10 things you may not know about Andre Russell
Andre Russell has stunned everyone with his whirlwind knocks in the 2019 edition of the VIVO Indian Premier League. The Caribbean all-rounder who recently celebrated his 31st birth anniversary has been the crown jewel of Kolkata Knight Riders this year.
Though Russell is at the topmost position right now, his journey to the top has not been that easy. Be it the controversial remarks he has made against the West Indies cricket board or the 1-year doping ban that he suffered, Russell has come a long way.
He started off his cricketing journey during his days in Jamaica. Aged 22, he helped his English club, Barnards Green Cricket Club secure a promotion from Worcestershire Cricket League to Birmingham League Cricket.
From Barnards Green Cricket Club to the Kolkata Knight Riders, Russell's life has taken various ups and downs. In this article, we will have a look at the 10 things that you may not know about Russell.
#10 Chris Gayle played a huge role in changing his game
During his early days in international cricket, Andre Russell was someone who was known for his big hitting but seldom only was he able to play big knocks. However, it all changed in the 2016 T20 World Cup where the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle himself went to Russell and instructed him to use bigger bats.
Also Read: "I have learned a lot from Chris Gayle," says Andre Russell
Reflecting on Gayle's role in his rise, the all-rounder had once said -
"I used to use lighter bats, but when you make contact with a light bat, it doesn't go anywhere. During the World Cup, he (Gayle) came to me and said, 'Russ, you're better than that. You can use bigger bats, you're strong.'
Russell used a bigger bat during the semifinal game against India and the Jamaican played a quickfire innings of 43 runs to throw the hosts out of the tournament.
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