Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Ryan ten Doeschate heaped praise on teammate Andre Russell for taking the game away from Chennai Super Kings with a scintillating knock and open their campaign in the Oppo Champions League Twenty20 on a winning note.
Ten Doeschate said the victory is crucial for his side ahead of more competitive games in the tournament, which features teams from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Pakistan.
“It is not do or die yet. Obviously, you can afford to lose one or may be two if you got good run-rate. Chennai is probably the strongest team in the group. So, to get this win is a nice, better start,” ten Doeschate told reporters in the post-match press conference late last night.
“But, it is the Champions League for the reason, you got strong team from strong cricketing nations. Obviously, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and also India. There are going to be no easy games. So, any time picking up a win is very, very crucial,” he said.
Ten Doeschate, who struck an equally significant 51 runs in chasing the target of 158 set by Chennai, was all praise for Russel, saying that the Carribean took the game away from the rivals.
“He (Russell) just kept going. He has basically taken the game away from them in a space of six overs in a fantastic part of the knock,” he said. Ten Doeschate said he was not surprised by the power-packed performance of Russell that scripted the win against the formidable CSK.
“Not surprised. Because, we all knew that he is on the back of a very good Carribean Premier League. He had limited chances in the IPL. He did not bat particularly well during the IPL. When he is coming, he is in good form. We have seen him in the nets and the practice game this week. He has made it very nicely,” he said.
