Andre Russell is hitting like no other hitter in T20 cricket.
Andre Russell has the greatest strike rate of any player with 250 or more death-over runs in a year, with 287.50 (276 runs) in 2024. Heinrich Klaasen, who appears to be hitting on another level today, is a distant second with 261.68.
Andre Russell averages two sixes per over during this phase, and he’s not just having fun. Russell sees it through once he gets in: he’s batted 11 innings at the end of the season and has only been out three times.
Andre Russell has 474 T20 runs at an average of 67.71 and a strike rate of 226.79 after only three months in 2024, a fantastic improvement over last year. Andre Russell scored 522 runs in 2023, averaging 26.10, and his strike rate of 155.82 was his lowest in a year since 2011.
Andre Russell stated that a tiny tweak he made to his technique had a significant influence on his game.
“I have made a few [technical] changes,” he stated on the eve of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium. “I was batting in the nets in Abu Dhabi, and Sunil [Narine] suggested something to me while observing my technique. And I realized I was traveling too quickly [ahead].
“So I focused on my stride toward the pitch. Now, having a short stride works for me. Most big-hitters don’t have a very long stride. So that’s one thing I’ve done, and I now have more time to play ball. I believe that is the only minor change I have made.
I’m attempting to relocate as late as possible. I have good hand speed, so I try to rely on it and just utilize hand-eye coordination.”
Andre Russell also studied past hitting tapes to remind himself of his attitude when he was performing well.
“I always knew what I could do, and I’ve been doing this for a few years now,” he told reporters. “I’ve had some great seasons in the IPL, when I hammered it everywhere. I reviewed those old tapes and saw that I was clear in my thinking and overall approach for each performance.
“I recently allowed myself to be under strain because I was overthinking things. When we are going through a hard patch, we may resort to this. Even if you keep doing what you know, failure will occur. Even the finest players may fail. So it’s all about the mentality, and I’m more clearer in my approach to each speech.
“I believe it is a negative mindset to say, ‘I don’t want to get out.'” What works for me is to believe in myself and let things unfold naturally. I don’t face many pitches in my job, so I can’t expect to bat like a No. 2 or No. 3 batter. The more I practice shots, the more nervous I am when bowling. Then I relieve myself of the pressure and transfer it to the bowler. That is not what I was doing.
With me doing it now, the bowler is thinking about what he has to do with every delivery, and I don’t have to worry about anything other than making the best option for each ball.”
Andre Russell, who scored just 227 runs with a strike rate of 145.51 in IPL 2023, has opened this season with a return to his explosive form. Coming in at 119 for 6 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he hammered an unbeaten 64 off 25 balls at Eden Gardens, taking two wickets.
Andre Russell has also prioritized physical fitness in addition to technical and mental tasks. In December, he stated that he would look “like a UFC fighter” for the T20 World Cup in June.
“At the moment, I have four packs, so I’m working on the next two,” he remarked, smiling. “Being leaner and lighter is definitely beneficial to my body, as seen by my performance. I enjoy watching the UFC. Seeing those guys looking powerful and slender motivates me, so I set a goal. I am confident that it will help my cricketing abilities, including bowling, fielding, and batting.
