<p>If he’s not scoring, he’s making the difference with his bowling and fielding and Kolkata Knight Riders star West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell says it’s the team’s calming reassurance that brings the best out of him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Needing 11 runs to defend in the last over, Man of the Match Russell (4/20) claimed a wicket and ran out Axar Patel, who was looking to spoil KKR’s homecoming with a seven-ball 21 that included two sixes against the Jamaican, to seal a close seven-run win.<br /><br />“I think being comfortable knowing that I would play the next game, gives me a big confidence in terms of going forward. It boosts me a lot more,” Russell said after their win that dislodged Gujarat Lions atop the table on net run rate.<br /><br />Having scored a crucial 24-ball 39 in their win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, Russell was run out for 16 last night as KKR were restricted to a modest 164/3 after skipper Gautam Gambhir (54) and Robin Uthappa (70) put on their season’s highest 101-run opening partnership.<br /><br />“If I was in a situation where I have to do well to play the next game, maybe I would worry about my game and would not perform the way I do. Knowing that I will play the next game, I’m confident.”<br /><br />Less than a day after joining the team after a long flight, the West Indies World T20 winner had given it a winning start in the ongoing IPL when his 3/24 set up a nine-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils who were skittled out for 98.<br /><br />“As a cricketer, I want to leave behind a legacy, set standards as high as possible. I love these challenges, enjoy bowling in the moments where I can win the game. If it goes the other way, I learn from it and take the positives. I enjoy workload and want to go from strength to strength.”<br /><br />Russell said he did not mind batting in the death but would like to get more overs in the middle.<br /><br />“At the end, I would really appreciate if I could get more time to bat. So be it, I’m just happy to be a part of this team. Wherever the skipper needs me to go bat and bowl, I want to give 100 per cent. I can’t complain.”</p>
<p>If he’s not scoring, he’s making the difference with his bowling and fielding and Kolkata Knight Riders star West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell says it’s the team’s calming reassurance that brings the best out of him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Needing 11 runs to defend in the last over, Man of the Match Russell (4/20) claimed a wicket and ran out Axar Patel, who was looking to spoil KKR’s homecoming with a seven-ball 21 that included two sixes against the Jamaican, to seal a close seven-run win.<br /><br />“I think being comfortable knowing that I would play the next game, gives me a big confidence in terms of going forward. It boosts me a lot more,” Russell said after their win that dislodged Gujarat Lions atop the table on net run rate.<br /><br />Having scored a crucial 24-ball 39 in their win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, Russell was run out for 16 last night as KKR were restricted to a modest 164/3 after skipper Gautam Gambhir (54) and Robin Uthappa (70) put on their season’s highest 101-run opening partnership.<br /><br />“If I was in a situation where I have to do well to play the next game, maybe I would worry about my game and would not perform the way I do. Knowing that I will play the next game, I’m confident.”<br /><br />Less than a day after joining the team after a long flight, the West Indies World T20 winner had given it a winning start in the ongoing IPL when his 3/24 set up a nine-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils who were skittled out for 98.<br /><br />“As a cricketer, I want to leave behind a legacy, set standards as high as possible. I love these challenges, enjoy bowling in the moments where I can win the game. If it goes the other way, I learn from it and take the positives. I enjoy workload and want to go from strength to strength.”<br /><br />Russell said he did not mind batting in the death but would like to get more overs in the middle.<br /><br />“At the end, I would really appreciate if I could get more time to bat. So be it, I’m just happy to be a part of this team. Wherever the skipper needs me to go bat and bowl, I want to give 100 per cent. I can’t complain.”</p>