Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made a great call: they have decided to retire jersey number 12 as a tribute to the legendary all-rounder Andre Russell, the veteran West Indian, who has become an Eternal Knight for his service to the Indian Premier League (IPL) side.
However, Kolkata Knight Riders, the three-time champions, made the special announcement at their preseason event – Knights Unplugged 3.0 – on Tuesday evening as well. Andre Russell, who has returned to the KKR setup as a ‘power coach’ before the new season, had a stunning 12-year tenure with the Kolkata Knight Riders, representing the side in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2014 to 2025.
Notably, Andre Russell played 140 IPL matches for KKR, scoring 2,651 runs, which came at a strike rate of 174.17 and claiming 123 wickets. He is only the second all-rounder in the IPL to score more than 2000 runs and take 100 wickets. His stunning performances also earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament in 2019, where he smashed 510 runs at an amazing strike rate of 204.81 and an average of 56.66.
Jersey no. 12 in Purple & Gold will always be yours DRE RUSS 💪💜 pic.twitter.com/LuK0aIJ5zl
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 24, 2026
However, he also holds the best bowling figures for a KKR bowler in IPL history, registering 5 for 15 against the Mumbai Indians in 2021 as well. His 122 wickets for KKR make him the second-most successful bowler in their history, only second to Sunil Narine (192 wickets) as well.
Speaking on this, 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.”
Sharing his thoughts, an emotional Andre Russell said, “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.”
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