Overview:
Mysore revealed that Russell was shaken and surprised after he was informed about his release.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore recently shed light on parting ways with their superstar Andre Russell before the IPL 2026 auction. The West Indies all-rounder was not retained by the three-time champions for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. In his interview with ESPNcricinfo, Mysore said that their decision was due to the financial structure of the retained players’ slabs and the impact Russell’s retention would have on the franchise’s purse for the auction.
He highlighted the fact that while Russell was bought for INR 12 crore, keeping him with the team would have led to a deduction of INR 18 crore from KKR’s purse. “The deduction would have been INR 18 crore and not INR 12 crore if we had retained him,” he said.
“His contract was of INR 12 crore, but INR 18 crore would have been deducted if we had retained him, and that is a lot of money as far as the auction is concerned,” he added.
He mentioned that a franchise needs flexibility in the mini-auctions. “You need flexibility to look at the options available. If the amount were INR 12 crore, the decision would have been different. Although INR 12 crore is a big amount, it is hard to get a player of his quality for that money. It doesn’t happen in the mini auction.”
Mysore revealed that Russell was shaken and surprised after he was informed about his release. “It hit him after a few days. Russell told me that he had sleepless nights wondering about where all of this could go, as he was used to wearing purple and gold. He has built a relationship with the franchise and the owners.”
The CEO disclosed that it was KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan who suggested offering a coaching role to Russell.
“When I informed SRK about Russell’s reaction, he suggested I offer him a coaching role. Players think a lot after their retirements. However, some players believe they are still good to play, and Dre is still a fantastic player and is playing in other leagues.”
Russell was appointed as the Power Coach of KKR.