5 months ago
2
Swashbuckling all-rounder Andre Russell connected Sunday (November 30, 2025) announced his status from the Indian Premier League up of the mini auction scheduled for December 16, and volition articulation three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders' coaching staff.
The 37-year-old Russell, who has been an integral portion of of the KKR broadside since IPL 2014, volition articulation their coaching unit arsenic a "power coach" up of the 2026 variation for which an auction volition beryllium held successful Abu Dhabi.
"Hanging up my IPL boots… but not the swagger. What a thrust it's been successful the IPL — 12 seasons of memories, and a full batch of emotion from the @KKRiders family," Russell wrote connected X.
"I'll inactive beryllium smashing sixes and taking wickets successful each different league astir the world. And the champion part? I'm not leaving home… you'll spot maine successful a caller role, successful KKR's Support Staff, arsenic the POWER COACH of 2026. New chapter. Same energy. Forever a Knight," helium added.
By joining the enactment staff, Russell has followed the footsteps of different venerable T20 cricketer from the Caribbean, Kieron Pollard, who serves arsenic the batting manager of Mumbai Indians, adjacent though helium represents the franchise successful different leagues.
"I've made a determination to discontinue from the IPL. I volition inactive beryllium progressive playing successful assorted leagues astir the satellite and for each the different KKR franchises. I had immoderate astonishing times and large memories (in the IPL), hitting sixes, winning games, getting MVPs...," helium said successful a connection issued to the media.
"When I made this decision, I felt similar it was the champion determination astatine this point. I don't privation to slice out, I privation to permission a bequest behind. It's champion to discontinue erstwhile fans inquire 'why? You inactive person immoderate much successful you. You inactive could spell for a spot longer'. alternatively of 'yeah, you should person done it years back'."
"When you are going done societal media, you support seeing yourself photoshopped successful antithetic jerseys (of different teams). I felt weird to spot myself successful immoderate colour different than purple and golden and those thoughts kept going done my head, starring maine to a fewer sleepless nights."
Russell said helium has had discussions with the KKR absorption implicit his relation successful the franchise.
"There person been a batch of conversations betwixt maine and Mr. Venky Mysore and besides Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, astir different section successful my IPL journey. They person shown maine emotion and respect and person admit immoderate I've been doing connected the field. To beryllium successful a setup that's familiar, matters to maine a lot," helium said.
"When I heard that sanction 'Power Coach', I felt that describes Andre Russell the best, due to the fact that the powerfulness that I person erstwhile I bat, the vigor that I amusement successful the tract with shot successful hand, I tin assistance successful immoderate department," Russell added.
Russell, who has not missed a play of the IPL since 2012, represented erstwhile Delhi Daredevils successful his archetypal 2 editions.
An all-rounder known for his brute unit with the bat and a knack of taking wickets astatine cardinal junctures, Russell played a full of 140 matches successful the IPL and scored 2,651 runs astatine a onslaught complaint of 174.18 with 12 fifties.
He besides took 123 wickets astatine an system complaint of 9.51 with 1 five-wicket haul successful his name.
Russell called clip connected his IPL playing vocation a time aft Faf du Plessis, 41, announced that helium would not instrumentality portion successful this year's variation arsenic helium volition play successful different league.
