Andre Russell has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, but his association with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will continue. The West Indies all-rounder has now been appointed the franchise’s Power Coach for the 2026 season. He first joined the team in 2014 and was part of KKR’s title-winning squads in 2014 and 2024.
The Knight Riders had retained him for Rs 12 crore last season but released him ahead of the upcoming auction.
Russell addressed fans directly on Instagram about his retirement, saying:
“Hi, KKR fans. Dre Russ here. Just want to give you guys the big news: I’ve made the 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’ve had some amazing times and great memories—hitting sixes, winning games, getting MVPs. But when I made this decision, I felt it was the best choice at this point. I don’t want to fade out; I want to leave a legacy. It’s best to retire when fans ask, ‘Why? You still have more in you. You could go on a bit longer,’ rather than ‘Yeah, you should have done it years ago.’
The Jamaican further expressed his gratitude for the love and respect he received from the franchise:
“There have been a lot of conversations between me, Mr Venky Mysore and Mr Shah Rukh Khan about another chapter in my IPL journey. They have shown me love and respect and have appreciated whatever I’ve done on the field. To be in a setup that’s familiar really matters to me.”
He added, “So Kolkata, I’ll be back. I’m here to say I will be part of the KKR support staff.” On the new role, he said, “This title fits me perfectly. When I heard the name ‘Power Coach’, I thought it describes Dre Russ.”
Overall, in his decorated IPL career, Russell played 140 matches, scoring 2,651 runs at a blistering strike rate of 174.18. With the ball, the right-arm seamer claimed 123 wickets at an economy of 9.51, with best bowling figures of 5 for 15. He won the Player of the Series award twice, in 2015 and 2019.
While he has retired from the IPL, Russell will continue playing in other franchise leagues around the world.
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