Russell played 140 IPL matches across 12 seasons, scoring 2651 runs at a strike rate of 174.18 and taking 123 wickets with a best of five for 15. He debuted in 2012 for Delhi Daredevils before joining KKR in 2014, where he spent the rest of his IPL career. He played 133 games for the franchise, winning titles in 2014 and 2024, and earned MVP awards in 2015 and 2019. His 223 career sixes place him seventh on the tournament’s all-time list.
Form concerns and fitness issues marked his most recent season. In IPL 2025, he scored 167 runs and claimed eight wickets while conceding at 11.94 per over. His release cleared Rs 12 crore from KKR’s roster ahead of the auction.
Russell said speculation about joining other teams influenced his decision. Seeing digitally altered images of himself in different jerseys felt uncomfortable, he said, and caused several sleepless nights.
He noted discussions with KKR chief executive Venky Mysore and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan about continuing with the franchise in a new role. “They have shown me love and respect and appreciated what I’ve been doing on the field. To be in a setup that’s familiar matters to me,” he said.
Russell said he will continue playing in other franchise leagues around the world.
