“If Andre Russell drops out of the first ball …”: KKR blasted for the under-anticidation of the Star Player

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) playoffs appear slim in IPL 2025, and some of their star players are a cause of concern. One of these stars is the West Indian Stalwart Andre Russell, who has been constantly failing to set fire and has failed to win the match for his franchise in IPL 2025. Russell has scored only 55 runs at a strike rate of 119, and a minimum role with the ball. Former legendary India cricketer Anil Kumble has criticized the use of KKR’s Russell.

Kumble said, “I felt that the use of Andre Russell is not really good from KKR’s point of view. I think Russell should bat high. He must have more opportunities,” Kumble said while speaking on Geostar.

Kumble described the Punjab Kings (PBK) as a game of KKR as a sport where Russell was used. In that match, KKR failed to chase 112, with Russell batting with tail-enders and left with a big work.

“Just look at one that they lost to Punjab. I think in the dugout, ideally at that point, ‘Okay,’ Okay, you go and just finish this game quickly. If you come on the first ball, it doesn’t matter. It is still batting in the hand. It is still batting. But it did not happen. To batte with Rasel.

In his previous game against Gujarat Titans (GT), Russell came out to bat in the 13th over with the required run-rate climb.

“In the last game, as long as Russell came, I think the competition was over, 17 and one and a half, 18 runs and more. It can be once in 10 games or once in 20 games. It may not happen every time. So I think I think KKR needs to find out,” Kumble expanded.

Russell has taken six wickets in IPL 2025, but has bowled in only four of KKR’s eight wickets. This is a much lower role than last year, when Russell was the second largest wicket -taking of KKR with 19.

Russell’s poor form has worked with some patch of Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh, converting KKR’s strong middle order into their weakness. Venkatesh and Rinku returned Rs 36.75 crore to KKR, but contributed only 135 and 133 runs in IPL 2025 respectively.

With three wins in eight matches, KKR risked the end of the playoff race with another necklace.