How Andre Russell switched on beast mode once again

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Andre Russell is batting like no batter ever has in T20 cricket.

Among those with 250 or more death-over runs in a year, Russell's strike rate of 287.50 (276 runs) in 2024 is by far the highest. Heinrich Klaasen, who seems to be batting on a different plane now, is a distant second at 261.68.

During this phase, Russell averages about two sixes per over, and he's in it for more than just a good time. Once in, Russell sees it through: he's batted in 11 innings at the death this year and got out only three times.

We're only three months into 2024 and Russell has 474 T20 runs at an average of 67.71 and strike rate of 226.79, which is a phenomenal improvement from last year. In 2023, Russell's 522 runs came at an average of 26.10 and his strike rate of 155.82 was his lowest in a year since 2011 (min. two innings).

Russell said that a small change he made to his technique had resulted in a big impact to his game.

"I have made a few [technical] changes," he said on the eve of Kolkata Knight Riders' game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. "I was batting in the nets in Abu Dhabi and Sunil [Narine] mentioned something to me as he was watching my technique. And I realised I was moving too much [forward].

"So I worked on my stride towards the delivery. Now having a short stride is working for me. When I look at most big-hitters, they don't really have a big stride. So that's one thing I have done and now I have a bit more time to play the ball. I think that is the one little tweak that I have done. I am trying to move as late as possible. I have good hand speed, so I try to depend on that and just use hand-eye coordination."

Russell also watched old videos of him batting to remind himself of his mindset when he was doing well.

"I always knew what I could do and I've been doing this for a few years now," he said. "I have had some good seasons in the IPL where I smashed it all over. I watched those old videos and realised I was clear in my thoughts and clear in the whole mindset towards every delivery.

"[Lately], I allowed myself to be under pressure because I was thinking too much. Sometimes we players end up doing that if we are going through a bad patch. Even if you keep doing what you know, a failure comes. Even the best players fail. So it is all about the mindset and I am now clearer in my approach to every delivery.

"When you have a mindset of 'I don't want to get out', I think that is a negative mindset. For me, what works is backing myself and letting whatever happens happen. The role I play, I don't face many deliveries, so I cannot expect myself to bat like a No. 2 or a No. 3 batter. The more I play shots, the scarier to bowl I get. And then I am taking the pressure off myself and putting it back on the bowler. That is something I was not doing. With me doing it now, I have the bowler thinking every delivery of the over what he needs to do, and I don't need to worry about anything apart from just making the best decision for every ball."

After scoring only 227 runs at a strike rate of 145.51 in IPL 2023, Russell has begun this season with a throwback to his explosive best. Coming in at 119 for 6 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he smashed an unbeaten 64 off 25 balls at Eden Gardens, and picked up two wickets too.

Apart from technical and mental work, Russell has focused on working out too. In December, he had said he would look "like a UFC fighter" come the T20 World Cup in June.

"At the moment, I have four packs, so working on the next two," he said with a smile. "Definitely being leaner and lighter is working for my body and it shows in my performance as well. I like watching the UFC. To see those guys looking strong and lean is a motivation for me, so I set myself a goal. I know it is going to help in my cricket - bowling, fielding, and also in my batting."