Andre Russell has long been known as one of the most devastating batsmen in T20 cricket, capable of clearing the ropes at will and dismantling bowling attacks with ease. But in 2026, Russell took on a different challenge – to teach others how to do the same.
After an incredible journey with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as one of their key all-rounders, the West Indian is now releasing into a new chapter as a strength trainer of three-time champions.
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“I teach people how to hit sixes,” Russell said in a video shared by KKR, neatly summing up his new role. It’s a line that only Russell, who has embodied KKR’s raw power for more than a decade, has been able to deliver.
And by all accounts, the 37-year-old is enjoying the transition. Russell said his mindset hasn’t changed, adding that his role is to get back to the same group of players he’s shared the dressing room with over the years.
“I don’t think it’s affected my mindset. It’s more about coming in and giving back to all the guys I’ve played with and against,” Russell said.
THE INCREDIBLE CAREER OF ANDRE RUSSELL KKR
During his IPL career, Russell played 140 matches and scored 2,651 runs at a staggering strike rate of 174.17, the highest among batsmen with more than 1,500 runs in the tournament, while taking 123 wickets.
He played 133 matches for KKR, took 122 wickets and became only the second player in franchise history after Sunil Narine to cross the 100-wicket mark. He has also won 16 Player-of-the-Match awards in KKR colours, second only to Narine, underscoring how often he has turned games around on his own.
Russell’s IPL journey ended at the end of 2025 after KKR released him ahead of the 2026 auction, a decision that stunned fans across the league. Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, the all-rounder was retained for INR 12 crore and released in November 2025, a move that added INR 18 crore back to KKR’s purse under the retention formula.
Russell subsequently opted not to enter the auction, effectively bringing the curtain down on his IPL career before transitioning seamlessly into KKR’s support staff.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
27 March 2026 18:21 IST
