In what has come as a groundbreaking development, Andre Russell has decided to hang up his boots from the Indian Premier League (IPL). This has come after he was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. Russell was at a Rs 12 crore contract and was with KKR since 2014. His release shocked many but now, it is all making sense as Russell now joins KKR’s coaching staff ahead of IPL 2026.
Andre Russell announces his IPL retirement
An IPL legend, one of the most destructive finishers in the game, and a partnership breaker with the ball, Russell was touted to be one of the most expensive signings at the IPL 2026 auction on December 16. Yes, he had a quieter IPL 2025 season but with his attributes, any amount would’ve been less for the Caribbean powerhouse.
“Just want to give you guys the big news. I have made a decision to retire from the IPL. I will still be active playing other leagues around the world and will be playing for other KKR franchises. I had some amazing times, creating memories and hitting sixes, winning games and MVP. But when I made this decision, I just felt that this is the best decision. I don’t want to fade out. I want to leave a legacy and it’s best to retire when fans ask, “why? You still could go for a bit longer,” rather than say, “yeah you should have done it years back,” said Russell while announcing his decision on social media.
Teams like SRH, CSK and KKR themselves were interested but now, his retirement has thrown every team’s plans a curveball. His golden duck last season against SRH will end up as his last-ever IPL innings. He now joins KKR’s coaching staff as a ‘Power Coach’. KKR had a major shake-up in their coaching staff already this season, with Abhishek Nayar replacing Chandrakant Pandit as head coach. Meanwhile, Shane Watson joined in as an assistant coach, while Tim Southee is now the new bowling coach.
He also mentioned that Russell he was involved in conversations with KKR CEO Venky Mysore and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan before finally arriving on his decision. A new IPL journey beckons now for Russell, who surely is an all-time T20 legend. Among all players who have faced at least 500 deliveries in the IPL, Russell holds the best career batting strike rate of 174.18. He is also the one of those rare player to have won the Player of the Season multiple times (2015 and 2019).
Andre Russell IPL stats
| Statistic | Batting | Bowling |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 140 | 140 |
| Runs / Wickets | 2,651 | 123 |
| HS / Best Bowling | 88* | 5/15 |
| Average | 28.20 | 23.28 |
| Batting SR/Economy Rate | 174.18 | 9.51 |
| 50s / 5‑Wicket Hauls | 12 | 1 |
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