Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced a groundbreaking transition for West Indian cricket star Andre Russell, who will assume the newly created role of ‘power coach’ following his retirement from the Indian Premier League. The Jamaican all-rounder, after 12 remarkable seasons in the world’s premier T20 franchise league, has chosen to conclude his playing career while remaining with the franchise in a strategic coaching capacity.
Russell’s decision marks his second retirement announcement this year, having previously stepped away from international cricket with the West Indies in July. The 37-year-old athlete, who spent 11 seasons with KKR and contributed significantly to their championship victories in 2014 and 2024, could have entered next week’s IPL draft after not being retained by the franchise. However, following extensive discussions with KKR ownership, Russell embraced this innovative career shift ahead of the 2026 season.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore, who has managed franchise transitions for 15 years, revealed that Russell’s new position represents a strategic evolution rather than a conventional retirement. ‘Very rarely do players feel like they are done,’ Mysore told ESPNcricinfo. ‘He’s probably right that he still has cricket left in him, but he also realized by the time 2026 IPL comes around, he’ll be 38. He’s a natural athlete, but body and age do catch up.’
Russell’s legacy with KKR remains extraordinary – as one of only two players in IPL history to achieve the double of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets, he accumulated nearly 2,600 runs and over 120 wickets while earning MVP honors in 2015 and 2019. His new coaching role will leverage his exceptional skills in finishing games, power hitting, and athletic fielding – attributes that inspired the ‘power coach’ terminology that Mysore specifically developed for this position.
The transition represents a growing trend among West Indian cricketers, with Russell joining contemporaries Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo who have similarly moved into coaching roles within the IPL following their playing retirements. Despite concluding his IPL playing career, Russell maintains his contract with Knight Riders ownership across other global leagues, including the Caribbean Premier League with Trinbago.