IPL 2026: Andre Russell announces retirement from IPL, to join KKR as Power Coach in 2026

Former West Indian cricketer Andre Russell has hung up his boots from the Indian Premier League. Russell retires from the IPL after featuring in the league for a total of 13 seasons and producing a plethora of outstanding performances.

Russell mentioned that he will no longer be a part of the IPL as a player. He also revealed that he wanted to "leave a legacy behind" rather than quietly drifting away.

"Hello KKR fans. I'm here today, to tell you that I’ve made a 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 had some amazing times and great memories (in the IPL), hitting sixes, winning games, getting MVPs. When I made this decision, I felt like it was the best decision at this point. I don’t want to fade out, I want to leave a legacy behind. It's best to retire when fans ask, 'Why? You still have some more in you. You still could go for a bit longer' instead of 'Yeah, you should have done it years back,'" stated Russell.

Russell, who was not retained by the franchise ahead of the mini auction for IPL 2026, admitted that he would not be comfortable playing in any other franchise barring KKR. He also thanked Venky Mysore and Shah Rukh Khan for the admiration they have shown him all throughout.

"When you are going through social media, you keep seeing yourself photoshopped in different jerseys (of other teams). I felt weird to see myself in any colour other than Purple & Gold and those thoughts kept going through my head, leading me to a few sleepless nights. There have been a lot of conversations between me and Mr. Venky Mysore and also Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, about another chapter in my IPL journey. They have shown me love and respect and have appreciate whatever I've been doing on the field," he added.

While wrapping up, Russell admitted that he would perfectly fit the description of a Power Coach, and expressed excitement for being a part of the coaching setup of the franchise in the next edition.

"So Kolkata, I'll be back. I'm here to say I will be a part of the KKR support staff as the new Power Coach in 2026. When I heard that name - ‘Power Coach’, I felt that describes Andre Russell the best, because the power that I possess when I bat, the energy that I show in the field with ball in hand, I can help in any department. So, see you soon. Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo," concluded Russell.

Russell joined KKR in 2014 and became an instant hit. He registered 2593 runs and picked up 122 wickets in 133 matches with the three-time champions. Other than his outings with bat and ball, Russell was also a live wire on the field, picking up a number of blinders in the outfield.