Leg injury rules Russell out of Lions game

Andre Russell will not play in Kolkata Knight Riders' crucial match against Gujarat Lions on May 19. The 28-year old allrounder limped off the field midway through the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday with a suspected injury to his left leg; he did not travel with the squad that reached Kanpur on Tuesday evening.

Russell is the tournament's third highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps, and Knight Riders' fourth highest run-scorer with 188 runs. He bowled 2.3 overs against Royal Challengers and left the field twice, first midway through the Royal Challengers innings and after bowling three deliveries of the 19th over. In the penultimate over, Russell was helped off the field after he tumbled for the third time in his follow-through.

With Knight Riders needing to win both their remaining matches to confirm a place in the playoffs, they will hope Russell can regain his fitness as soon possible. The medical staff is monitoring his injury and a definitive prognosis is likely in the coming days.

Knight Riders have 14 points from 12 games and have to face Lions away and Sunrisers Hyderabad at home. They are among four teams with a positive net run-rate (0.28) and can make the knockouts even if they do not win any more matches. In that case, however, Knight Riders will have to depend on other teams' results going their way as well.