Andre Russell—one of the most destructive T20 players ever to set foot in the IPL—has officially brought his decorated IPL playing career to an end. After not being retained ahead of IPL 2026, Russell announced that he’s stepping into a fresh role with Kolkata Knight Riders as their newly created “power coach.”
IPL 2026 Players List, Schedule and Fixtures
In a heartfelt message, Russell spoke about how difficult it was to move on from the IPL, a tournament that made him a superstar and a fan favourite. He admitted to sleepless nights, emotional conversations with KKR CEO Venky Mysore and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, and that strange feeling of imagining himself in another team’s colors.
But in classic Dre Russ fashion, he’s not stepping away—he’s leveling up.
IPL 2026 Players List, Schedule and Fixtures
The “power coach” role almost sounds custom-built for him. From monstrous sixes to match-changing spells, to electric fielding, Russell embodied power in every department. Now, his job is to help the next generation do the same.
With a new support staff featuring Abhishek Nayar as head coach, Tim Southee as bowling coach, Shane Watson as assistant coach, and Dwayne Bravo as mentor, KKR are heading into 2026 with a refreshed identity and a massive auction purse of INR 64.3 crore.
A new chapter for Russell. A new era for KKR.
Click here — IPL 2026 Players List, Schedule & Fixtures
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