Andre Russell: “This Is the Reason That I Said Goodbye to The IPL”

West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell has finally shared why he walked away from the Indian Premier League. The cricket world was taken by surprise when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released him ahead of IPL 2026 mini-auction, but Russell declared his retirement from the league. Soon after, KKR appointed him as their Power Coach, initiating a new chapter with the franchise.

Russell laid down from a place of tenderness when he handed to Cricbuzz details-izes the emotional and practical sides that led him to decide to leave The World's biggest T20 league.

"IPL is a massive tournament... and the workload is too heavy" — Russell

Offering genuine open talk, Russell mentioned how all the physical exertion, traveling, and the necessity of playing a double role made him consider his place in the future of the IPL.

“It is a tamasha tournament. There are many matches, lots of travelling, practice continuously, gym, and workload. Everything along with that becomes very hard to balance,” he told The Age.

Fixing the role of an all-rounder made it doubly difficult according to Russell. "Here we have an issue, just because I can't come up, smash a lot of sixes, and go back. I have to bowl at least two overs before I can bat well. I love cricket when I contribute to the batting as well as the bowling."

"I did not want to just walk away… I wanted to have a legacy"

Russell also had a heartful message for the KKR fans:

"Hello KKR fans, this is your Andre Russell. I want to tell you something—I am retiring from the IPL."

He described KKR as his family that he shared many special moments with.

"KKR gave me so many opportunities and unforgettable moments—the big sixes, the match-winning knocks, everything. It made me feel like a true entertainer."

Russell looked at his retirement as an assertive choice:

“I didn't want to stick around until I faded out. I really wanted to leave when in the IPL, fans were still asking, ‘Why is he retiring?’ That, to me, is the right time to leave. I wanted to leave with a legacy."

Andre Russell IPL Record: The T-20 Behemoth

Hence, Russell's IPL journey has been more than awe-stricken:

• Games: 140
• Runs: 2,651
• Strike Rate: 174.18
• Fifties: 12
• Wickets: 123
• Economy: 9.51
• 5-wicket haul: 1

His explosive batting, no-doubt-about-it explosive bowling, and always-around explosive fielding meant he was till recently one of the league's most feared cricketers.