IPL 2022 LIVE: We are Used to Russell But Cummins’ 56 ‘Unbelievable’, Says McCullum

IPL 2022 LIVE: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum heaped praise on Pat Cummins for his heroics against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Wednesday.

Australia pacer Cummins stunned the five-time champions MI by scoring a 15-ball 56 to help KKR win by five wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. In the process, Cummins registered the joint-fastest half-century in the IPL (in 14 balls), alongside KL Rahul.

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Speaking in a video, shared by KKR on social media, McCullum said that they are used to watching Andre Russell produce such knocks but it is “unbelievable” coming from Cummins.

Cummins struck six sixes and four fours in his unbeaten knock of 56, which was also the Australian Test skipper’s third fifty in the IPL.

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In the list of fastest half-centuries in the IPL, Sunil Narine and Yusuf Pathan are joint-second, having scored in 15 balls. The duo of Suresh Raina and Ishan Kishan stand joint-third in the table.

When Cummins walked in to bat, KKR were five down and still needed 61 runs more off 41 deliveries. The fast bowler, who is known for his hard-hitting, put up a match-winning unbeaten partnership with Venkatesh Iyer. The latter also scored a fifty as he remained on 50 not out off 41 balls.

IPL 2022 LIVE: Ventakesh Iyer played a ‘very very intelligent’ innings, says Brendon McCullum

In the same video, McCullum said that the way the duo played was a message for the opposition, “we will continue to play our shots. We will continue to try and take you on. We have total and utter belief in that style of play. It’s not always going to work there’s going to be times where we are going to be challenged doing it.”

The former New Zealand captain hailed Venkatesh as well, saying the Indian batsman played a “very very intelligent” innings. McCullum added that the opening batsman held up his end for Cummins to take charge and play his natural game yet managed to score at a strike rate of over 120.

It was KKR’s second consecutive victory in the underway IPL 2021. The Shreyas Iyer-led side has won three out of their four games so far. MI, on the other end, are yet to open its account, having lost all their three matches.

MI next take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday (April 9) in Pune. KKR’s next game is on Sunday against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

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