IPL 2026: KKR Retire Jersey No 12 To Honour Andre Russell, Franchise Pays Tribute To ‘Eternal Knight’
· Free Press Journal
Kolkata, March 24, 2026: In a fitting tribute to Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) legendary all-rounder Andre Russell, the franchise has decided to retire jersey number 12 in honour of their Eternal Knight. The three-time champions made the special announcement at their pre-season event – Knights Unplugged 3.0 – on Tuesday evening.
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A stellar 12-year journey with KKR
Andre Russell, who has returned to the KKR setup as a ‘power coach’ ahead of the new season, had a distinguished 12-year tenure with the Kolkata Knight Riders, representing the franchise in the TATA IPL from 2014 to 2025. With his iconic hairstyle and incredible prowess on the cricket field, the West Indian went on to become one of KKR’s most prominent players, playing a significant role in helping them secure two TATA IPL titles (2014, 2024).
Impressive records and achievements
Russell featured in 140 TATA IPL matches, scoring 2,651 runs at a strike rate of 174.17 and picking 123 wickets. He is only the second all-rounder in the TATA IPL to register more than 2,000 runs and 100 wickets. His power-packed performances also earned him the Most Valuable Player of the tournament in 2019, where he amassed 510 runs at a staggering strike rate of 204.81 and an average of 56.66.
The two-time ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winner (2012 and 2016) also holds the best bowling figures for a KKR bowler in TATA IPL history, registering 5 for 15 against Mumbai Indians in the TATA IPL 2021. His 122 wickets for the franchise make him the second-most successful bowler in their history, only second to Sunil Narine (192 wickets).
Franchise and player react to honour
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Venky Mysore, Chief Executive Officer, Kolkata Knight Riders, said, “We’ve had a long association with Andre Russell, not just with KKR but also on a personal level. On the field, he has given us so many reasons to celebrate his performances over the years. He always wore the number 12 proudly, and the number is so unique to Dre Russ that we wanted to share a fitting tribute. So, in the Knight Riders tradition of starting a new legacy, we’d like to retire this number for KKR in his honour.”
Ex-IPL Player Appointed RCB Chairman After Historic ₹16,706 Crore Takeover By Aditya Birla Group-Led ConsortiumSharing his thoughts, an emotional Kolkata Knight Riders power coach Andre Russell added, “It has been over a decade of amazing achievements with this franchise, and I got a bit emotional watching the video. To be a part of two championship-winning teams with KKR, and to see what it means to everyone, that’s an amazing feeling. When you win a World Cup, that feels special, but when you win the IPL, it’s something different. I just want to say thanks to this franchise for making this journey so special for me.”