Legendary West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), concluding a spectacular 12-season run in the world’s richest franchise cricket league. The 37-year-old Jamaican, who was recently released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, will immediately transition into a support staff role with the franchise as the team’s first-ever “Power Coach”.
Russell made the announcement on Instagram, assuring fans that he is “not leaving home.”
“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… 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,” Russell wrote.
A Legacy of Explosive Cricket
Russell, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, explained that his decision was timed to leave a legacy. “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 have some more in you. You still could go for a bit longer,’ than just say, ‘Yeah, you should have done it years back,'” he said in his video message.
The star all-rounder played a crucial role in KKR’s IPL title wins in 2014 and their recent third title under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership in 2024. Throughout his IPL career with both KKR and Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils), Russell played 140 matches, scoring 2,651 runs at a staggering strike rate of $174.18$, in addition to taking 123 wickets. He is one of the most decorated T20 players globally, known for his explosive batting, death-over bowling, and acrobatic fielding.
New Role as Power Coach
The decision to retire came after extensive discussions with KKR management, including CEO Venky Mysore and owner Shah Rukh Khan.
“When I heard that name, coming from Venky. I said, ‘You know, ‘power coach’—that describes Dre Russ, that describes Andre Russell because the power that I possess when I bat and the energy that I show in the field with the ball in hand I can help in any department,” he stated, adding a final, heartfelt message to KKR supporters: “So Kolkata, I’ll be back. Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo.”
While his playing days in the IPL are over, Russell will continue to feature in various other T20 leagues around the world, including the other franchises owned by the Knight Riders group.