The powerhouse of T20 cricket Andre Russell made his international debut in the shortest format of the game on 21st April, 2011, against Pakistan at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

Ever since then, the Jamaican has grown by leaps and bounds and established himself as one of the most destructive all-rounders in the modern era. 

In 49 matches, Russell has amassed 540 runs at a strike rate of 151.26, with the highest score of 47 runs. He has been equally effective in the bowling line-up of the Caribbean side, scalping 26 wickets with the best bowling figures of 2-10 in 13 deliveries.

Interestingly, the 33-year-old is the only bowler to pick up four wickets in four successive deliveries (Kedar Jadhav, Yuvraj Singh, Naman Ojha and Yusuf Pathan), which in the penultimate over of the unofficial T20 game against the India A side in 2013.

With over 350 games across leagues in this format and years of experience, Russell will play a significant role in the T20 World Cup later this year for the defending champions.

Among many of his spectacular performances, here are five of his best knocks/bowling spells for the Windies:

 

40* off 14 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2020

In the second T20 international at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Andre Russell produced a masterclass as he smashed an unbeaten 40 off 14 balls to help his side register a comprehensive seven-wicket victory.

Chasing 156 runs under lights, Russell walked in at number five and was at his lethal best. The hard-hitting batsman launched six maximums and helped the Windies chase down the target with three overs to spare. He was adjudged the player of the match and man of the series for his contributions in guiding the visiting side to a 2-0 series win.

 

47 off 21 balls vs Bangladesh in 2018

In the final game of the T20 series against Bangladesh at Lauderhill, Russell top-scored for the home team with 47 off 21 balls with one boundary and six maximums to help them reach a fighting total of 135 runs for the loss of seven wickets. 

In the rain-affected game, the Windies were set a target of 155 runs in 17.1 overs. Despite Russell's heroics, they fell short by 19 runs in the summit clash.

 

43* off 20 balls vs India in 2016

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai witnessed a magical performance from Andre Russell as he smashed an unbeaten 43 off 20 balls to take the Windies through to the finals of the ICC World T20 in 2016. His brutal knock was studded with three fours and four sixes.

Chasing 193 for a place in the finals of the iconic tournament, he walked in at number five to take centre stage in one of the most important games of his career. The Jamaican stitched a crucial 80* run partnership along with Lendl Simmons to edge past India with seven wickets remaining.

 

2-15 vs Pakistan in 2014

In a league match of the World T20 in 2014, Russell showcased his bowling prowess as he scalped two crucial wickets for 15 runs in his spell of three overs. 

Defending 167 runs, the fast bowler bowled a consistent line and length to pick up the prized wicket of skipper Mohammad Hafeez in the middle overs and dent the run chase for 19 runs.

He returned in the death overs and picked up Saeed Ajmal with a yorker-length delivery. With seven dot deliveries and an economy of under five runs per over, he guided West Indies to an 84-run win.

 

2-10 vs Bangladesh in 2014

Andre Russell registered his best bowling figures of 2/10 for the West Indies in this format against Bangladesh at the Mirpur. In 2.1 overs, he picked up two wickets and conceded 10 runs at an economy rate of 4.61 runs per over.  

The spell enabled the visiting side to a comfortable 73-run win in the group stage of the T20 World Cup.