IPL 2018, KKR v/s DD: This is how Andre Russell lit Eden Gardens on fire

Andre Russell looked like a man possessed when he came to bat for Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday. Delhi Daredevils, former KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir's team, looked lost for words for the 12 balls that swashbuckling West Indian played at Eden Garden, Kolkata.

Supported by the home crowd the all-rounder smashed six sixes in a dozen balls he played. The spell was divided between India's Mohammed Shami and Kiwi quick Trent Boult.

Here's the path he took to his 41 runs:  1 6 2 6 6 0 1 6 1 6 6.

Russell attacked Shami when the game resumed after strategic break. Put him under pressure by hitting it out of the park on the first ball. But it was Trent Boult who managed to stop him with full length ball. Russell tried to flick it on the leg side but the good pace and swing rattled the stumps.

Nitish Rana was the big scorer in Kolkata Knight Rider's innings with 59 runs off 35 balls.

Social media reactions were inevitable

Gambhir & Co. prepared for Narine Lynn, Nitish Rana came out of syllabus!! #KKRvDD

— Burning Dezire. (@iam_za1d) April 16, 2018

Batsmen really bringing about their best when injured. We saw it with Rahane and then with Dhoni . And today Russell. DD began with a maiden and gave just 1 in the final over but 199 in the 18 overs in between. #KKRvDD

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 16, 2018

shami gets a 50 in front of his home crowd #KKRvDD

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 16, 2018

Andre Russell is not world class. He is Andre Russell class. A class of his own.

— ʀαjdєєp (@RajSpeaKING) April 16, 2018

Very impressive.....Nitish Rana. #KKR rate him very high and he has delivered today. That partnership with the merciless Russell means we are looking at a second big run chase for #DD

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 16, 2018

Kolkata gave a very good batting performance. After Narine's early departure, Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa moved along steadily and put up a fifty on scoreboard. It set the platform for the middle order to take advantage of. A couple of decent partnerships were formed, but the real onslaught started when Nitish Rana and Andre Russell joined forces out in the middle. Their 61-run stand came in no time, with Russell going ballistic. Rana stuck it out there, and credit to him for bringing up the score to 200.