All-time game-changers XI in the history of the IPL

7) Andre Russell

“Stand and Deliver” is a phrase that aptly describes the batting of Andre Russell. Such is his power that he can hit the ball out of the park with a customary bat swing. Sometimes even his mishits end up in the top-tier of stadiums. Seeing all these, there is no surprise why he is considered one of the destructive white-ball players.

In particular, in T20s, Russell has been a giant of this game. He has played for as many as 15 T20 franchises around the world. His numbers are also exemplary. To date, Russell has accumulated 5500 runs and has also scalped 294 wickets. His strike rate of 170 is mind-boggling, and it is the best in the format (minimum 20 games).

The Caribbean all-rounder has also lit up the IPL with his power-hitting. There have been times when he has become a nightmare for the opposition. He is one of the few batsmen who has hit more sixes than fours in the league. Statistically, he has scored 1400 runs in the league with a career strike rate of 186.

With Russell it is not the runs, it is the amount of time he spends on the batting crease. The longer he stays on the field, the more damage he does to the opposition. He instills fear in the minds of bowlers with his clean striking. He can single-handedly beat a team of XI, a quality that separates him from the rest.