- May 8, 2025
Andre Russell. The name alone strikes fear into bowling averages as the adrenaline begins to rush during fantasy league drafts. If you are watching IPL 2025 and you are wondering why Dre Russ looks more like a sentry this season than a decisive wicket with the ball, then you’re not the only one. The big man with the golden arm has hardly bowled at all this season. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fans are confused. Is it the strategy, fitness, or luck? Let’s break it down.
Underbowled and Underutilized: A Strategy That Backfired?
With a shift in momentum faster than you can say “free hit,” every over is crucial when you are in the presence of a game-changer such as Russell. He has bowled roughly one over a game this season, down from two overs last year in 2024.
While Russell’s strike rate, average, and economy are comparable to what we saw last season, he has not made a substantial impact due to limited time with the ball. You would have thought a pace-bowling option that consistently takes wickets in his first over would be a captain’s dream, particularly in a bowling line-up sitting atop mystery spinners. Even if Ajinkya Rahane’s initial captaincy has been reported as mostly learnt on cautious tactics rather than instinct, which previous KKR captains like Shreyas Iyer were not afraid to trust.
Captaincy Shuffle: Playing It Safe or Playing It Wrong?
The leadership change might be the most obvious clue. With Rahane as captain this year, and DJ Bravo stepping in as a mentor, it seems likely that the approaches to managing bowlers have evolved. While Bravo is a strategic thinker in his own right, he and Russell might not have the same connection that Russell had developed with previous leadership.
Also, it could be that the team’s longstanding multipurpose knee issues have led the team to pace the amount he bowls. Which is fair enough. But there’s the argument — if he’s capable of bowling the last over in the critical stages, why is he not trusted to bowl earlier, particularly in overs seven to ten, where games can drift without anyone noticing?
From the outside, it seems as though the team is waiting for a crisis before calling on one of their biggest weapons. It would be like saving your last life in a video game, only to die without getting to use it!
The Ripple Effect: Powerplay Struggles and Spin Pressure
Let’s take a step back. One of KKR’s unsung struggles this season has been the inability to strike early during the power play. That has forced their spin unit — maybe the best in the league — into damage control, rather than attack. Plus, without Mitchell Starc this season, that new-ball threat is even less of a factor.
This is where Russell could have been influential. If Russell had bowled one over right after the powerplay, when batters are rebuilding, he could have secured crucial wickets and maintained the pressure. Instead, KKR may have put their spinners under too much pressure and parked Russell, their most potent bowling option. It’s not about bowling four overs every match, it’s about using those one or two overs that could change a match.
So, what’s the deal? Is it caution, confusion, or just a miscalculation? Either way, if Russell’s knees can take it and he continue to take wickets first-ball (as he always magically seems to do), maybe it is time for KKR to unleash him again – before it is too late.
Cricket fans, what are your thoughts? Should KKR gamble on Dre Russ more often, or is waiting for the death the more strategic play? Comment below!
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