Raining Sixes at Eden Gardens: Andre Russell Smashes Season’s Fastest Fifty to Take KKR from Nowhere to 208 - WATCH

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell rolled back the years with an incredible unbeaten 64 run-knock off just 25 deliveries to help Kolkata Knight Riders to a total of 208 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on Saturday in their IPL 2024 opener.

Russell reached his half-century in just 20 deliveries as KKR became the first team to post a total of over two hundred runs in the nascent season.

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KKR were put to bat by SRH skipper Pat Cummins, who opted to bowl first after having won the toss ahead of the game.

Phil Salt and Sunil Naraine gave the hosts a quick start as they put up 23 runs on the board before the end of the second over, but Naraine was dismissed thanks to an excellent bit of fielding from Shahbaz Ahmed.

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Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer were dismissed cheaply as they were sent back to the changing room for 7 runs and a duck respectively. The Shah Rukh Khan-owned side’s woes were compounded further as Nitish Rana followed his teammates back to the dugout after having made just 9 runs.

However, Salt and Ramandeep Singh stabilised the KKR innings with their 54-run stand for the fifth wicket.

The Indian, Ramandeep, added 35 runs off just 17 deliveries in ana attacking innings before succumbing to Cummins. Salt brought up his half-century to payback the side’s faith in him, but fell soon after.

Russell walked in at 119/6 in 13.5 overs and was accompanied by the big-swinging Rinku Singh across the pitch. And then all hell broke loose.

Russell took on the SRH bowling unit and smashed their hapless bowlers in bloody fashion as he smashed the ball out of the park delivery after delivery.

His innings consisted of seven massive sixers and three fours. The game also marked the moment Russell became the quickest player to reach 200 sixers in the IPL.

Rinku added 23 runs off 15 deliveries before being scalped by T Natarajan, but Russell saw out the innings without being dismissed and helped KKR put up a huge total.