Overview:
Russell mentioned that he was not in favour of playing purely as a batter.
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell surprised everyone when he announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) great was a match-winner for his franchise, but decided to bid adieu after he was released by the franchise. However, Russell will remain a part of the three-time champions as a power coach. He was expected to attract bids from the franchises in the IPL 2026 auction but opted to retire from the tournament.
Russell, one of the greatest players in the shortest format of the game, has opened up on the reasons behind his decision, saying the challenges of performing consistently forced him to take a big call.
“The number of games and travel is not easy. You have to make sure that you recover on time and stay fit to compete. You also have to manage practice sessions and gym workouts. You need practice and also hit the gym, but you can’t overdo it,” Russell told Cricbuzz.
“It is challenging for an all-rounder in a league like the IPL. Batting, bowling and fielding are always challenging. The tournament is so big that you always have to be at your best,” he added.
Russell mentioned that he was not in favour of playing purely as a batter.
“I have never thought about that because my batting and bowling are important. I want to bowl at least two overs in a match. If I bowl well, it helps me in my batting as well,” he explained.
“If I were a batter from the start, I would have thought about it, but I can’t play as an impact player and smash sixes. I enjoy batting and bowling,” he mentioned.
In 140 IPL matches, he scored 2651 runs at a strike rate of 174.18, and he also took 123 wickets.
The all-rounder played a big role in KKR’s two title triumphs in 2014 and 2024. He played for the franchise for 12 seasons.
Although he has retired from IPL, he will continue to play in different leagues across the globe.
Comments are closed.