Andre Russell has gotten off to one of the worst beginnings of his illustrious IPL tenure with 39 runs in four matches. The big-hitting West Indian all-rounder, who is KKR’s leading run-getter with the bat, has been uncharacteristically quiet with both bat and ball in IPL 2023.
Throughout the first three matches, he did not bowl a single over. Upon receiving the ball from KKR captain Nitish Rana against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he took three wickets. But KKR required him most with the bat after Harry Brook (100* from 55 balls) and Aiden Markram (50 from 26 balls) propelled SRH to 228/4.
KKR again got off to a disastrous start, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0), Venkatesh Iyer (10) and Sunil Narine (0) in the first few overs, but captain Nitish Rana’s stunning counter-attack brought them back into the game. After the dismissal of N Jagadeesan broke the 62-run partnership between Rana and N Jagadeesan for the fourth wicket, Russell assumed responsibility for maintaining the momentum.
Mayank Markande leg-spun the West Indies’ highest scorer for 3 runs off 6 deliveries. Leg-spinners have removed Russell in his past three innings.
Taking into consideration his struggles against leg-spinners, former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar asked Virender Sehwag on Cricbuzz if KKR should have contemplated opening with Russell. Could KKR have sent him as the opener despite his leg injury? Rohan Gavaskar stated that he wouldn’t have had to do much sprinting and could have used the field restrictions to his advantage.
Sehwag said he offered Russell the same advice in 2018 and it worked in the CPL, but he is unsure if the all-rounder can do the same with KKR.
In 2018, I told Andre Russell the same thing. I told Russell to play domestic and international cricket. If you achieve success as an opener, you will become a multimillionaire. Indeed, he did so. He opened in the CPL, scored a century in one of the games, and sent me a message stating, “But he was the captain and the best player there.” He is able to take such risks and open the batting. But can he perform similarly for KKR? This will be up to the coaching staff and commander to decide.
“He has no trouble against fast bowlers; it’s the spinners who can cause him trouble,” Sehwag said. “However, if he gets set while opening the batting, he’ll get a lot more balls to play, and he’ll become even more dangerous.”
Even using Virat Kohli as an example, the former India opener stated that Russell can complete more matches if he begins opening the innings and achieves success.
Who is the leader of the chase? Virat Kohli. He bats where for the RCB. Does he not complete matches? Andre Russell can also do this. However, KKR will have to assume this risk. Will he be able to withstand the brand-new ball? If so, consider him as an opener,” he continued.