Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell was delighted to be able to return from a “grade two, grade three” hamstring injury in the ongoing IPL 2020 and managed to contribute to KKR’s crucial 60-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday (November 1).
After a rest of 14 days due to injury, Russell played his first game against in-form RR and made his presence felt with an 11-ball 25-run knock comprising of a boundary and three sixes to help KKR post competitive 191 on the board in the 54th game of the ongoing IPL 2020 in Dubai.
However, the West Indian could now bowl in the KKR’s must-win clash against Royals but Pat Cummins (4/34), Shivam Mavi (2/15), and Varun Chakravarthy (2/20) finished the job for the Riders, as the two-time IPL champions restricted RR to 131/9 to keep their hopes of making it to the play-offs alive.
After KKR won the game, the all-rounder reflected back at the painful days in rehab, saying the “scan was very ugly” but credit to KKR team management, physio, and doctors that he recovered early from the injury and played in the crucial game against the Royals.
Russell told the host broadcasters Star Sports at the post-match presentation, “It's a good feeling to be back on the field. It's been a tough two weeks doing rehab three times a day, was a bit painful. But, I'm happy that I'm back. It's a grade two hamstring tear which usually takes 8 weeks to heal.”
He further added, “The scan was very ugly. With KKR physio and doctors around me, it helped. I was bowling a few walks upon balls before the game tonight, and it felt good. When it (hamstring) is feeling good, that's when it's healing, and I don't want to disturb the healing process.”
The all-rounder didn’t bowl against RR due to his injury and it was a call taken by the team, adding: “When it (hamstring) is feeling good, that's when it's healing. We have good bowling (attack), so I can chip in with the yorkers at the death, but for now, I'm going to take one game at a time.”
Russell has also commented on his form with the bat in the ongoing IPL 2020, where he looked in great touch but got out soon after trying to hit each and every ball for a boundary
He signed off by saying, “As soon as I sweat and my blood's getting hot, I'm getting out. We were waiting for the cricket gods to work things out for us. I watch each and every game. We play against each other, two games against the same team in a season. So, I watch on the phone what the bowlers do and the batters do.”
(With ANI Inputs)
