West Indies’ hard-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) last week. Not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Russell did not see himself donning any other franchise’s jersey. He rejoined the KKR franchise as their ‘power coach’. After an IPL career that spanned 14 seasons, the 37-year-old revealed Mumbai Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah is the toughest bowler he faced in the league. He recalled how Bumrah would be handed the ball most of the time when he walked out to bat.
“One of the most challenging bowlers that I've always come up against is Jasprit Bumrah. As soon as I come in to bat, most of the time they give him the ball. He has got me out a few times but I have also enjoyed hitting him for a few boundaries. I love those challenges where I'm not going to say, "I'm going to just bat him out or not take him on." I like to take on challenges. He's one of the best in the world right now - maybe the best T20 bowler, or the best T20 fast bowler. So that challenge was always special,” Russell told Cricbuzz.
Russell has been dismissed four times by Bumrah in the IPL (as per ESPNCricinfo). There are three other bowlers who have got the better of Russell four times in the IPL - Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, former South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris and India's Shardul Thakur.
Russell was also asked about the IPL battle he enjoyed the most. He picked five-time IPL-winning franchise MI.
“I enjoy playing against most teams. There will always be challenges, but this particular team - Mumbai Indians - always gives us a fight, whether they come to Kolkata or when we go to the Wankhede. We know that, okay, we're going into that ring,” he said.
Andre Russell’s batting record against Mumbai Indians
Russell did not have the best of records against MI. From 16 innings, he scored 260 runs against MI at an average of 18.57 and strike rate of 148.57.
His best performance against MI came in the 2019 edition at Eden Gardens. Batting at no.3, he hit eight sixes and six fours in his unbeaten 40-ball 80. Bumrah remained wicketless and conceded 44 runs as KKR posted 232/2. He made an impact with the ball as well, getting wickets of Evin lewis and Suryakumar Yadav. He conceded just 25 runs from his quota of four overs. Despite Hardik Pandya's 34-ball 91, MI lost the match by 34 runs.