KKR fret over Russell fitness, spotlight on Brathwaite

Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday and Russell’s possible absence could pave the way for Carlos Brathwaite’s inclusion in the playing XI.

Published : Apr 18, 2019 21:12 IST , Kolkata

Russell failed to negotiate a rising delivery from net bowler Minad Manjrekar and fell on the ground, writhing in pain, on Wednesday.
Russell failed to negotiate a rising delivery from net bowler Minad Manjrekar and fell on the ground, writhing in pain, on Wednesday.
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Russell failed to negotiate a rising delivery from net bowler Minad Manjrekar and fell on the ground, writhing in pain, on Wednesday.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders’ impact player Andre Russell was forced to skip the practice session on Thursday, owing to a shoulder injury sustained while batting in the nets on Wednesday.

KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday and Russell’s possible absence could pave the way for Carlos Brathwaite’s inclusion in the playing XI.

The Barbados all-rounder, who is KKR’s costliest pick of Rs 5 crore at the auctions, played only one match for KKR, against Delhi Capitals here.

READ| KKR looks to reverse three-match losing streak

Fretting over Russell’s fitness, KKR skipper Karthik however did not rule out the Jamaican who has been a revelation with six explosive 40-plus scores on the trot.

“He’s got a preliminary x-ray yesterday and it’s not even 24 hours. By tomorrow, we will a get much better idea as to how he feels,” Karthik said of Russell.

It was during the fag end of the practice on Thursday that Russell failed to negotiate a rising delivery from net bowler Minad Manjrekar and fell on the ground, writhing in pain.

It was the same left shoulder where Russell was hit by a Harshal Patel delivery during KKR’s match against Delhi Capitals at the Kotla.

Russell had also suffered a wrist injury in the away match against Chennai as it remains to be seen whether the team will risk playing the Jamaican.

KKR have suffered a hat-trick of losses as Karthik urged his batsmen and bowlers to buck up.

“I’m not going to shy away from the fact that we can bat better a little better definitely and definitely bowl a little better.”

Meanwhile, RCB top order batsman AB de Villiers also skipped the training, while skipper Virat Kohli took a few throwdowns from coach Gary Kirsten after a game of football.

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