Kolkata Knight Riders Honor Andre Russell by Retiring Jersey Number 12

Kolkata Knight Riders have announced the retirement of jersey number 12 in honor of Andre Russell, a move that pays tribute to the all-rounder's remarkable contributions to the team. Russell, who played for KKR from 2014 to 2025, will now serve as the team's 'power coach' starting in the 2026 season. This decision highlights his legacy as one of the franchise's greatest players, having achieved significant milestones during his tenure. The retirement of jersey number 12 marks a historic moment for KKR, following in the footsteps of other IPL teams that have honored their legends.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 25, 2026, 13:45 IST

KKR's Tribute to Andre Russell

On March 24, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a significant announcement during a pre-tournament event in Kolkata, revealing that they will retire jersey number 12 ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). This decision ensures that no future player for the franchise will don that number, a tribute to the legacy of Andre Russell, who wore it since joining KKR in 2014 until his last season in 2025. The West Indies all-rounder was released before this year's auction and subsequently announced his retirement from IPL, but he will return as the team's 'power coach' for the upcoming season.

KKR's CEO, Venky Mysore, expressed the deep connection with Russell, stating, 'We’ve had a long association with Andre Russell, not just with KKR but also on a personal level. He has given us countless reasons to celebrate his performances over the years. The number 12 is unique to Dre Russ, and we wanted to honor him with this tribute. In the Knight Riders tradition of starting a new legacy, we’d like to retire this number for KKR in his honour.'

Russell himself shared that winning the IPL with KKR was even more meaningful to him than lifting the T20 World Cup with the West Indies. He reflected on the honor, saying, 'We’ve had a long association with Andre Russell, not just with KKR but also on a personal level. He has given us so many reasons to celebrate his performances over the years. He always wore the number 12 proudly.'

Russell departs KKR as one of its most celebrated players, having participated in 139 matches, scoring 2658 runs at an impressive strike rate of 175.09, and taking 124 wickets. He ranks as the second-highest run-scorer and wicket-taker in the franchise's history. He was instrumental in KKR's title win in 2014 under Gautam Gambhir's leadership and played a crucial role in their 2024 victory when the team, led by Shreyas Iyer, lifted the trophy after a decade. This marks the second time an IPL team has retired a jersey number, following Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which retired numbers 17 and 333 in honor of legends AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle.