IPL 2019: Andre Russell took the SRH bowlers to the cleaners and helped KKR post a win as Shah Rukh Khan watched on from the stands at Eden Gardens on Sunday (IPL Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Co-owner of KKR, Shah Rukh Khan cheered for the home side during their six-wicket win over SRH on Sunday
- Andre Russell stole the show by playing a late cameo and helped KKR begin IPL 2019 on a winning note
- Shah Rukh Khan took to social media to thank the cricket fans in Kolkata for backing the team during their opener on Sunday
Kolkata Knight Riders' co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday thanked the cricket fans in Kolkata for turning up in large numbers and backing the home team during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Eden Gardens.
Shah Rukh Khan, who along with co-owner Juhi Chawla, cheered for KKR from the stands at Eden Gardens revealed that the love showered by the fans made Andre Russell overwhelmed so much so that the West Indies big hitter nearly broke into tears.
Shah Rukh Khan was elated with KKR's performance as the two-time champions opened their IPL 2019 campaign with a convincing win over SRH on Sunday. Chasing a mammoth total of 182, KKR had lost opener Chris Lynn early but local stars Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa stitched a 80-run stand for the second wicket.
However, the asking rate kept climbing steeply and KKR's chances took a blow when they lost captain Dinesh Karthik and Rana in quick succession.
When a successful chase seemed improbable, Russell stepped in and took the game away from SRH by blasting a 19-ball 49, which included four sixes and as many boundaries. The Knight Riders star showed little respect to some of the established SRH bowlers, including their captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as he took them to the cleaners, much to the delight of the Eden Gardens crowd.
"@Russell12A said to me that he was so overwhelmed with the welcome fans gave him, that he wanted to cry. Then decided big boys don't cry in public. @NitishRana_27 @robbieuthappa & @RealShubmanGill & the whole team plays for You Kolkata. Thk u for the Love (sic)," Shah Rukh Khan wrote on Twitter after KKR crossed the finish line.
@Russell12A said to me that he was so overwhelmed with the welcome fans gave him, that he wanted to cry. Then decided big boys don’t cry in public. @NitishRana_27 @robbieuthappa & @RealShubmanGill & the whole team plays for You Kolkata. Thk u for the Love.
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Young India batsman Shubman Gill gave the perfect finishing touch by smashing a couple of sixes of Shakib Al Hasan when 13 runs were needed off the final over.
KKR couldn't have asked for a better start and the team management would have been elated with the way Russell has began his IPL 2019 campaign. Russell, who has been a consistent player for KKR, had missed quite a lot of international cricket, including West Indies' T20I series in India last year, due to a knee injury.
Having clinched two points in the opening game, KKR will host Kings XI Punjab in their second match at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
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