NEW DELHI: West Indies power-hitter Andre Russell, who is set to retire from international cricket, has chosen his explosive knock in the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai as his most cherished moment in West Indies colours.During West Indies’ chase of a daunting 193-run target, Russell walked in at No. 5 with the team needing 77 off 41 deliveries. Rising to the occasion, he smashed 33 off just 20 balls, including a memorable six off Virat Kohli over midwicket, helping steer the Caribbean side into the final with two balls to spare.“Definitely [my best moment was] the 2016 World Cup, that semi-final game against India where I brought the team home, me and Lendl Simmons, and obviously the start that we got from the other batters,” Russell said in a Cricket West Indies (CWI) interview.“Chasing 190-plus in that semi-final in India, with the crowd supporting India only, that was already a bit of pressure, but the wicket was a very good wicket, so the confidence that we had in the changing room and the batters that were left to come, it gave me the freedom and the confidence to go out and play the role that I did,” he added.The West Indies went on to defeat England in a dramatic final, clinching their second T20 World Cup title in four years. Russell played a key role in both of those historic triumphs.
“Obviously, two World Cups, it’s just a different emotion. You sleep, you wake up [on the morning after the final], and you realise you’ve only been sleeping for two hours, but you feel well-rested because you just want to see what’s going on on the internet, you want to see all of those memories and all of those good comments. So those are the two most important moments, playing for West Indies,” he said.Russell will bid farewell to international cricket after featuring in the first two games of the five-match T20I series against Australia at home. The matches will be played at his home ground, Sabina Park in Jamaica, which will serve as the venue for his final international appearance.
“It’s a pretty good feeling. I think, [from the] first time I came to Sabina Park as a kid, and then to actually walk on the grass and feel the atmosphere and look in the stands and everything, and [to] now, I’ve achieved so much out of cricket for the last couple of years. I did my best in every chance I got, representing West Indies,” Russell said, reflecting on signing off at home.“I think it’s the perfect ground and the perfect series – against a good team as well, Australia – to end my international career. By just seeing the [social media] posts and seeing stuff going around on the internet, I get a bit emotional, to be honest, but, you know, decision already made, and I think I’ve done well enough to actually say, yes, that’s it for me towards international cricket,” he added.
