In a surprise announcement ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, Andre Russell has retired from the Indian Premier League. The 37-year-old West Indian all-rounder, recently released by Kolkata Knight Riders, confirmed via an Instagram post that he will not sign with any other franchise and will instead return to KKR as part of the support staff for the 2026 season in the role of “power coach.”

Russell leaves behind a formidable legacy in the league. Across 12 IPL seasons, he played 140 matches, scored 2651 runs at a strike rate of 174.18 and picked up 123 wickets at an economy rate of 9.51, with a best of 5 for 15. Known for his brutal lower-order hitting and match-turning spells, he was among the most impactful all-rounders in IPL history.

He made his IPL debut in 2012 with Delhi Daredevils before being signed by KKR in the 2014 auction. From there, Russell became one of the franchise’s most iconic players, appearing in 133 games for the purple and gold and winning two titles — in 2014 and 2024. He earned the IPL MVP award twice, in 2015 and 2019. With 223 sixes, he retires seventh on the all-time IPL list, behind Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers and David Warner.

However, the last few seasons were challenging. In IPL 2025, Russell scored 167 runs and took eight wickets at an economy of 11.94, raising concerns over form and fitness — factors that likely contributed to KKR’s decision to release him and free up INR 12 crore ahead of the auction.

Despite stepping away from the IPL, Russell clarified in his announcement that he will continue playing in other franchise leagues around the world.