Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have retired the No. 12 jersey to honour their former allrounder Andre Russell. Russell represented KKR in all seasons from 2014 to 2025, except 2017. Overall, 133 of his 140 IPL games came for KKR, where he was a permanent fixture for 11 seasons.
“I don’t think it has affected my mindset,” Russell said about getting into coaching. “It is more about coming and giving back to all the guys I have played with and against. I just feel very good about coming back and giving back to the guys.”
Russell was twice part of KKR’s title-winning sides – in 2014 and 2024. But while he played just two games in 2014, his all-round contributions across 15 matches in 2024 helped KKR to the trophy. That season, Russell scored 222 runs at a strike rate of 185 in nine innings, and bagged 19 wickets at an average of 15.52.
Apart from the IPL, Russell also played for KKR in the Champions League T20 in 2014-15, and was part of the side that made it to the final that season.
Russell also represents KKR’s sister franchises Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the ILT20 and Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. He has played four seasons each for both teams.