Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have retained the West Indian duo of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell as the IPL franchises announced their list of retentions on Thursday in Mumbai. Both Narine and Russell have done wonders for KKR in the last few years.
The Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise opted to retain the Windies players over someone like skipper Gautam Gambhir. As per the reports, the Knight Riders skipper wanted to return back to the team where he started his IPL career- Delhi Daredevils.
It makes absolute sense that the KKR management went ahead with retaining Narine and Russell. Not only were the duo consistent performers for the team, but both are high on experience as far as T20 is concerned.
Narine and Russell have travelled all over the world and have been part of the Big Bash, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Premier League.
To announce the retentions to their fans, KKR tweeted: “Part-time singer, full-time entertainer! 🎤🕺 When @Russell12A is on song, there are very few who hit the ball as cleanly as he does. 💥 .THE VERSATILE ALL-ROUNDER IS A KNIGHT, AGAIN! Welcome back! 💜”
Part-time singer, full-time entertainer! 🎤🕺
When @Russell12A is on song, there are very few who hit the ball as cleanly as he does. 💥THE VERSATILE ALL-ROUNDER IS A KNIGHT, AGAIN! Welcome back! 💜#AmiKKR #KorboLorboJeetbo #VivoIPLRetention #Retained pic.twitter.com/GqHaYdspDn
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 4, 2018
Russell too thanked the franchise for showing trust in him and retaining him for the upcoming season. “Big thanks to my #KKR family for the support! Great to be back with @KKRiders #AmiKKR in 2018 👊🏿”
Big thanks to my #KKR family for the support! Great to be back with @KKRiders #AmiKKR in 2018 👊🏿
— Andre Russell (@Russell12A) January 4, 2018
KKR team CEO, Venky Mysore replied to the star all-rounder and wrote, “Superman! Can’t wait to see you back in #Purple&Gold”
Superman! Can’t wait to see you back in #Purple&Gold
— Venky Mysore (@VenkyMysore) January 4, 2018
Well, apart from opening the bowling, Russell’s hard-hitting gives the team much-needed impetus in the end overs of the innings and therefore retaining him for the upcoming IPL is a wise move by the Knight Riders.
