Dre Russ. That's Andre Russell's popular nickname, one that he has earned thanks to his star value as one of the world's most sought-after and flamboyant all-rounders in the game. His wild haircut only adds to his marketability.
The West Indian has made a name for himself as a T20 freelancer, playing in leagues all over the world. When he blasted an astonishing 88 off just 36 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday, he had something to prove to himself. He was coming off a year's ban for a doping violation and his innings at Chepauk was his first major knock since his comeback.
In January 2017, Russell was banned for a year by an independent tribunal in Jamaica, which found him guilty of being negligent in reporting his whereabouts — under the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) code — on three different occasions within a 12-month period in 2015. Under the WADA rules, that amounts to a failed dope test. He was banned from playing any cricket between January 31, 2017 and January 30, 2018.
The impact of that verdict was beyond personal. The number of franchises across the world that had invested in him were also going to be affected, so the damages were plenty. The first casualty was the Pakistan Super League in 2017 and he was also missing in action for the West Indies for the home series against Pakistan.
Next up was the full season of the IPL. Then Nottinghamshire had to make do without him for the Natwest T20 Blast that season. He couldn't play in front of his home fans in the Caribbean Premier League. He then missed West Indies tour of England, the Bangladesh Premier League (he plays for Dhaka Dynamites), and Australia's Big Bash League. Russell had built quite a following in Australia, so for Sydney Thunder and his growing fans there, it was a blow, as the team finished sixth out of eight that season.
However, KKR were so keen to have him back at the earliest that they retained him for ₹8.5 crore (league fee ₹7 crore) ahead of the 2018 general auction. And here's why. In 2016, Russell was their highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets and finished the season as the batsman with the highest strike-rate of 164. He played 12 games for them, more than any other overseas player for KKR in 2016.
Following his return to competitive cricket from January this year, Russell has turned out for his native Jamaica in the regional 50-overs tournament and the PSL. He played five matches for Islamabad United before pulling out of the rest of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. West Indies too missed him for the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe when he along with Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo opted to play in the PSL instead. Fortunately, he recovered in time for the IPL.
When Russell walked in to bat on Tuesday, KKR had lost half their side for 89 by the tenth over. He then snatched the initiative by smashing 11 sixes and a single four in his knock, ensuring he stayed till the end. KKR may have lost a thriller, but for Russell it was a journey towards redemption.
“I think this one year I lost has made me a different person,” Russell said after his team’s five-wicket defeat against CSK.
“I have learnt how to be humble. I need to make sure that you stay on top of what you are doing as a professional and yet be humble. I just want to ensure that these things don’t happen again.”
KKR would only be too happy to have him back because ‘Dre Russ’ is back.
Published - April 11, 2018 05:12 pm IST
