Andre Russell, an all-rounder for the West Indies, responded to Virat Kohli's statement that Test cricket is more important than the Indian Premier League championship. In the just-finished final, Kohli's team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), defeated Punjab Kings to win its first championship in eighteen seasons.
Despite having been with the team since the first season in 2008, the star player won his first IPL trophy. Even though it was a significant accomplishment, Kohli continued to refer to Test cricket as being "five levels" above that particular moment.
"This moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That's how much I value Test cricket. And that's how much I love Test cricket. So, I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect," said Kohli after RCB won the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad on June 3.
Andre Russell responded to Kohli's remark by highlighting what, in his opinion, motivates players from major cricketing nations to participate in Test matches.
During the T20I series against England, the 37-year-old all-rounder, who has preferred franchise cricket to international assignments, is expected to make his West Indies comeback for the first time in about six months.
"I think when you're from India, Australia, England, those places where they look after their Test players, it's totally different from being from the West Indies.
Those guys get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course, they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests, and you know, after you retire, there's not much to show for it,” Russell told The Guardian.
Russell, a seasoned cricket player with 56 ODIs, 83 T20Is, and 551 T20s to his name, has only participated in one Test match for the Windies. 2010 was the only time he played for the West Indies Whites.
"I was basically pushed out of the Test set-up. They saw me as more of a white-ball player, and that was that. Honestly? No. I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I'm a professional. It wasn't part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn't me that turned my back," said Russell.
