Before IPL 2026 began, Kolkata Knight Riders stopped using jersey number 12 – a move meant for Andre Russell. The three-time title winners hosted their off-season gathering, called Knights Unplugged, where emotions ran high. A long journey ended quietly that night; he had shaped their wins in 2014 and again in 2024. More than stats, it was loyalty they chose to remember. Over eleven seasons, his presence became part of their identity. Honours like these do not come often, especially when earned through grit, year after year.
For you, this number will no longer be used by KKR,” said Venky Mysore, the team’s chief, speaking at the event
First ever, a jersey number got pulled from use in IPL history. Over in India’s national setup, the board stepped away from two numbers – Sachin Tendulkar’s 10 and MS Dhoni’s 7. Not once did that occur during an IPL season. That very number, 7, showed up again when Mitchell McClenaghan wore it playing for Mumbai Indians. Since that moment, nobody else took it on, even though the team never made it official. The silence around it speaks louder than any announcement.
Midway through, a video honoring Russell’s time with the team unfolded on screen. This moment pulled at him deeply, visible in his quiet response. Emotion settled over the room as images moved across the display.
That video caught me off guard, honestly. More than ten years packed with moments worth remembering, standing tall in two championship squads. Watching how much it mattered to each person there – somehow that joy cuts deeper. There is weight behind World Cups, hard to explain. Winning the IPL carries its own pulse, though. And when our team lifted it last time? My eyes didn’t stay dry. Fully giving your all means no regrets when stepping back. Each match I stepped onto the pitch for, I treated as if it could be my final IPL moment, Russell stated.
That instant captured a shift in Russell’s path through the IPL. Before the latest auction, questions hung around what might come next – especially once KKR chose not to keep him on their roster. Yet here came a twist: instead of entering the bidding pool again, he stepped into a new role, taking up KKR’s invitation to guide players as a power-hitting mentor for the campaign.
Fine with where things stand now, says Russell
Now that he’s no longer taking part as a player in the IPL, Russell shifts into guiding young players who thrive under pressure. This move marks less running between wickets, more quiet advice in the dressing room. Down the line, his energy leans toward teaming up with those already shaping strategy – Abhishek Nayar at the helm, Shane Watson adding depth beside him.
Looking back, I do not regret taking on this position. Excitement runs high. Among us sits a coaching team full of youth, packed with skill. Being surrounded by such energy feels right. Their presence simplifies what I do every day. Maybe some of what I know helps them move smoother through their work,” shared the seasoned coach.
Ajinkya Rahane takes charge as skipper, while Rinku Singh steps into the role of deputy. Come March 29, Kolkata begins its journey versus Mumbai Indians under the lights of Wankhede Stadium.
