Kolkata, Nov 30

Swashbuckling all-rounder Andre Russell on Sunday announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League ahead of the mini auction scheduled for December 16, and will join three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders' coaching staff.

The 37-year-old Russell, who has been an integral part of the KKR side 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,” Russell wrote 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 added.

By joining the support staff, Russell has followed in the footsteps of another venerable T20 cricketer from the Caribbean, Kieron Pollard, 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...” he said in a statement issued to the media.

“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 and gold, and those thoughts kept going through my head, leading me to a few sleepless nights.”

Russell said he has had discussions with theKKR 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 appreciated whatever I've been doing on the field. To be in a setup that's familiar matters to me a lot,” he said.

“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 added.

Russell, who has not missed a season of the IPL since 2012, represented the erstwhile Delhi Daredevils in his first two editions.

An all-rounder known for his brute force with the bat and knack of taking wickets at key junctures, Russell played a total of 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, with one five-wicket haul to his name.

Russell 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.