'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.'
Andre Russell announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League on Sunday ahead of the mini auction, scheduled for December 16, and will join three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders's coaching staff.
The 37-year-old, an integral part of KKR since IPL 2014, will join their coaching staff as a "power coach" ahead of the 2026 edition for which an auction will be held in Abu Dhabi.
"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 @KKRiders family," the swashbuckling all-rounder posted on on X.
"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 said.
By joining the support staff, Russell followed the footsteps of Kieron Pollard, another venerable T20 cricketer from the Caribbean, who serves as the batting coach of Mumbai Indians, even though he represents the franchise in other leagues.
"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'.
"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," he added.
Russell had discussions with the KKR management over his role in the franchise.
"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. To be in a setup that's familiar, matters to me a lot.
"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."
Russell, who hasn’t missed a season of the IPL since 2012, represented erstwhile Delhi Daredevils in his first two editions.
An all-rounder, known for his brute force with the bat and a knack of taking wickets at key junctures, Russell played 140 matches in the IPL and scored 2,651 runs, at a strike rate of 174.18 with 12 fifties.
He also took 123 wickets, at an economy rate of 9.51, and had one five-wicket haul.
He called time on his IPL playing career a day after Faf du Plessis, 41, announced that he would not take part in this year's edition as he will play in another league.
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