IPL 2021: Andre Russell takes a powerful direct shot in a practice match, forces Karthik to jump to save himself – WATCH

Ahead of the start of the new Indian Premier League season (IPL 2021), Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Andre Russell showed a glimpse of how he would like the upcoming season to play out. During a team match at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, one of Russell’s shots forced former captain Dinesh Karthik to take evasive action.

In a video uploaded by the Kolkata franchise’s official Twitter manager on Saturday night, Russell was seen facing a pacemaker with Karthik on the non-forward end. The explosive Windies hitter stayed rooted in his crease and hit the ball just past the pitcher and nearly eliminated his own teammate in the process.

Karthik showed great reflexes to jump sideways and get out of the way of the ball. He came back, got up, and completed the race.

The video caption in the tweet read: “Andre. DK. Watch the Knights get competitive in a practice game LIVE from DY Patil Stadium. @ Russell12A @DineshKarthik #KKRHaiTaiyaar # IPL2021”.

SEE | Russell forces Karthik to take evasive action

Wicketkeeper-hitter Karthik was the leading scorer in the game, scoring 90. While Ben Cutting led one side, the other was captained by Shubman Gill.

Gill and Co., courtesy of Karthik, put in 175. Cutting’s team chased the target with seven balls to seven balls to spare.

Seifert, who joined the KKR squad as a replacement for the injured Ali Khan last season, was the team’s star player hitting second when the goal was revised.

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Two-time champion KKR has not made the playoffs in the past two years and finished fifth in the table both times.

The onus will fall on Eoin Morgan, who was handed over the reins of the team midway through the 2020 IPL, to lead his team from the start and help it join an elite club of teams with three or more titles. Currently, only the Mumbai Indians (five) and the Chennai Super Kings (three) are on the list.

KKR will begin its campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 11.