Shahrukh Khan marked the end of andre russellThe Caribbean player kicked off his IPL playing career with an emotional public tribute, honoring him as a franchise legend and welcoming him into a new role. Kolkata Knight Riders‘ “Power Coach” from the 2026 season. Russell retired from the IPL after 12 seasons, but will remain a part of the global setup of the Knight Riders and other T20 leagues around the world.
Shahrukh Khan’s emotional message to Andre Russell
Reacting to Russell’s retirement announcement on social media, SRK thanked the all-rounder for his years of service to KKR and described him as the “love” of the franchise.Knight in shining Armour“. The Bollywood superstar emphasized that Russell’s contribution to KKR was “is one for the booksand joked about seeing him in any jersey other than the iconic purple and gold.”feeling strange”, underscoring how closely his image is linked to the franchise
Shahrukh also used the message to highlight the importance of Russell’s next chapter, calling him “Muscle Russell for Life” and expressing love on behalf of the entire KKR family and fans of the game. The post described the change not as a farewell, but as a continuation of a long-standing association that began when Russell joined KKR in 2014 after two seasons. Delhi Daredevils.
Russell’s IPL legacy and new role power coach
Russell ended his IPL playing career with one of the most impressive all-round records in the history of the league, appearing in 140 matches for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and KKR, scoring 2,651 runs at a strike rate of over 174 and taking 123 wickets at an economy rate of 9.51. He won two IPL titles with KKR (2014 and 2024) and received two Most Valuable Player awards (2015 and 2019), while delivering several iconic innings and match-turning spells that cemented his status as the team’s key game-changer.
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Declining returns in IPL 2025, where he could only manage 167 runs and eight wickets at an economy of 12, influenced KKR’s decision to release him early. IPL 2026 Mini-AuctionEffectively paving the way for his retirement as a player. However, Russell decided to continue his association with the franchise by accepting a spot Abhishek NairThe coaching staff of the Indian Premier League was revamped as “power coaches”, with Shahrukh stating that he would take up such a role.Transferring down intelligence, muscle and of course power“To the next generation of KKR batsmen. Under this arrangement, Russell will remain a key presence in the Knight Riders ecosystem, even as he continues to play franchise T20 cricket in other leagues and for the wider Knight Riders group teams.
