalped four wickets for RCB, whereas Akash Deep got three.

In return, the KKR bowlers also got a dream start. RCB lost their initial three wickets for just 17 runs, courtesy of some outstanding bowling from Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee. The game turned its tide quite a few times, but Dinesh Karthik’s sensible batting led RCB to a victory of three wickets.

Is Andre Russell injured?

Russell has been a core part of the Kolkata Knight Riders, but his injury has always been a matter of concern. In the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, it was certain that he was not 100% fit. Bowling the 13th over of the innings, Russell was seen walking gingerly.

Russell, who generally bowls the death overs, wasn’t there when the team needed him. Instead of Russell, all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer bowled the 19th over for KKR. RCB needed 17 runs to win in the last two overs, and Venkatesh Iyer conceded 10 runs in the penultimate over.

Russell came in to bowl the 20th over, but Dinesh Karthik smashed ten runs off his first two balls to seal the game for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The extent of Russell’s injury is not known, but he is not 100% fit. Former New Zealand player and commentator Simon Doull also said that Andre Russel is an “injury waiting to happen”.

“I know everybody is worried as soon as Andre Russell dives but you can’t play the game like that,” Simon Doull said on Cricbuzz.

“If they’re worried about it, don’t play him. Or don’t bowl him at all. Just tell Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana that you two are going to be our fifth bowlers.”

Kolkata Knight Riders will face Punjab Kings in their next league game on 1 April 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.