'I'll be looking like a UFC fighter' - Andre Russell expresses commitment to fitness following fairytale comeback

In a thrilling comeback series for the West Indies, after a two-year hiatus from international cricket, Andre Russell clinched victory for his team against England in Thursday's T20I decider in Trinidad. The explosive all-rounder, absent since the 2021 T20 World Cup, secured his return with standout performances, making a significant impact with both bat and ball.

Russell, West Indies' leading wicket-taker in the series, displayed his prowess as a death-over specialist and had an impressive strike rate of 169.35 with the bat. Talking about the series win and his comeback, he expressed his joy, saying, "It means a lot, to be honest, getting the call-up to come back and to join the West Indies team. I've been working for the last two years, waiting on a call-up," to TNT Sports.

Acknowledging the backing he received from coach Daren Sammy, Russell emphasised the significance of the series win, equating it to a major championship triumph. "The coach has been backing me a lot. I'm so happy. I feel like I've won a big, big championship with just a series win, that's how much it means to me," he added.

Following his participation in the Abu Dhabi T10, Russell's journey to the Caribbean posed challenges due to the time difference. Reflecting on the impact of the long-haul flight, he shared,

"I was coming from Abu Dhabi where it's a big time difference. Flying back into Barbados I tried to stay up as late as possible to make sure that I get enough sleep so that I can [be] fresh for the game."

Despite the hurdles, Russell is optimistic about his future contributions. Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup in June, he expressed his commitment to fitness, promising to arrive in top-notch condition. 

"I'll be in better shape, to be honest: I'll be looking like a UFC fighter. This series win means so much. It [makes me] want to push myself to the limit," he added.

Scheduled to participate in the ILT20 and the IPL early next year, Russell emphasised the positive impact of continuous cricket on his fitness.

"I have a lot of cricket to play and that's good. When you're playing cricket and in competition, your body is active and you're not just sat at home waiting for the World Cup. We are definitely going to give some teams a good, good run for their money in the World Cup," he remarked confidently, signalling the West Indies' intent to challenge other teams in the upcoming global cricket extravaganza.