Kolkata Knight Riders legend Andre Russell announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League on Sunday — revealing that he would be joining the team in a new capacity from 2026.
“Hanging up my IPL boots… but not the swagger. What a ride it’s been in the IPL — 12 seasons of memories, and a whole lot of love from the KKR family. I’ll still be smashing sixes and taking wickets in every other league around the world. And the best part? I’m not leaving home… you’ll see me in a new role, in KKR’s Support Staff, as the POWER COACH of 2026. New chapter. Same energy. Forever a Knight,” he wrote on Instagram.
“This is the best decision,” says Russell
Russell, one of the most dominant all-rounders to feature in the IPL, stated that the call to retire came after weeks of internal debate and long discussions with KKR leadership. He explained that he wanted to bow out at a time when supporters still felt he had cricket left in him, not when people started asking why he continued playing.
Reflecting on his decade-long journey with Kolkata, Russell said that he has spent a lot of time considering the decision, trying to find the moment that felt right. “When I made this decision, I just felt like ‘Yes, this is the best decision,” he said in his farewell video. He further added that he wanted to end his IPL career with pride rather than staying beyond his prime. “I don’t want to fade out, I want to leave a legacy,” he said through a video message.
Talks with KKR management led to new coaching role
Russell disclosed that the idea of transitioning into a coaching role had been discussed for some time. He had conversations with KKR CEO Venky Mysore and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, he stated they helped him in gaining clarity during what he termed it as “ few sleepless nights.” Their interest to keep him in the Knight Riders family made the decision more easier, and the newly created power coach role focused on strength, high-impact skills and hitting-“felt like the perfect fit.”
Across 12 IPL seasons, Russell has played 140 matches, scored 2,651 runs at a strike rate that made him one of the tournament’s fiercest finishers, as per a report by IANS. He has also taken 123 wickets, usually changing the match result with his short and fiery spells. After making his debut with Delhi Daredevils in 2012, his switch to his association with KKR in 2014 marked the beginning of his rise as an IPL superstar. He went ahead by winning titles in 2014 and 2024, becoming one of the franchise’s most famous faces.
Though KKR retained him for Rs 12 crore ahead of the previous mega auction, a quiet 2025 season of 167 runs and eight wickets resulted in his release. But Russell underlined that his bond with Kolkata continues to be unbroken.
“So Kolkata, I will be back,” he stated, promising to return in a new avatar. In his new role, he will be shaping the next generation of Knight Riders.
