Andre Russell, the West Indies all-rounder and Indian Premier League (IPL) legend, was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, ending his long and often iconic association with the franchise. Russell remains one of the most destructive finishers in T20 cricket, boasting a phenomenal career strike rate of over 174 in the IPL, complemented by 123 wickets.
While his IPL 2025 batting average dipped to 18.56 at a strike rate of 163.73 and his bowling economy rate was over 12.5 (taking 8 wickets), he is still one of the few players capable of single-handedly winning matches with both bat and ball. Teams with significant purse space and a need for an established, high-impact overseas finisher will be queuing up for the ‘Dre Russ’ firepower.
5 teams that can target Andre Russell in the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR, the team that released Russell, will be a major contender to re-acquire him. They hold the biggest auction purse of INR 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 INR 12 crore) was almost certainly a calculated move to free up funds 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 status 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-largest purse of INR 43.40 crore and a major overhaul underway, having released several all-rounders and key overseas players. Their primary need is to bolster their all-rounder department and find a high-impact lower-order finisher. Russell is viewed as the perfect solution, bringing the kind of explosive, match-defining ability that CSK has always valued. With a huge amount of money to spend and a need for immediate impact, CSK can bid aggressively for Russell to fill the crucial number 6/7 slot, adding a world-class finisher to their lineup.
3. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have a substantial purse of INR 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 to provide the kind of death-over acceleration they often lacked. Russell’s ability to bowl 2-3 economical overs of pace and hit huge sixes provides the complete package. He would perfectly complement the retained Nicholas Pooran, instantly transforming LSG’s lower-middle order into one of the most formidable in the competition.
4. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) holds a healthy purse of INR 25.50 crore and is focused on fine-tuning its squad balance, particularly in the middle order and death bowling. SRH’s batting often struggles with consistency and momentum through 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 pacer with the ball. SRH has the funds and the strategic motivation to invest heavily in Russell to ensure their line-up has the firepower and specialist death-bowling skill needed to consistently win tight contests.
5. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals (DC) have a solid purse of INR 21.80 crore and a significant gap to fill in their overseas batting, having released Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk. While they retained Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera, they still lack a big-hitting, overseas pace-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 retained Indian core (KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant). DC will see Russell as a high-impact, utility player who can instantly upgrade both their batting depth and fast-bowling options.
