Birthday special: Andre Russell – Five outstanding IPL knocks by the big hitter
Andre Russell is a beast with the willow. The West Indian is a batting powerhouse and has the ability to clear any boundary and decimate any bowling attack in the world with ease. Russell possesses brutal power and uses it to shatter the opposition.
Apart from his batting, he is also a bowler who can roll his arm over in the middle overs and scalp crucial wickets. And finally, he is an asset on the field, can dive around and save valuable runs for his side. With the West Indian turning 33 today, let us take a look at the top 5 performances from Russell in the IPL.
5) 66(36) vs Punjab Kings
On 18th April 2015, Russell dished out a pummeling that the Punjab Kings side will not forget. Batting first, the Punjab side posted a total of 155/9 on the board. In reply, it was the ‘Andre Russell’ show that sealed the game for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The right-hander bludgeoned a 36-ball 66 to power his side to a 4-wicket victory. Russell’s knock was embellished with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
4) 54(22) vs Chennai Super Kings
This knock was played just a week ago. On 21st April 2021, Andre Russell gave the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) a mighty scare with his pyrotechnics with the bat. The CSK side batted first and posted a total of 220 on the board.
In reply, the Kolkata side seemed helpless at one stage and was reduced to 31/5. And, that is when Andre Russell came and infused some life into the Kolkata outfit. The right-hander hammered 54 runs at a strike rate of 245.45. But then, just when the Kolkata side was gaining momentum, Russell was cleaned up by Sam Curran, and the Eoin Morgan-led side went down by a margin of 18 runs.
3) 62(28) vs Delhi Capitals
On 30th March 2019, Andre Russell’s scintillating assault allowed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) side to post a total of 185/8 on the board. With the Kolkata outfit reeling at 61/5, Russell provided the much-needed momentum for the Kolkata innings by smashing 62 off just 28 deliveries. He scored 4 fours and 6 sixes in his resplendent knock. In reply, the Delhi Capitals too, posted the same total as the match ended in a tie. And in the end, the Delhi side held their nerve to win the Super Over and beat the Kolkata outfit.
2) 80(40) vs Mumbai Indians
In the 2019 edition of the IPL, Andre Russell demolished the Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling attack. The right-hander came in at the No.3 slot, and scored 80* at a whopping strike rate of 200, as the Kolkata Knight Riders piled up a total of 232/2 on the board. Even though Hardik Pandya scored 91 off 34 deliveries, the Mumbai Indians (MI) could only score 198/6 and lost the match by 34 runs.
1) 88(36) vs Chennai Super Kings
Andre Russell’s most destructive performance in the IPL came in the year 2018 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Kolkata Knight Riders batted first, and Andre Russell entered to wield his willow with the KKR scorecard reading 89/5. And from there, the right-hander scored a breath-taking 88* at a strike rate of 244.44.
Russell hit a gargantuan 11 sixes during his innings, as the KKR side ended the first innings with the scorecard reading 202/6. But then, Russell’s efforts went in vain as the Chennai Super Kings chased down the target with 5 wickets to spare.
