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In what turned out to be a high-stakes encounter at the iconic Eden Gardens, Andre Russell once again showcased why he is considered one of the most feared T20 batters in the world. His blistering unbeaten knock of 57 runs off just 25 balls powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a commanding total of 206/4 in their 20 overs against the Rajasthan Royals during Match 53 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
Andre Russell’s explosive finish lifts KKR to 206/4 against Rajasthan Royals
Walking in to bat at a tricky stage with the score reading 111/3 in the 13th over, Russell took a cautious start against the Royals’ spinners, managing just 2 runs off his first nine deliveries. However, what followed was vintage Russell carnage. Once he found his rhythm, he tore into the pacers with sheer brute force. He first targeted Akash Madhwal and Jofra Archer, then dismantled the spin threat of Maheesh Theekshana with devastating strokeplay.
Russell’s innings was not only significant in the context of the match, but also in the history of the franchise. He built a crucial 61-run partnership with Angkrish Raghuvanshi, stabilizing the innings after a mini collapse in the middle overs. Following that, his unbeaten stand of 34 runs with Rinku Singh further propelled KKR towards a match-winning total. Russell ended with a strike rate of 228.00, slamming four boundaries and clearing the ropes six times, electrifying the Eden Gardens crowd with his trademark power hitting.
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Milestone achievement and dominance at Eden Gardens
This innings also saw Russell etch his name deeper into KKR’s legacy. Entering the game just 2 runs shy of the 2,500-run mark for the franchise, Russell achieved the milestone early in his innings. He now has 2,555 runs to his name in 131 matches for KKR, making him only the second player in the team’s history to cross the 2,500-run milestone. The only other player to have done this is former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir, who accumulated 3,035 runs for the franchise. Russell’s consistency and longevity are reflected in his impressive IPL numbers—he averages 29.03 and strikes at an eye-watering rate of 175. His reputation as a six-hitting machine is backed by 217 maximums and 179 fours across his KKR career.
Adding to the list of accolades, Russell also completed 1,000 IPL runs at Eden Gardens during this very knock. He came into the match with 989 runs at the venue and required just 11 more to breach the four-figure mark. By the time he returned to the pavilion unbeaten, he had brought his total to 1,046 runs at this ground. This achievement places him in elite company as only the third batter to register over 1,000 runs at Eden Gardens in the IPL, further solidifying his stature as a fan favourite in Kolkata.
Here’s how fans reacted:
KKR finally got it right today — Russell came in at the 13th over, just when he had enough time to settle. No matter how big a hitter you are, those few balls early on are gold. His innings today proves it.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
At last! At last! and me have been talking about this stereotyping of players as finishers for ages. Finally, Russell comes in with a few overs left. Hopefully Tewatia is next.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Thanks KKR for believing in Andre Russell 🔥
— Homie (@homelander_yyy)
From 2*(9) to 57*(25)
This is Peak Russell stuff from 2019.— arfan (@Im__Arfan)
THE ONE. THE ONLY. ANDRE RUSSELL!!! 💪🔥
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders)
Andre Russell back to smashing bowlers for fun before CSK game.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
One of the last Russell masterclasses we’ll see, to be fair. Savouring it to the fullest. I adore this man so much.
— mauj masti enjoyer (@zraas000)
Best of Andre Russell after such a long time! Shows again what he can do if given the right batting position and entry point! Better late than never.
— Prasenjiit Dey (@CricPrasen)
Andre Russell might be only batter with decent sample size to have more sixes than fours almost everywhere:
T20I: 63 fours | 89 sixes
IPL: 182 fours | 218 sixes
BBL: 29 fours | 35 sixes
CPL: 129 fours | 154 sixes
T20s overall: 605 fours | 744 sixesFrom 2 in 9 to 55 in 23 today
— Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek)
🚨 MILESTONE UNLOCKED!
1,000 Runs at Eden Gardens for 💥
He's now the third KKR batter to achieve this feat after Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa. The big man continues to leave his mark at home! 💪💜
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
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