Why Andre Russell disagrees with Virat Kohli's IPL win is ‘five levels' below Test cricket comment: ‘Different being from West Indies'
Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell is set to return to the West Indies line-up for the first time since November 2024 during the forthcoming T20I series against England. Fresh from the IPL 2025 season, Russell said he has no regrets over his limited game time in his international career in the same timeline where he has established himself as one of franchise cricket's greatest all-rounders.
Russell is one of a handful of cricketers to have won at least 10 T20 titles across the world, including multiple IPL titles with the Kolkata Knight Riders and T20 World Cup triumphs. However, the 37-year-old has only featured in one Test for the Windies and has not been a part of the 50-over set-up since 2019. Speaking to the Guardian, Russell said he did not look down upon the T20 cricket system and said it remains as important as any international assignment.
Russell was responding to a question posed with regard to Virat Kohli's recent admission after winning his maiden IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the first time in 18 seasons. 'This moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That's how much I value Test cricket. And that's how much I love Test cricket. So I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect,' said Kohli after RCB triumphed over Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
However, Russell said the outlook wasn't the same for a cricketer from the Caribbean. 'I think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different to being from West Indies,' said Russell.
'Those guys get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests, and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it.'
Although he believes in the value of Test cricket, Russell said that he wouldn't sacrifice any of his franchise cricket accomplishments for a better red-ball status.
'I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player and that was that,' said Russell, whose solitary Test appearance came back in 2010.
'Honestly? No. I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
34 minutes ago
- Mint
Preity Zinta pens heartfelt note after PBKS lose IPL final to RCB: 'It didn't end the way we wanted it to'
After Punjab Kings' narrow defeat in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore, team co-owner Preity Zinta took to social media to share an emotional message, reflecting on a season full of highs and lows. Actor and PBKS owner Preity Zinta wrote on Instagram on June 6. "It didn't end the way we wanted it to but the journey was spectacular ! It was exciting, entertaining & it was inspiring. I loved the fight & the grit our young team, our shers showed through out the tournament. I loved the way our captain, our Sarpanch lead from the front & how Indian uncapped players dominated this IPL," she wrote. This year, Punjab Kings reached the IPL final for the first time in over a decade. Zinta described the season as 'unique', noting the team overcame multiple challenges — including injuries to key players, national call-ups, a pause in the tournament, and even having to relocate home games. 'This year was unique. We smashed records even though we lost key players to injury & national duty, witnessed a pause in the tournament, transferred home games to other states & evacuated a stadium ! We adapted & topped the points table after a decade & fought till the end in an exciting final,' she said. Zinta praised every player and thanked the support staff and fans for their unwavering belief. She wrote, 'I am so proud of each n every player of Punjab Kings for showing so much character throughout the tournament. A big thank you to each of them and to our support staff and everyone at PBKS for an incredible season. Most of all a HEARTFELT THANK YOU to our - SHER SQUAD - our FANS that stood with us through thick n thin.' Ending on a hopeful note, she promised a stronger comeback: 'Whatever we are & how far we have reached is all because of you. I promise we will come back to finish the job cuz as of now the job is still half done. See you next year in the stadium , till then take care n stay safe everyone. Love you all." Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their maiden IPL title with a narrow 6-run win over Punjab Kings in the final.
The Print
39 minutes ago
- The Print
Fans disappointed in Rajasthan Cricket Association, govt mute spectator: Gehlot
Gehlot wrote on 'X' that ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power in the state, there has been a feeling of great disappointment among cricket lovers due to the ongoing disputes in the Rajasthan Cricket Association. In a post on X, he claimed that disputes are ongoing in the ad hoc committee, the sports council and the sports department but the state government is a 'mute spectator'. Jaipur, Jun 6 (PTI) Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Friday that cricket lovers are disappointed in the Rajasthan Cricket Association after the government failed to conduct elections. The government formed an ad hoc committee in RCA, but due to the ongoing disputes, even organising IPL here became challenging, he claimed. Legally, the ad hoc committee is only for three months during which elections have to be held, but elections have not been held for one and a half years, Gehlot said in his post. Referring to the tenure of his son Vaibhav Gehlot as RCA president, the former chief minister said, 'During Vaibhav Gehlot's tenure as president, RCA was discussed for positive works. After 2019, the ban imposed on RCA by BCCI was lifted, international and IPL matches started being organised in Rajasthan, and state-level cricket competitions including RPL were organised.' He said that during this time, the construction of one of the world's largest cricket stadiums near Jaipur started with Vedanta Group. The work of this stadium has also stopped now. Gehlot wrote, 'Keeping in mind the future of cricket and cricket players of Rajasthan and the sentiments of millions of cricket lovers, the state government should intervene and stop the terrible conflict going on in RCA so that cricket can develop in Rajasthan.' PTI AG HIG HIG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Activist lodges police complaint against Virat Kohli over stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium
BENGALURU: A complaint has been filed against cricketer Virat Kohli at the Cubbon Park Police Station in connection with the June 4 stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured. The complainant, social activist HM Venkatesh, accused Kohli of promoting what he described as "gambling through IPL," alleging it incited the massive crowd that led to the tragedy. Police said the complaint will be considered under the already registered case and examined as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident. In his complaint, social activist HM Venkatesh alleged that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is "not a sport but a gambling that has contaminated the game of cricket." "Virat Kohli of the Bangalore RCB team is the most prominent among those who participated in such gambling and incited people to gather in a specific place and caused this tragedy. Therefore, we request you to please make Virat Kohli and his team members accused in the FIR of this tragedy and take action," Venkatesh stated in his complaint. Meanwhile, a Bengaluru Sessions Court on Friday remanded four individuals, including senior Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) official Nikhil Sosale and three event managers, to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the stampede. They were arrested in a joint operation by the Cubbon Park police and the Central Crime Branch (CCB) at Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of June 6 (Friday).
