KKR honour Andre Russell with THIS special gesture just before IPL 2026
3-time IPL champions KKR will begin their campaign on March 29.
The wait for the Indian Premier League 2026 is nearly over, with the tournament all set to begin from March 28. In the spotlight will be the Kolkata Knight Riders, who are looking to claim their fourth IPL trophy.
After winning in 2024, the team had to deal with multiple changes and will look to produce a better season this time around. Under Ajinkya Rahane, KKR will hope their big names perform well. With the inclusion of Cameron Green, the men in purple would hope to have solved their batting concern.
Injuries have already derailed their campaign, with Harshit Rana and Akash Deep ruled out of the tournament, and Pathirana is yet to be granted NOC by the Sri Lankan cricket board.
KKR have been handed a tough opening round against the Mumbai Indians in Wankhede. However, given MI’s poor historical record in first-round matches and the air of uncertainty over Jasprit Bumrah and Will Jacks’ availability, they will be encouraged to put their best foot forward.
KKR honour Andre Russell with a special gesture
Ahead of IPL 2026, the KKR management had to make some huge decisions. One such call was releasing one of their most iconic players, Andre Russell. The West Indies star all-rounder decided not to participate in the auction and retired from the league, showing his loyalty and commitment to his team rather than earning huge sums of money.
Russell finished his IPL career as a KKR legend, with 2,651 runs from 115 innings, at a blistering strike rate of 174.22. Moreover, he also picked 123 wickets, including one 5-fer and two 4-fers, showcasing why he has been such a valuable asset for the Knight Riders over the years.
During KKR’s pre-event on March 24, the Knight Riders Managing Director Venky Mysore honoured Russell with his No. 12 jersey, and announced that the jersey number will now be retired, meaning no other KKR player will be able to choose #12 as their jersey number.
This act of respect and gratitude won the hearts of KKR fans across the country. KKR players, including Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy and coach Dwayne Bravo.
“It has been over a decade of amazing achievements with this franchise. I got a bit emotional watching the video. When you win a World Cup, that feels special, but when you win the IPL, it’s something different. I just want to say thanks to this franchise for making this journey so special for me”, said an emotional Russell after being felicitated.
Russell played an invaluable role in helping KKR lift their two trophies. He will always be a part of the KKR legacy as he now enters a new chapter in the IPL, where he will guide the team as a power coach.
When will KKR play their first match in IPL 2026?
KKR will begin their campaign against MI on March 29.
What tribute did KKR give Andre Russell?
KKR retired Russell’s jersey number 12 as a mark of respect for his contributions.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.