KKR fret over Russell fitness, spotlight on Brathwaite
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders' impact player Andre Russell was forced to skip the practice session on Thursday, owing to a shoulder injury sustained while batting in the nets on Wednesday.
KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL game on Friday and Russell's possible absence could pave the way for Carlos Brathwaite's inclusion in the playing XI.
The Barbados all-rounder, who is KKR's costliest pick of Rs 5 crore at the auctions, played only one match for KKR, against Delhi Capitals here that they lost by seven wickets.
Fretting over Russell's fitness, KKR skipper Karthik however did not rule out the Jamaican who has been a revelation with six explosive 40-plus scores on the trot.
"He's got a preliminary X ray yesterday and it's not even be 24 hours. By tomorrow, we will a get much better idea as to how he feels," Karthik said of Russell.
It was during the fag end of the practice on Wednesday that Russell failed to negotiate a rising delivery from net bowler Minad Manjrekar and fell on the ground, writhing in pain.
It was the same left shoulder where Russell was hit by a Harshal Patel delivery during KKR's match against Delhi Capitals at the Kotla.
Russell had also suffered a wrist injury in their away match against Chennai as it remains to be seen whether the team will risk playing the Jamaican.
KKR have suffered a hat-trick of losses as Karthik urged his batsmen and bowlers to buck up.
"I'm not going to shy away from the fact that we can bat better a little better definitely and definitely bowl a little better."
Meanwhile, RCB top order batsman AB de Villiers also skipped the training, while skipper Virat Kohli took a few throw-downs from coach Gary Kirsten after a game of football.
Rejuvenated by a World Cup call-up, Karthik would be eager to impress India captain Virat Kohli and also arrest the Kolkata Knight Riders' three game losing streak, when they lock horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League clash here on Friday.
In their first-leg clash in Bengaluru, Russell made all the difference with a whirlwind 13-ball 48 to drag KKR out of the woods and guide them to a remarkable five-wicket win.
While Russell's availability is a big concern for the home side who have not won in their last three matches, and placed sixth in the points table, there would be no shortage of inspiration for 33-year-old Karthik.
Kohli has his own problems as far as RCB is concerned with the team all but out of the competition if they lose on Friday. Rock-bottom in the table with just one win from eight matches, RCB just haven't been in the groove this year. From the remaining six games, they would have to win all to give themselves any chance of a playoff berth. Kohli has also not led from the front, cutting a forlorn figure on the field more often than not and also failing to fire with the bat.
The team's main problem has been their bowling which has been poor to say the least, except for Yuzvendra Chahal. In KKR, they would face an opponent hungry to return to winning ways after losing back-to-back home games.
