Mohammed Kaif has questioned KKR’s call to release Andre Russell, suggesting the franchise might want him back when the IPL 2026 auction rolls around. Russell’s stint with Kolkata spanned 12 seasons, during which he appeared in 133 matches, piled up 2593 runs at a rapid strike rate of 174.97 and claimed 122 wickets, underlining his status as a true match-winner.
Despite being retained for IPL 2025, the Kolkata Knight Riders opted to move on from him before this year’s auction. Mohammed Kaif, labelled the West Indies all-rounder a generational match-winner and said the release left him baffled.
According to Kaif, Abhishek Nayar’s appointment as KKR’s head coach could be the key reason the franchise went down this route.
“Russell’s release is not right. You had him for Rs 12 crore, which is not a huge figure for someone of his calibre. He is a once-in-a-generation cricketer. Sure, he had a dip in form, but he found runs later as well. When new coaches come in, they like to make changes, and this feels like one of those calls. You can argue he wasn’t at his absolute best, but the IPL is a format where experienced players often shine. For me, the real reason behind his release is Abhishek Nayar wanting to shape the squad his own way. Still, it’s a shocking decision,” Kaif said.
He suggested that four Cameron Greens still wouldn’t give KKR the kind of game-changing value Russell provides.
“The kind of power Russell brings, even four Cameron Greens can’t match, .He can launch 100-metre hits whenever he wants and has dragged KKR out of impossible positions. That’s why he earned so much respect. Very few players can do what he does at number seven. If you push Green to that spot, he won’t score even half of what Russell does. I genuinely feel KKR should try to bring Russell back,” Kaif added.