‘Power-hitting comes from hard work,’ says Rovman Powell:Opens up on expectation to replace Andre Russell, WI cricket ILT20 title defence

January 26, 2022…Kensington Oval ground in Bridgetown. In that England-West Indies match, the world saw a sample of Rovman Powell’s power hitting. Then Powell scored 107 runs off 53 balls with the help of 10 sixes. Powell has revealed the secret of his power hitting to Bhaskar. The 32-year-old Caribbean hitter, when asked about power hitting, said – ‘The secret of my power hitting is hard work. When you work very hard, your self-confidence increases.’ He is participating in the International T20 League currently underway in the UAE. He is part of Dubai Capitals. Tournament matches are being broadcast on Zee Entertainment Sports. West Indies power hitter Powell spoke about his power hitting, West Indies cricket, and IPL. Excerpts of conversation with Rovman Powell: Your team lost the first match. As defending champions, what is the plan moving forward? I think we need to learn from the previous match. We need to see if our planning was correct or not. Were we able to implement our planning on the field? We have a few days before the next match. We will work on our shortcomings in training and make a strong comeback. So far, no team has won two consecutive titles. What do you have to say about this?
This shows that teams return stronger every year. Since we are the defending champions, everyone prepares especially to defeat us. We have to play consistently well, and once we find our rhythm, we have to win as many matches as possible. If we reach the playoffs, then there is a full possibility of winning. IPL franchise KKR has retained you. How did you feel hearing this news?
It felt good to hear. The franchise showed faith in me. Now it’s my turn to live up to that trust in the 2026 IPL. When you come out to bat, you start hitting sixes from the first ball. It doesn’t matter to you what the situation is… What’s the secret behind this?
It’s hard work. When you work very hard, your self-confidence grows. As a power hitter, even in a difficult situation, you have to do what you want to do. My job is to hit sixes. Andre Russell has retired from the IPL. Now fans are expecting the same role from you. Do you feel pressure?
No, not at all. I have never considered myself as someone to replace Russell. I will try to fill his shoes. He has performed excellently for KKR on many occasions. Russell is a legend for KKR. My effort is to first establish my place in the IPL and then play well for the team and fans. West Indies has been World Champion twice each in both T20 and ODI, but in recent times, the team’s performance in Test and International cricket has shown a decline. Why is that?
The right people have not been placed in the right positions. There should be people in decision-making roles who have a deep affection for West Indies cricket. I believe that the people sitting in the administration of West Indies cricket do not think about promoting cricket. Our cricket infrastructure is also not up to that level. We have talented players, but we don’t have a system like India, Australia, and England to develop them. You are a power hitter. Which active power hitters in the world do you like?
When I was young, Chris Gayle was the biggest for me. Then Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard, who have been power-hitting at the top level for the last 15 years. I always try to learn from them. The T20 World Cup is just 3 months away. Can West Indies surprise everyone once again?
Yes, absolutely. We have the players. For me, if we do well, it’s no surprise. Because, we have been champions twice. In high-pressure situations, if the team’s mindset is right, we usually go far in the tournament. Hopefully, we play good cricket in Sri Lanka and India and make the fans happy.