NEW DELHI: After not being retained by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, star all-rounder Andre Russell surprised fans by announcing his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.

Russell shared the news via an Instagram post, stating that he will not be playing for any other franchise and will instead join KKR’s support staff for the 2026 season as their "power coach."

"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

Russell boasts an impressive IPL career spanning 12 seasons. In 140 matches, he scored 2,651 runs at a strike rate of 174.18 and claimed 123 wickets at an economy of 9.51, with a best bowling figure of 5 for 15.

'Want to leave a legacy behind'

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

Russell excited about new KKR role as 'Power Coach'

Russell said he has 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," 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's IPL journey

Russell made his IPL debut in 2012 with Delhi Daredevils before being snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 auction. Over the next decade, he played 133 matches for KKR, helping the franchise lift two IPL titles in 2014 and 2024.

Known for his explosive lower-order hitting, Russell earned the IPL MVP award twice, in 2015 and 2019, and established himself as one of the most feared finishers in league history.

Recent seasons, however, saw a dip in Russell's performances. In IPL 2025, he scored just 167 runs and took eight wickets at an economy of 11.94, raising concerns about his form and fitness. That decline likely played a role in KKR's decision to release him, freeing up Rs 12 crore ahead of the upcoming auction.

Despite stepping away from the IPL, Russell isn't retiring from cricket entirely. In his Instagram post, he confirmed that he plans to continue playing in other franchise leagues around the world.