Andre Russell‘s underwhelming form in IPL 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from former India selector Saba Karim. In the recent match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Mullanpur, Andre Russell once again failed to deliver a match-winning performance, getting dismissed for 17 runs as KKR crumbled for just 95 while chasing a modest 112-run target.
Andre Russell faces backlash over KKR’s middle-order woes
Saba Karim didn’t hold back while assessing Russell’s performance, stating on Match Centre Live on JioHotstar (via ANI),
“When is the last time he has come up with a match-winning performance? That’s what you need. That’s the reason why Kolkata Knight Riders have retained him–they want Russell to win such encounters for them. Even while setting a target this season, he has hardly delivered. He has hardly done anything of note. And I think that’s one of the reasons why the lower middle-order of KKR has struggled to some extent.”
Russell’s numbers so far this season are worrying — he has scored just 34 runs in seven matches, averaging 6.80, and has managed only 6.3 overs with the ball, claiming five wickets at an economy rate of 7.80. Despite being retained for INR 12 crore, the Caribbean all-rounder has yet to justify KKR’s faith in him.
Andre Russell’s past heroics are not enough to hide his current struggles
Although Russell played a key role in KKR’s triumphant IPL 2024 campaign, contributing 222 runs at a strike rate of 185 and taking 19 wickets, Karim believes those past successes cannot mask his recent dip in form.
He further added,
“This is not the first season that he has disappointed his side–and also himself. I’ve seen Andre Russell not only in the TATA IPL, even in the other global franchise leagues–he has struggled for runs. And I think he strives to compensate by bowling those two-three overs and picking up wickets. But if one can be brutally honest, he is part of this setup more because of his reputation. I don’t see the numbers for the past couple of seasons.”
KKR, who are currently struggling with their lower middle-order performance, will hope for a turnaround when they face Gujarat Titans (GT) at Eden Gardens on April 21.
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