Table of Contents
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) legend Andre Russell has opened up on the real reason behind his decision to retire from the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying he preferred to exit while still feared by opposition bowlers rather than continue until fans felt he had overstayed his prime.
In an interview with Cricbuzz, the 37-year-old said he wanted his IPL legacy to mirror global icons who ended their careers at the top. Russell explained that the ideal retirement moment, for him, was when people still wondered “why now?” instead of “why is he still playing?”
The West Indies powerhouse emphasised that he never wanted to reach a stage where fans would say he should have retired “three or four years ago.” Retiring now, he believes, protects the aura he built as one of T20 cricket’s most devastating all-rounders.
Andre Russell’s retirement inspired by Usain Bolt and AB de Villiers’ timely exit
Russell said his call was shaped by the retirement timing of elite athletes like Usain Bolt and AB de Villiers, who stepped aside while still dominant. That approach, he felt, ensured their legacies remained untarnished by decline.
“Take Usain Bolt, for example, or AB de Villiers. When those guys hung up their boots while still at the top of their game, a lot of fans were asking, “why?” When I made this decision, I felt it was the best decision for me at this point. I don’t want to fade out; I want to leave a legacy behind. I believe it’s best to retire when people still say “why” rather than reaching a stage where they say, ‘okay, yeah, you should have retired three or four years ago,” said Russell.
Russell also explained how his new job title at KKR – power coach – was born.
He revealed that KKR CEO Venky Mysore pitched the idea, and the moment he heard the designation, he knew it was the perfect extension of his on-field identity.
“To be honest, when I heard that name coming from Mr Venky, I said, hmm, that describes Dre Russ perfectly, that describes Andre Russell… because when it comes to what I’ve been doing on the field – the power that I possess when I bat, the energy that I show in the field with the ball in hand – I thought, yeah, this name sounds good: POWER COACH,” he added.
Also READ: Andre Russell’s wife – Meet Jassym Lora, an American fashion model | Pics Inside
Russell’s IPL numbers defines his legacy
Across 140 IPL matches, Russell delivered statistics few all-rounders can match:
- 2,651 runs at an average of 28.20
- A staggering 174.93 strike rate
- 11 fifties, top score 88 not out
- 170 fours and 209 sixes
- 123 wickets, average 20.27, economy 9.07
- Best bowling: 4/20
Also READ: Andre Russell’s wife – How popular is Jassym Lora on social media?
