IPL 2020: ‘He is not an improved cricketer’ – Pragyan Ojha slams Andre Russell

Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has slammed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell for his disappointing showings in this year’s Indian Premier League. KKR are 4th on the points table at the moment with 4 wins from their first 8 games. A lot was expected of their star West Indian Russell but the all-rounder has flattered to deceive.

Against Mumbai Indians yesterday at Abu Dhabi, Russel found himself at the crease early in the 8th over after KKR lost 4 early wickets. There were expectations that Russell would put behind his rough patch in the tournament and get back to form. However, after hitting one four and one six, Russell got out to a bouncer from Jasprit Bumrah.

‘Russell has not changed his game’ – Ojha

Speaking after the KKR v MI match, Pragyan Ojha pointed out Andre Russel’s form as a huge cause for concern.

“Andre Russell is not an improved cricketer, he has not changed his game. You see all the top players, they have changed their approach. Andre Russell is playing just the way he was playing 4 years ago, that is a liability,” Ojha told Sports Tak

“Look at Jasprit Bumrah, when he came into the Mumbai Indians side and what he is today, you have to improve. You have to improve as a cricketer, cricket is evolving and you have to evolve, you cannot be stagnant.”

Ojha also made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of KKR changing captain mid-season. “Dinesh Karthik is the captain. He calls all the decisions, he talks to the coaches, management, he picks the Indian players, he is in the thick and thin of the team’s decisions. Suddenly in the middle of the tournament, he says that he doesn’t want to take the captaincy because of my batting. I don’t understand that, somehow I feel it is not right,” he said.

“When you have taken the responsibility, you have a set of ideas that you want to finish this season, then you finish the season and give the captaincy to someone else. That’s what I feel. I know Morgan was there in the leadership group but he was not the captain till everybody started this tournament. But I doubt he was part of the selection, part of the decision-making process.” he signed off.

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