Andre Russell, Windies, PSL, IPL, Doping Ban, WADA, ICC
Andre Russell Photo Credit: IPL.

There is hardly anything left for Andre Russell to prove that he is one of the greatest cricketers in the shortest format of the game today. The Wisden also agreed with it as they named the Jamaican all-rounder as the leading athlete in T20s of 2019. With his superhuman ability to dispatch the ball cleanly over the rope, Russell has played several knocks to justify his importance, especially during mammoth run-chases.

Also Read: Tim Southee, Sophie Devine Voted New Zealand’s Best Cricketers Of 2019/20

Overall last year, he played 46 matches across five major T20 cricketing leagues. During these, Russell accumulated 1080 runs at a strike rate of 182 along with 101 sixes. With the ball, he picked 43 wickets and plucked 23 catches in the outfield.

Andre Russell
Andre Russell. Credit: Twitter

Russell’s exploits in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are well-known. He won the Most Valuable Player of the tournament was pretty much justified as he amassed 510 runs along with 11 wickets.

Andre Russell reveals how the anti-doping ban worked in his favour:

Andre Russell Named Leading T20 Cricketer Of 2019 By Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Andre Russell (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/Getty Images)

In 2019, he set a record of hitting 52 sixes, which is only second to Chris Gayle, who clattered 59 in 2012. The 31-year-old credited his dominance to the fitness regime that he resorted to when on an anti-doping ban for a year between 2017 and 2018. The Jamaican revealed that ever since he got banned, Russell changed his mindset and worked hard on his fitness to become leaner and muscular. The same has enabled him to play more powerful shots with ridiculous ease.

“I changed my mentality since I got banned. I was slacking off. I was big. I was lazy. I wasn’t practising hard. I came back stronger, leaner, more muscular. I’m hitting the ball effortlessly for six.” Russell said as quoted by Wisden.

Also Read: IPL: Steve Smith Names Two Young Players To Watch Out For

Read More  KKR and Rajasthan Royals announce replacements for Prasidh Krishna and Mujeeb Ur Rahman