"I don't want to fade out..."- Andre Russell reveals why he retired from IPL
(Courtesy : BCCI/IPL)
Andre Russell recently announced his retirement from the IPL.
The veteran all-rounder Andre Russell shocked all the fans when he announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) just ahead of the auction, which is scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi.. The announcement of retirement came after he was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Russel has played for two franchises in his IPL career. He started with Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capitals, in the 2012 season and switched to KKR in the 2014 IPL season. The Jamaican played 133 matches for the three-time IPL champions before hanging up his boots.
“I don’t want to fade out” – Andre Russell
In his interview with Cricbuzz, Russel talked about the timing of his retirement from IPL. He said:
“Take Usain Bolt, for example, or AB de Villiers. When those guys hung up their boots while still at the top of their game, a lot of fans were asking, “why?” When I made this decision, I felt it was the best decision for me at this point.“
“I don’t want to fade out; I want to leave a legacy behind. I believe it’s best to retire when people still say “why” rather than reaching a stage where they say, “okay, yeah, you should have retired three or four years ago.”
IPL is more demanding, believes Andre Russell
Russel has claimed that the IPL demands more from the players, and he has always looked to enter an IPL season at his best.
“Definitely. It is based on the number of games and the travel. You have to make sure that you recover as well as possible to stay fresh and manage your body, manage practice sessions and your workload in the gym,” emphasised Russel on the intensity of the league.
Discussing the challenges of being an all-rounder, he remarked:
“You definitely need to practise, you need to hit the gym, but also make sure not to do too much. With a big league like the IPL, it’s always challenging for me as an all-rounder. And I can only speak on behalf of myself, because to bat, bowl and then make sure that you do some catching and fielding stuff – it’s always challenging. I just think this league is so big that you always want to make sure that your best performance is always at hand.”
Despite announcing his retirement from IPL, Andre Russell will continue his association with KKR as he will be serving as power coach of the franchise.
How many matches has Andre Russell played for KKR?
Andre Russel has played 133 matches for KKR.
Will Andre Russel be a part of the KKR support staff in IPL 2026?
Yes, Andre Russel will be a part of KKR’s support staff as a Power Coach.
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Navtej is all about narrating stories of human endeavour shaped by sporting excellence, from 22 yards to lush green pitches and buzzing arenas. With a background in broadcasting, he has a keen eye for compelling narratives that keep readers hooked. He primarily covers football and cricket, capturing the magic of two of the world’s most beloved sports.