The first match of Saturday’s (April 29) double-header is already underway as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are taking on Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 39 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. GT skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first. The match started after 45 minutes of delay due to rain interruption.
Andre Russell is one of the most explosive batters in the history of the cash-rich league. The veteran West Indian all-rounder is making his 100th IPL appearance for KKR in the match against GT. In addition to that, he is playing his 100th IPL match on his 35th birthday.
Russell has been playing for the two-time IPL champions since 2014 as a key all-rounder. He was named Player of the Tournament and IPL Super Striker in the 2019 edition when he achieved a record IPL season strike rate of over 205. His all-round prowess has helped KKR vanquish many sides in the tournament on various occasions over the years.
Rashid Khan to feature in his 100th IPL match
The clash between GT and KKR marked the 100th IPL match of the Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan. The Afghan T20I skipper made his debut in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2017 edition. With 17 wickets from 14 matches, he finished the tournament as the sixth-leading wicket-taker in his debut season.
He was roped in by the IPL 2022 debutants Gujarat Titans for the previous IPL season and was named the team’s vice-captain. He won the league title with GT in the franchise’s inaugural season. In the previous match against KKR in the ongoing season, the 24-year-old took a hat-trick and finished with figures of 3 for 37. He is currently jointly leading the IPL 2023 purple cap list. He is also mentoring another Afghan prodigy in Noor Ahmad who is also a part of the Gujarat Titans squad.