20 July 2025 – As Andre Russell prepares to bid farewell to international cricket, the West Indies all-rounder has reflected on his storied career, choosing his explosive innings in the 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final against India as his proudest moment wearing the maroon jersey.
Chasing a daunting target of 193 set by tournament hosts India, Russell walked in at No. 5 with 77 runs still required from 41 balls. In a game-changing display of power-hitting, he blazed an unbeaten 43 off just 20 deliveries, helping the West Indies to a memorable win with two balls to spare. Fittingly, he sealed the victory with a boundary off Indian star Virat Kohli.
“Definitely my best moment was the 2016 World Cup, that semi-final game against India where I brought the team home, me and Lendl Simmons, and obviously the start that we got from the other batters,” Russell said in a recent interview with Cricket West Indies (CWI).
“Chasing 190-plus in that semi-final in India, with the crowd supporting India only, that was already a bit of pressure, but the wicket was a very good wicket, so the confidence that we had in the changing room and the batters that were left to come, it gave me the freedom and the confidence to go out and play the role that I did.”
Russell’s knock not only guided the team to the final but set the stage for West Indies to clinch their second T20 World Cup title by defeating England in a dramatic final in Kolkata. Russell was a key figure in both of West Indies’ World Cup triumphs.
“Obviously, two World Cups, it’s just a different emotion,” he recalled. “You sleep, you wake up [on the morning after the final], and you realise you’ve only been sleeping for two hours, but you feel well-rested because you just want to see what’s going on on the internet, you want to see all of those memories and all of those good comments.”
Now 37, Russell has announced that he will retire from international cricket following the first two T20Is against Australia, scheduled for July 20 and 22 at Sabina Park — his home ground in Jamaica.
Reflecting on his journey just days ahead of his farewell games, Russell spoke with deep pride and nostalgia.
“It’s a pretty good feeling. I think, from the first time I came to Sabina Park as a kid, and then to actually walk on the grass and feel the atmosphere and look in the stands and everything, and [to] now, I’ve achieved so much out of cricket for the last couple of years. I did my best in every chance I got, representing the West Indies. I think it’s the perfect ground and the perfect series — against a good team as well, Australia — to end my international career.”
Russell’s contribution to West Indies cricket, especially in the shortest format, remains significant, and fans around the world will be watching as the power-hitter brings down the curtain on a glittering international journey.
