IPL 2023: “We really needed that victory,” Russell relieved as KKR end 4-match losing streak with 21-run win over RCB

KKR badly needed a win to get their campaign back on track.

KKR outplayed RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium | BCCI-IPLKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a convincing 21-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday (April 26).

The two-time IPL winners were on a losing streak of four straight games. KKR badly needed a win to get their campaign back on track and the players stepped up to the plate to get the better of a star-studded RCB line-up.

Asked to bat first, KKR piled up 200/5 on the board with major contributions from opener Jason Roy (56 off 29) and skipper Nitish Rana (48 off 21).

With the ball, the visitors did incredibly well to restrict the hosts to 179/8. Varun Chakaravarthy (3-27), Andre Russell (2-29) and Suyash Sharma (2-30) were the wrecker-in-chief with the ball, sharing seven scalps among them.

After the game, Russell said this victory came as a relief for the team while also admitting that KKR were under a lot of pressure in the last few games.

"We really needed that victory. You know we were under the pump for the last few games. But now this win makes us feel better, two points keep you happy. Batting first tonight, we know anything around 200 would be great. Scoreboard pressure is always good to have. It doesn't matter whether you bat first or bat second. In the end, all it comes down to runs and the dew factor," Russell told the broadcaster.

Andre Russell bowled his full quota of 4 overs, a rare occurrence these days and picked the important wickets of Virat Kohli and Wanindu Hasaranga.

"Once I get the ball, I try to do my best. I try to contribute in whatever way I can. Still confident with the bat but got a brilliant yorker from Siraj. We are taking game by game and day by day. So one game at a time for us. Recovery is very important. As I get older I need to get smarter with my body," he added.

Kolkata Knight Riders will next face Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens on Saturday (April 29).

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 27 Apr, 2023

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