Kolkata Knight Riders' Andre Russell: The Next West Indian Powerhouse?

Play. Conquer. Repeat.

That's what Andre Russell's T-shirt says in one of his photographs on the Kolkata Knight Riders' Twitter page. He has played five matches for Kolkata Knight Riders overall. On Saturday, he showed he could conquer the opposition. A genuine all-rounder, Russell took two wickets and then smashed a match winning 36-ball 66. (Russell Helps KK Beat Kings XI Punjab)

However, can he repeat a performance like this over and over again? Can Russell join the likes of Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith as the next West Indian powerhouse in the Indian Premier League?

On Saturday, KKR were down to 60/5 inside the first eight overs. The target was 96 runs away. Russell was at the crease with Yusuf Pathan. Though both are big hitters of the cricket ball, neither is (yet) in the same league as a Gayle, de Villiers or Maxwell. Both have a reputation of playing whirlwind knocks, but not as consistently as some of the other tried and tested match winners. (My Bat Should Have a Speed-Gun: Russell)

Someone had to step up to the plate and change that mindset somewhat. Russell, who came in at number seven, answered the call. His 66 run knock, that included nine fours and two sixes didn't just help the Knight Riders complete a stunning come-from-behind win, it also showed that the faith the team has in the 26-year-old Jamaican is paying off.

KKR captain, Gautam Gambhir in fact said after the match, "We were under pressure, but we knew that if Russell and Yusuf are there till the end, we will win. He's (Russell) a great lad, he's a great guy to have in the dressing room." (Russell Belongs to a New Breed of Cricketers: Gambhir)

Russell slammed his maiden IPL fifty.

© BCCI

Russell was bought by KKR in the 2014 player auction after he had played just seven matches in the 2012 and 2013 seasons for the Delhi Daredevils. Going into the match on Saturday, Russell didn't have a single IPL 50. Kings XI Punjab were on top at their home venue and the Knight Riders were under a lot of pressure.

Most conventional batsmen (even some big hitters) would try and settle down and build a partnership of sorts before going for the big shots. Not Russell though. Seemingly oblivious to the pressure, Russell hit the fourth ball he faced for a boundary. He was beaten three deliveries on-the-trot after that, but Russell didn't change his tactics, hitting 2 fours off the next 3 balls he faced.

No wonder then that Gambhir tagged Russell as fearless. "I think this is the new breed of cricketers we are seeing. They are fearless, they just go out and express themselves," Gambhir said.

Russell is being tagged as the most exciting Caribbean talent of recent times. The Jamaican though has a long way to go before being considered a genuine match winner. Unlike Gayle and Dwayne Smith, he doesn't open the batting, which means more often than not he will not get to face too many deliveries.

He is also an all-out all-rounder, so he will be expected to deliver consistently with the ball as well. In fact, in the 2015 ICC World Cup, he was predominantly a strike bowler, taking 11 wickets in seven matches.

What is working for Russell right now is the abundance of confidence that he boasts of, like most other West Indians. The captain is backing him and he might just have cemented a place for himself in the KKR playing XI for some time to come.

He has the platform. What he needs is consistent performances, which could well make him the next West Indian powerhouse in the IPL.