As he prepares to bow out of international cricket, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has singled out his match-winning knock in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup semi-final against India as the proudest moment of his illustrious career.

Speaking in a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo and Cricket West Indies, ahead of Sunday night's first T20 International against Australia at Sabina Park in Kingston, Russell reflected on the high-pressure chase in Mumbai, where he scored an unbeaten 43 off just 20 balls to carry the West Indies into the final. Chasing 193 against the host nation in front of a partisan crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, the West Indies needed 77 runs off 41 balls when Russell walked in at No. 5.

"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.

With nerves running high and the Indian fans roaring, Russell and Simmons kept their composure. It was Russell who delivered the knockout blow—smacking Virat Kohli over midwicket to seal the win with two balls to spare.

"Chasing 190-plus in that semi-final in India, with the crowd supporting India only, that was already a bit of pressure," he recalled. "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."

The West Indies went on to defeat England in a dramatic final in Kolkata—clinching their second T20 World Cup title in four years. Russell, a key contributor in both triumphs, said those victories will forever define his time in maroon.

"Obviously, two World Cups, it's just a different emotion. 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."

"By just seeing the [social media] posts and seeing stuff going around on the internet, I get a bit emotional, to be honest, but, you know, decision already made, and I think I've done well enough to actually say, yes, that's it for me towards international cricket."

Russell will officially retire from international duty following the first two T20 Internationals against Australia on July 20 and 22, both to be played at Sabina Park, his home ground in Kingston, Jamaica.

"It's a pretty good feeling," he said. "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 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."

As he nears the end of a career that spanned 141 T20 Internationals for the West Indies, Russell's legacy is etched not just in statistics, but in iconic moments—the biggest of them all, that unforgettable night in Mumbai.