Shah Rukh Khan marked the end of Andre Russell’s IPL playing career with an emotional public tribute, hailing the Caribbean player as a franchise legend and welcoming him into a new role as Kolkata Knight Riders’ “Power Coach” from the 2026 season. Russell retired from the IPL after 12 seasons but will continue to be part of the Knight Riders’ global setup and other T20 leagues worldwide.
Shah Rukh khan’s emotional message to Andre Russell
Responding to Russell’s retirement announcement on social media, SRK thanked the all-rounder for years of service in KKR colours and described him as the franchise’s “knight in shining armour”. The Bollywood superstar stressed that Russell’s contribution to KKR “is one for the books” and joked that seeing him in any jersey other than the iconic purple and gold would “look weird”, underlining how closely his image is tied to the franchise.
Shah Rukh also used the message to underline the significance 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 sport. The post framed the transition not as a farewell, but as a continuation of a long-standing association that began when Russell joined KKR in 2014 after two seasons with Delhi Daredevils.
Russell’s IPL legacy and new role of Power Coach
Russell ended his IPL playing career with one of the most imposing all‑round records in the league’s history, having featured 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 collected two Most Valuable Player awards (2015 and 2019), while producing several iconic innings and match‑turning spells that cemented his status as the team’s premier game‑changer.
A dip in returns in IPL 2025, where he managed only 167 runs and eight wickets at an economy approaching 12, influenced KKR’s decision to release him ahead of the IPL 2026 mini‑auction, effectively paving the way for his retirement as a player. Russell, however, chose to continue his association with the franchise by accepting a place on Abhishek Nayar’s revamped coaching staff as “Power Coach”, a role Shah Rukh explained would see him “passing down the wisdom, the muscle and of course the power” to the next generation of KKR batters. Under this arrangement, Russell will remain a key presence in the Knight Riders ecosystem even as he keeps playing franchise T20 cricket in other leagues and for the wider Knight Riders group teams.
