Andre Russell Retirement: Ahead of the IPL 2026 player auction, legendary West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has announced his retirement from the IPL. Russell was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and was expected to command a significant bid in the auction, but the star all-rounder has now bid adieu to the tournament. The mini-auction for the upcoming IPL season will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
"I've made a decision to retire from the IPL. I will still be active playing in various leagues around the world and for all the other KKR franchises. I had some amazing times and great memories (in the IPL), hitting sixes, winning games, getting MVPs...," Russell said in a statement issued to the media.
"When I made this decision, I felt like it was the best decision at this point. I don't want to fade out, I want to leave a legacy behind. It's best to retire when fans ask 'why? You still have some more in you. You still could go for a bit longer'. instead of 'yeah, you should have done it years back'."
The 37-year-old Russell has been an integral part of the KKR franchise since 2014, but he will now be involved with the team in a new role. Russell will be part of KKR's coaching staff and has been appointed Power Coach. KKR's decision to release Russell was surprising, but now he has surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from the IPL.
"When you are going through social media, you keep seeing yourself photoshopped in different jerseys (of other teams). I felt weird to see myself in any colour other than purple and gold and those thoughts kept going through my head, leading me to a few sleepless nights."
Russell said he has had discussions with the KKR management over his role in the franchise.
"There have been a lot of conversations between me and Mr. Venky Mysore and also Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, about another chapter in my IPL journey. They have shown me love and respect and have appreciate whatever I've been doing on the field. To be in a setup that's familiar, matters to me a lot," he said.
Russell wrote on Instagram, "I am retiring from the IPL. It's been a wonderful journey in the IPL, 12 years of memories and so much love from the KKR family. I will still be hitting sixes and taking wickets in other leagues around the world. The best part is I'm not leaving home. You'll see me in a new role. Power Coach in 2026 as part of the KKR support staff. A new chapter, but the same energy, always part of the Knight Riders."
"When I heard that name 'Power Coach', I felt that describes Andre Russell the best, because the power that I possess when I bat, the energy that I show in the field with ball in hand, I can help in any department," Russell added.
By joining the support staff, Russell follows in the footsteps of another legendary T20 cricketer from the Caribbean, Kieron Pollard. Pollard has served as the batting coach of the Mumbai Indians. Pollard has previously been a part of the Mumbai team as a player for a long time.
Andre Russell's IPL Carrier
Russell is considered one of the most influential players in IPL history. He played 140 matches over 12 years, scoring 2,651 runs, taking 123 wickets, and inspiring the game with a strike rate of 174.18. He led KKR to two IPL trophy victories – in 2014 and 2014. However, his performance declined in 2015, leading the team to move on.
