Need to flexible as a team: Andre Russell after Kolkata Knight Riders’ loss

Virat Kohli blasted his fifth IPL century and Moeen Ali hammered 66 off 28 balls to boost Royal Challengers Bangalore to 213/4. In response, Kolkata Knight Riders were undone by a slow start from the top and middle order. However, Nitish Rana and Andre Russell kept Kolkata Knight Riders in the hunt with some big hits. Rana smashed 85 and Russell hit 65 but Kolkata Knight Riders fell short by 10 runs to lose their fourth consecutive match in IPL 2019. With this win, Royal Challengers Bangalore stayed mathematically in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. Kolkata Knight Riders would be ruing the slow progress made by Shubman Gill and Robin Uthappa, who consumed 11 and 20 balls respectively for nine runs.

Russell, speaking in the post-match press conference, stated that the team needed to be flexible but refused to say whether he should have been promoted to No.4. “I believe that (I should have batted at No 4)... Honestly, I think sometimes you have to flexible as a team. Looking at the make-up of our team, I would not mind going to bat at No 4,” Russell said.

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The Jamaican all-rounder rued the slow progress made by the middle order and said that was game-changing. “To lose by 10 runs, it's just two hits away. In the middle period, if we scored a bit faster we would definitely get the runs with even balls the spare,” Russell said.

The Russell-Rana partnership was worth 118 runs off just 48 balls and the Jamaican said they were feeling positive in the middle. “When I went to bat, Nitish came to me and said what I think. I said 'I bat one way -- and it's positive'. So if the first ball is in my court, I don't need to see what's happening. So to go out and chase 14-15 an over is not the best way you want to start as a batsman but I'm used to those conditions and situation,” Russell said.

Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal and they will be determined to snap their losing streak.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kolkata Knight Riders have lost four consecutive games in IPL 2019.
• Royal Challengers Bangalore registered only their second win in eight games.
• Andre Russell and Nitish Rana's partnership was 118 runs off 48 balls.