IPL 2020: Gautam Gambhir names the bowler who can trouble Andre Russell in the tournament

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir reckons that Jasprit Bumrah can trouble Andre Russell in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dre-Russ can make a mockery of quality bowling attacks with his brute force as he the potential to win matches from near-impossible situations. His T20 strike-rate of 170.06 is a testament to his power and venom.

In the 2019 IPL, he was the most consistent performer for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In the tournament, he smashed 510 runs at a strike-rate of 204.81. Moreover, he had clobbered 52 sixes and was also their leading wicket-taker with 11 scalps.

Bumrah is deemed to be one of the best exponents of the slower ball and the yorker. Based on his abilities, Gambhir said that the Indian speedster could get under the hulk-like Russell’s skin.

KKR should not send Andre Russell below No .5 , says Gambhir  

“There might be two or three of them in the IPL who could trouble him but not beyond that. I don’t see bowlers other than probably someone like Jasprit Bumrah who can actually trouble Andre Russell,” Gambhir was quoted as saying on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

Gambhir was also of the opinion that the Knights should be better utilisation of the Jamaican in the batting department. Last season, questions were raised after Russell batted lower down the order.

“KKR should not send Andre Russell below No .5 in the batting order considering the form he is in. And the number should not matter, the overs should matter. Batting position is an overrated thing, six balls can change the entire match in T20 cricket,” he stated.

“So, at times, it is possible, that you have got such a good start, that you can send Russell even ahead of (Eoin) Morgan. It is not necessary to send him after Morgan. You can send him at No. 4 as well, it should be an over-oriented batting line-up rather than saying that you will not send him above No. 5 or No. 6,” Gambhir added.

Russell once batted at number.3 against the Mumbai Indians (MI) and he didn’t flatter to deceive. In the game at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, he scored 80 off 40 balls and helped KKR to 232 in their 20 overs.