Best from the rest: Combined XI from bottom six teams in IPL 2022

6. Andre Russell

If you have followed cricket even for a tiny bit, you are probably familiar with the name Andre Russell. The globetrotting all-rounder from West Indies is one of the hardest hitters of a cricket ball in the game. Andre Russell’s striking prowess at times feels unfair to the bowlers, as the Jamaican can clear any boundary in the world with his brute force. As if his batting wasn’t enough, Russell can make the ball talk as well, generating serious pace to trouble batters.

Russell didn’t have the most prolific seasons in the last couple of years in the IPL. But the Kolkata management showed immense faith in his abilities as he was one of their four retained players ahead of the 2022 auctions. Although his injury concerns have restricted his bowling time, the two-time world champion still was an asset to the KKR side.

The all-rounder repaid the faith shown in him by scoring 335 runs this season at a strike rate of 174. He was equally productive with the ball in the hand, picking up 17 wickets in 14 matches. In many instances, he has been the savior for the franchise this season, playing lone hands and running out of partners. His ridiculous bowling figures of four wickets for just five runs against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 is one of the all-time best performances by a pacer. The two-time MVP of IPL was in contention for a third this season, but KKR’s failure to qualify for the playoffs means he won’t get the chance to add to his tally.