Know Your Player – Andre Russell
Cricketing milestones, rise through the ranks, trials and tribulations and their glamorous lifestyles – we cover it all in ‘Know Your Player’, a brand-new section aimed at keeping you updated with everything you need to know! In this edition, we take a look at Dre Russ himself, Andre Russell. Keep watching this space for a new superstar every time!
The Beginning
Born in Jamaica, Russell was always regarded as a prodigious all-round talent and made his first-class debut at the age of 19. Soon enough, he found his way into a depleted West Indian Test side in 2010. But it was in the limited-overs format where his explosive skills both with the bat and the ball came to the fore. One of the best power-hitters in the game, Russell has gone to become a legend in T20 cricket.
The Rise
The Comeback
Russell was found guilty of doping violations in 2016 and was handed a one-year ban in 2017. But he made a successful comeback to the game in 2018, with his dangerous striking abilities better than ever. In the 2019 IPL, KKR’s hard-hitting all-rounder smashed 510 runs at a thunderous strike rate of 204.81. He was equally rewarding with the ball, having scalped 11 wickets at an average of 26.09.
Off The Field
Russell married his long-time American girlfriend Jassym Lora in 2016. He is an avid fan of hip-hop music and started his second career as a recording artist in 2014 under the name ‘Dre Russ’. Russell is a fitness freak and frequently posts his training videos from his Instagram handle.
