logo
Andre Russell rewarded with SA20 offer from Sourav Ganguly after match-winning knock against Rajasthan Royals

Andre Russell rewarded with SA20 offer from Sourav Ganguly after match-winning knock against Rajasthan Royals

Mint05-05-2025
Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Andre Russell finally delivered for the franchise as he played a blistering 57-run knock against the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, helping his team post a total of 206 in 20 overs. As it turned out, Russell's knock proved to be the difference between the two teams, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Following his match-winning performance, Russell also met former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly, who reportedly offered him a chance to play in the South Africa T20 league for the Pretoria Capitals in the upcoming season, according to journalist Sumit Ghosh.
Notably, Ganguly serves as the Director of Cricket at JSW Sports, where he oversees both the Delhi Capitals' WPL team and the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 League.
Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Russell said, 'We all know the importance of this game. We had four games to go and it was like four finals. Happy with our performance and the win. I had time to go, so I was not worried about the dot balls that I faced.'
'It was a difficult wicket to go out and start hitting. Happy that I was able to hit boundaries at the end, and Rinku also got a few away. The scoreboard is the best indication—you have to evaluate the situation, see which bowlers you can see off, and which ones you can target.'
Coming in to bat in the 13th over, Russell not only stabilised the KKR innings but also maintained a healthy scoring rate. In his 25-ball stay, the Caribbean powerhouse smashed 57 runs—including four boundaries and six sixes—as he took the RR bowlers to the cleaners.
Kolkata Knight Riders now have 11 points from the 11 matches and need to win all their remaining three matches in order to secure a place in the IPL 2025 playoffs.
First Published: 5 May 2025, 01:31 PM IST
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

IPL 2026: Nitish Kumar Reddy Breaks Silence On His Future With Sunrisers Hyderabad Amid Trade Rumours
IPL 2026: Nitish Kumar Reddy Breaks Silence On His Future With Sunrisers Hyderabad Amid Trade Rumours

India.com

time4 hours ago

  • India.com

IPL 2026: Nitish Kumar Reddy Breaks Silence On His Future With Sunrisers Hyderabad Amid Trade Rumours

India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has broken silence on his future with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid the trade rumours. According to a report from India Today, Nitish had expressed his desire to leave SRH over his role in the team, especially after being pushed down the batting order. However, the 22-year-old all-rounder on Sunday took to social media to issue clarification, saying that he will always stand by his current IPL team. "I tend to stay away from the noise, but some things deserve clarity. My connection with SRH is built on trust, respect, and years of shared passion. I'll always stand by this team," wrote Reddy on his 'X' account. Ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction, Visakhapatnam-based Reddy was retained by SRH at Rs six crore. It came after Reddy amassed 303 runs in 13 matches and also took three wickets in IPL 2024, which paved his way for selection into India T20I and Test teams. But Reddy failed to repeat his heroics in IPL 2025 - scoring only 182 runs in 13 games and didn't bowl a lot of overs due to his recovery from a side strain which kept him out of action after the first T20I against England earlier this year.

'Some things deserve clarity': Nitish Kumar Reddy clears the air on SRH exit rumours
'Some things deserve clarity': Nitish Kumar Reddy clears the air on SRH exit rumours

First Post

time5 hours ago

  • First Post

'Some things deserve clarity': Nitish Kumar Reddy clears the air on SRH exit rumours

Nitish Kumar Reddy has opened up on whether the rumours about him wanting to leave Sunrisers Hyderabad are true or now. Reddy had a forgetful IPL 2025 season with SRH, who finished sixth on the table. read more Indian cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy has opened up on the speculations of him wanting to quit the IPL outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad. The all-rounder has been an integral part of the SRH squad for the last couple of seasons, and on the back of his performances in the IPL, he even managed to secure the India call-up. However, the past week saw rumours swirling about him wanting to explore a new challenge in the IPL edition of 2026. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Addressing the rumblings, Reddy has come out to state that he is not swayed by the 'outside noise' and clarifies that the relationship between him and SRH is as strong as ever. Reddy clears the air on whether he wants to leave SRH 'I tend to stay away from the noise, but some things deserve clarity. My connection with SRH is built on trust, respect, and years of shared passion. I'll always stand by this team,' Nitish Kumar Reddy wrote on X. An India Today report gave credence to the assertions by claiming that Reddy is not happy with his role within the SRH setup and is contemplating an exit from the franchise. Reddy had an untactful IPL 2025 edition. The all-rounder featured in 13 matches of the season and failed to lift the struggling team with his performance. He managed to score just 182 runs at an average of 22.75 and carried a modest strike rate of 118.95. Reddy was retained by the franchise ahead of the auction for Rs. 6 crore. Nitish's struggles continued in England The IPL struggles carried forward to India's series against England. The team management entrusted Reddy to deliver handy performances with the bat in the lower order and also contribute with the ball. Reddy failed to capitalise on the opportunities he received and might particularly rue the chance he missed at Lord's, where he could have forged a match-winning stand with Ravindra Jadeja. However, he left India in dire straits and eventually the team lost by 22 runs. Following the Lord's Test,

India's new women pacer, Kranti, wants to help aspiring sportswomen
India's new women pacer, Kranti, wants to help aspiring sportswomen

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

India's new women pacer, Kranti, wants to help aspiring sportswomen

Bhopal: The new pace sensation of the Indian women's cricket team, 21-year-old Kranti Gaud, hailing from the tribal region of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh, dedicates her success to her family, which faced sheer hardships and her demands as an aspiring cricketer. She dropped out of school after her father lost his job with MP Police, while her eldest brother left his studies to take up a job and support the family. However, the hardships faced in life helped her overcome adversities and shine. After her initial success with the ball in international women's cricket, she intends to give back to society and help aspiring sportspersons. She says, "It's time for me to give back to society." Gaud's recent performance against England in the third match, where she claimed six wickets, led India to a series victory. Following her record-breaking haul, the young pacer received recognition from Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who shared her Player of the Match award with her. Kranti's journey to the national team was stupendous. Her coach, Rajiv Bilthare, recalled giving her Rs 1600 for cricket spikes initially. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "I still remember the happiness on her face. She told me it was like a dream come true for her," Bilthare said. Bilthare explained, "When she came to my academy for the first time in 2017, she was wearing simple shoes and clothes. I came to know that her father was unemployed as he was terminated from the job, and the whole family was dependent on the sole income of her elder brother, so I did not think it right to charge her any fee. I myself used to arrange for her dress, shoes, clothes, and other cricket gear. Since the girl had talent, she played well and brought glory to all of us. " The youngest of six siblings, Kranti's father, Munna Singh, lost his job with the Madhya Pradesh Police in 2012 due to misconduct during election duty, leading the family to shift from their official quarters to a small rented home. Gaud expressed her aspirations, "I want to buy a house for my family. This is my priority. I want to help other girls at the academy who can't afford cricket gear," she told TOI. "My assistance to the girls will enable them to concentrate on their sporting activities without worrying about resource constraints," Gaud said. Her brother Mayank recounted their struggles: "I was the eldest among our siblings. My father was the sole breadwinner for the family. After losing his job, we were in a lot of trouble—without a house and even difficult to have proper meals daily. Me and my family faced very bad times. At that time, to even think of letting Kranti pursue her passion for cricket was very difficult. People rebuked us, but somehow we managed, and the results are there for all to see. "

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store