IPL 2020: One experienced player each franchise should retain

Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Andre Russell (Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI)

Retained by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 7 crore ahead of the 2019 season, Andre Russell proved he was worth the money with some sensational performances with the bat. In 14 games in the 2019 edition, Russell amassed 510 runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 204.81, with four fifties.

Russell hit as many as 52 sixes in the tournament, as match after match he tried to pull KKR out of trouble. He blasted 65 from 25 balls in the home game against RCB, but in vain. Russell’s unbeaten 80 off 40 against eventual winners Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens led them to victory.

Such was the brute force with which Russell was scoring runs that he openly declared to the media that he felt he was batting too low. That led to speculations of things not being in sync within the KKR camp, and left the franchise management a bit embarrassed.

But that shouldn't be reason enough for KKR to look away from the all-rounder for 2020, considering he is also valuable with the ball and is a spectacular fielder to boot.

Overall IPL record: 64 matches, 1400 runs, 55 wickets