Kolkata will learn from Mumbai heartbreak, says Russell

Instagram/KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Andre Russell bemoaned the failure of their big-hitters to get the team across the line against Mumbai Indians but backed the two-time champions to bounce back in IPL.

Kolkata, chasing 153, were cruising at 84-1 in the 11th over but Eoin Morgan's side then paid the price for over-aggression and finished on 142-7 on Tuesday.

England's World Cup-winning captain Morgan, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Russell all failed to reach double figures, with Kolkata falling short of the 22 runs they needed from the last three overs with half the batting line-up intact.

Franchise co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said on Twitter it had been a "disappointing performance" and apologised to the fans, and Russell said they had let themselves down.

"Unfortunately, good finishers like myself and DK (Dinesh Karthik), we didn't get bat to balls," he told reporters after the loss.

Russell managed nine runs before giving a return catch to Trent Boult, who bowled a tidy final over.

"As a new batter, to come in and hit from ball one is very challenging," Russell said.

"The ball was a bit up and down, so it's not the easiest pitch to hit on."

This was Kolkata's 10th defeat against defending champions Mumbai in the last 11 completed matches between the teams.

"We definitely feel disappointed but at the end of the day it's not the end of the road," Russell said.

"I've played hundreds of T20 games and I've seen games where teams cruising in the driver's seat and then suddenly lose a few wickets, new batter coming in struggles to get away the ball and I think that's what happened tonight.

"We definitely have to learn from this. We'll look into make sure that who is in stays in."

More from Sports

  • Arsenal miss chance to go six points clear with draw at Brentford

    Arsenal has wasted the chance to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford on Thursday, with Noni Madueke's second-half header cancelled out by Keane Lewis-Potter.

  • India thump Namibia ahead of Pakistan clash

    Defending champions India continued their march towards the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup with a 93-run win over Namibia in a group A contest at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.

  • Italy crush Nepal in maiden T20 World Cup victory

    Brothers Justin and Anthony Mosca guided Twenty20 World Cup debutants Italy to their first win in the tournament, as their unbeaten half-centuries secured a dominant 10-wicket victory over Nepal in a Group C clash on Thursday.

  • Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships reveals major expansion plan

    The 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will usher in the start of a new era for one of the Middle East’s most iconic sporting events with plans revealed for an extensive two-phase redevelopment that will transform the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and surrounding Aviation Club Tennis Complex.

  • Sri Lanka crush Oman for second victory in T20 World Cup

    Sri Lanka batsmen Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake and Dasun Shanaka cracked half-centuries as the 2014 champions continued to build momentum in the Twenty20 World Cup with a 105-run win over Oman in Pallekele on Thursday.

News