Andre Russell, the key player of Kolkata Knight Riders in the current season of IPL is a West Indian Cricketer. He is an all-rounder and is considered one of the most powerful strikers in the present age. Andre Russell made his debut in the IPL in 2012 with the Delhi Daredevils (Now Delhi Capitals). In 2014, he was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders and was playing for the team since. Andre Russell was one of the top players IPL whose strike rate was more than 150 in all the years since 2015.
In IPL 2015, he made 3 half centuries and hit 19 sixes and 35 fours in the 13 matches he played. He scored a high of 66 runs and had a strike rate of 192.89 in that year. He’s picked up 14 wickets with a bowling best of 3/32 and an economy of 7.96 in that season. In 2016, he played 12 matches in which he hit 10 fours and 15 sixes and completed the season with an average strike rate of 192.89. He performed well in the Bowling as well and secured a best of 4/20 with an average economy rate of 7.97.
Russell’s knock of 88 runs in 36 balls against CSK in 2018 with 11 sixes made him an indispensable player for the KKR team. He played 16 matches in that season with 17 fours and 31 sixes. He had an incredible strike rate of 184.79 and a bowling best of 3/31. KKR retained Andre Russell in IPL 12 as always as he has been a match winner in many of the previous seasons’ matches.
From the very first match in 2019, Russell had been a match winner for Kolkata Knight Riders team. In the first match between KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Russell scored an incredible 49 off 19 balls in a tough situation and led the KKR team to its first victory. He won the Man of the Match for his off the charts performance in that match. Russell destroyed the bowlers of KXIP in the next match against them. It is the second match of KKR in IPL 12 and Russell knocked 48 in 17 balls taking the score of the team to 218 runs that KXIP failed to chase. He won the Man of the Match award in that game too.
Though KKR lost the next match against DC, Russell managed to score 62 runs in 28 balls. In the next match against RCB, the man rocked the stadium again with his 48 in 13 balls which involved 7 sixes and just 1 four. He earned that player of the match for the third time in the tournament. He scored a half-century in the next match against CSK, and 45 runs in 21 balls against DC after, although KKR failed to win in both of them.
Andre Russell currently is on the top of the charts in players who scored Most Runs in an Over, Most Sixes, and Best Batting Strike Rate. He is in the second position in Most Sixes in an Innings and Best Batting Average. He has an average strike rate of 213.69 and a personal best of 62 runs till date. He has the highest number of player points- 207 whose closest competition is Hardik Pandya with 166.5 points. Observing this astonishing track record it is justified that he is currently the most valuable player in IPL 12.
Watch Andre Russell play in all of KKR matches in IPL 2019 live. Watch all IPL 12 matches live on YuppTV from Continental Europe, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South America, and South East Asia. You can also Download the YuppTV App to watch IPL 2019 Live on Smartphones, Smart Televisions, and other internet-enabled devices.