IPL 2022 | KKR vs PBKS - Superstar of the Match

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 8 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The match promised to be a close affair until the 'Hulk' of the KKR batting lineup, Andre Russell, arrived. He came and then did what he does best - smashed the bowlers and changed the course of the match in a matter of minutes.

Superstar of the Match

The Kings batted first in the match, and it was Umesh Yadav's show once again. He ripped through the PBKS batting lineup. However, Punjab never revived from the initial shock that Umesh Yadav gave them. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals throughout their innings and scored just 137 runs. 

The target looked very moderate, but Kolkata made a mess of a start. They were reduced to 51 for four wickets in the 7th over. At this stage, Andre Russell walked out to bat, KKR requiring 87 runs off 84 deliveries. 

The required run rate was 7.25, looks reasonably achievable. But Rahul Chahar was bowling a brilliant spell at this stage, and it looked like Punjab was getting a solid grip on the game. 

Russell set his innings beautifully. He decided to get a feel of the conditions at first. After he got settled, the burly all-rounder began thrashing the Punjab bowlers and made a joke of a target that looked a formidable one at one stage. He scored 70 runs off 31 deliveries and made the PBKS bowling look like a bunch of school bowlers.

Let's look at how he went about his innings.

Table: Strike Rate per 10 balls of Andre Russell’s knock

Fig: Runs per 10 balls of Russell’s innings

Fig: Strike per 10 balls of Russell’s innings

Observation: Technically, Russell faced 32 deliveries as there was a no-ball from Odean Smith. Russell tonked three sixes and one four off consecutive deliveries in the same over. 22 runs from just four deliveries, and the game changed completely. 

But what was noticeable in Russell’s knock was that he was not going crazy attacking the bowlers. Instead, he was waiting for his opportunity to go big. KKR fans will be delighted that their ‘Hulk’ is back in form and pulling off miracles again. The ‘Hulkurious’ knock from Dre Russ makes him our ‘Super Star of the Match’.

Underperformer of the Match 

While Odean Smith was the hero in PBKS’ last match against RCB, scoring 25 off eight deliveries, he turned out to be the ‘Underperformer of the Match’ in the very next game. When KKR needed 58 runs off nine overs, and just the wicket of Andre Russell could have changed the game, Smith was brought into the attack. But instead, the Jamaican conceded 30 runs, and the match was over in 6 deliveries. That particular over makes Odean Smith the ‘Underperformer of the Match.