Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) legend Andre Russell has announced his retirement from the IPL, ending a remarkable on-field career with the franchise, and will now take up a role in the KKR support staff as their “power coach.”
Russell, part of KKR’s title-winning sides in 2014 and 2024 and IPL MVP in 2019, said he wanted to leave while still at his best. “I don’t want to fade out. I want to leave a legacy,” he said, reflecting on sleepless nights and conversations with Venky Mysore and Shah Rukh Khan before making the decision.
At 37, Russell will now lend his experience and energy to batting, bowling, and fielding departments, working alongside new head coach Abhishek Nayar, bowling coach Tim Southee, assistant Shane Watson, and mentor Dwayne Bravo. “Power coach… that describes Dre Russ. The power I bring with the bat, in the field, and with the ball—I can help in any department,” he said.
Russell’s IPL career with KKR spanned 133 matches, scoring 2593 runs at a strike rate of 174.96, hitting 220 sixes, and taking 122 wickets with three four-wicket hauls. Only two players in IPL history, Russell and Ravindra Jadeja, have achieved the double of 2000+ runs and 100+ wickets.
With the 2026 IPL mega auction looming, KKR released Russell along with Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, boosting their auction purse to INR 64.3 crore. Russell remains active in global T20 leagues but will now shape the next generation of KKR stars off the field.
