andre russellWest Indies all-rounder and Indian Premier League (IPL), Legend, was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, his long and often prestigious association with the franchise came to an end. Russell remains one of the most devastating finishers in T20 cricket, having also taken 123 wickets in the IPL with an impressive career strike rate of over 174.
While his IPL 2025 batting average dropped from 163.73 with a strike rate of 18.56 and his bowling economy rate was over 12.5 (taking 8 wickets), he is still one of the few players who is capable of single-handedly winning matches with both bat and ball. Teams with ample purse space and a need for an established, high-impact exotic finisher will be queuing up for the firepower of ‘Dre Russ’.
5 teams that could target Andre Russell in IPL 2026 mini-auction
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR, the team that released Russell, will be a big contender to get him back. They have the biggest auction purse of Rs 64.30 crore and have 13 slots to fill, including six overseas slots. The decision to release Russell (who was on a high salary of Rs 12 crore) was certainly a calculated move to free up money and potentially buy him back at a competitive price in the open auction rather than paying his fixed retention amount. His familiarity with the franchise, the Eden Gardens surface and his iconic position within the team makes him a high-priority target to re-establish their powerful finishing unit.
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Enter the auction with the second-highest purse of Rs 43.40 crore and a major overhaul is underway, with several all-rounders and key foreign players being released. Their primary need is to strengthen their all-rounder department and find a high-impact lower-order finisher. Russell is seen as an ideal solution, bringing the kind of explosive, match-defining ability that CSK have always valued. With a huge amount of money to spend and an immediate impact required, CSK could bid aggressively for Russell to fill the crucial No. 6/7 slot, adding a world-class finisher to their lineup.
3. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) They have a substantial purse of Rs 22.95 crore and are looking to add an aggressive, experienced overseas all-rounder to their middle order. LSG released david miller And will be keen to secure a big-name finisher who can provide the death-over acceleration they have often lacked. Russell’s ability to bowl 2-3 economical overs of fast pace and hit long sixes provides the complete package. He will perfectly complement the retained Nicholas Pooran, who has instantly transformed LSG’s lower-middle order into one of the most formidable in the competition.
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4. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) It has a healthy purse of Rs 25.50 crore and is focused on getting its squad balance right, especially in the middle order and death bowling. SRH’s batting often struggles with consistency and pace in the middle and late overs. Russell provides a proven, high-strike-rate solution to both problems: a devastating finisher with the bat and a wicket-taking fast bowler with the ball. SRH have the money and strategic motivation to invest heavily in Russell to ensure that their line-up has the required firepower and expert death-bowling skills to consistently win tough competitions.
5. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals (DC) He has a solid purse of Rs 21.80 crore and has a significant gap to fill in his overseas batting after his release Faf du Plessis And Jake Fraser-McGurkwhile he retained Mitchell Starc And Dushmantha ChameeraThey still lack a big-hitting, overseas fast bowling all-rounder in the lower-middle order. Russell provides this vital balance, offering an experienced, match-winning presence that can take the pressure off their made-up Indian Origin (KL Rahul, Rishabh PantDC will look to Russell as a high-impact, utility player who can immediately upgrade both their batting depth and fast bowling options.
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