RCB’s miserable start to the 2019 IPL campaign was further extended to 5 matches after Kolkata Knight Riders stunned the hosts by chasing the huge total of 205. Unsurprisingly, it was Andre Russell (48*) who turned the match in the visitor’s favour with 7 towering sixes. Earlier in the contest, skipper Virat Kohli had brilliant strike of 84 from 49 balls followed by AB de Villiers’  63 to help RCB cross the double ton mark.
Match Analysis
Andre Russell – KKR’s Superhero?
If there was a face to a superhero in cricket, it would certainly manifest in someone like Andre Russell. After all, the mighty West Indian holds the power to single handedly decide the fate of a match.Â
With 53 needed off the last three overs and half the team back in the dugout, RCB were certainly dreaming of clinching their disastrous campaign’s first victory. Little did they knew that a single man could shatter their dreams. Having bowled two dot balls and a wide ball, Mohammed Siraj then made a huge mistake of bowling a delivery that probably cost his team the match. He bowled a high full toss (and thus a no ball) to Russell who graciously hit it for a six. The delivery saw Siraj being withdrawn for bowling two illegal deliveries and the incoming Marcus Stoinis faced the wrath of Russell  in form of two consecutive sixes.
Before this year no one had ever got 53 off the last 3 overs to win an IPL game. Thanks to Andre Russell, KKR have done that twice already – both *easily* in the end. Russell is redefining what is attainable – and considered normal – in T20.
— Tim (@timwig) April 5, 2019
In spite off giving away 23 runs, RCB still had hopes from the game with 29 needed off the last two overs. However, Russell made an absolute mockery of the chase by hitting five consecutive boundaries off Tim Southee – 6, 6, 6, 4, 6 – to level the scores even before the last over could begin. Andre Russell is, thus, KKR biggest X factor. And a superhero.
Andre Russell is playing a different game to the rest of the world right now. Hitting like we have never seen before.
Russell this IPL: 111•41166141464•611•111111644666641W•1••6166•1•••1114•616641424W•1••666166646
77 balls
207 runs
16.12 RPO#IPL #RCBvKKR— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 5, 2019
RCB the unluckiest teams of all?
They say bad things come in threes. But for RCB, that number was only one. They have to be given credit for showing excellent courage to score a score like 205 under intense pressure with Virat Kohli leading from the front. They even executed their plan in the second innings as well, KKR to 139/4 with pressure of rising run rate piling on. Pawan Negi (2/21) and Navdeep Saini (2/34) both had put the home side in commanding position.
However, that one bad thing, that reason for their fifth defeat of the season was their inability to dismiss an ever-dangerous Andre Russell. They would have known the kind of killer-instinct that the all-rounder holds had they seen the match between SRH and KKR when he hit 49* off 19 to power the team to victory.
It rarely happens that your one fault costs you an entire match. But that was the case against Russell, and now RCB are still left wondering exactly what went wrong for them.
No matter whatever they do, things are simply not turning their way.
Moment of the Match
Andre Russell hitting Tim Southee for 29 runs in a single over was undoubtedly the magical moment of the match. It only went on to show that you should never underestimate your opponents, no matter how much the odds are in your favour.
#KKR – 205/5, 19 Overs
? – 2061⃣6⃣6⃣6⃣4⃣6⃣
DRE RUSS has finished off this encounter in Bengaluru! ?#RCBvKKR #VIVOIPL #KKRHaiTaiyaar— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 5, 2019
Epic Fan Tweets
Kohli to Tim southee in dressing room #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/DW1ThGaV0T
— YU S UF ?? (@khanyusuf8896) April 5, 2019
#RCBvKKR
This team will play next match in place of Rcb pic.twitter.com/Wt20K5YOwV— Amitpatel (@Amitpat1603) April 5, 2019
SRK showing points table to RCB fans. #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/iMzpNL5BDO
— Amruth Rathore (@AmruthRathore) April 5, 2019
RCB has ZERO points on the point's table. Somebody tell Virat Kohli that his wife's movie is already out of theatres , no need to promote it anymore. #RCBvKKR
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) April 5, 2019
Andre Russell literally in every IPL match:-#RCBvKKR #Russell pic.twitter.com/QaUAK0ha4s
— SwAYam SiNha (@_herayam_) April 5, 2019
Every rcb fan right now#RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/T7az25GPZl
— Piyushhh-_- (@Piyush21381217) April 5, 2019
Expert Opinion
Considering the success of spinners Chahal and Negi, surprising latter didn’t complete his quota and Moeen Ali didn’t bowl a single over
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 5, 2019
Man of the Match
Any doubts there?
Man of the hour, man of the moment, man of the match @Russell12A all smiles for the #IPLSelfie pic.twitter.com/fqheeXKOga
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 5, 2019
