KKR CEO Venky Mysore makes big revelation about Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Andre Russell’s retirement ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has revealed the franchise's co-owner, Shah Rukh Khan, played a crucial role behind star all-rounder Andre Russell's retirement. Mysore disclosed that it was the Bollywood superstar's suggestion to appoint the Jamaican as the team's power coach ahead of IPL 2026.

One of the first-choice names in their playing XI, the franchise had shockingly released Russell ahead of the auction. Having joined the Knight Riders in 2014, he was their second-highest run-getter and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Year twice. Then, as one thing led to another, on November 30, he was appointed as KKR's power coach for IPL 2026.

When asked who suggested the seam-bowling all-rounder retire altogether and join their coaching staff, the 66-year-old said SRK was behind it, even as Russell contemplated retiring from the league himself. Mysore also asserted that the West Indian was now playing in the other leagues without any pressure in his mind.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, he said:

"I could see he was agonising over it, and, so when I shared this with SRK [Shah Rukh Khan], it was actually SRK's suggestion. Because, see, a player is thinking somewhere at the back of his mind, what happens after I hang up my boots?

"But I don't think they want to think about it also so much because professional athletes are like that. They believe I'm still good, and Dre still is - he is fantastic and playing other leagues. It just felt like he was very free in his mind after making the retirement decision. Because the guy took a couple of catches [in ILT20], is sliding and diving and throwing."

The 37-year-old is currently playing in the International League T20 (ILT20) in the UAE and previously featured in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

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"It was almost a spur of the moment thought" - Venky Mysore on idea of power coach role for Andre Russell

Venky Myssore. (Image Credits: Getty)

When asked how it struck them to appoint Russell as the power coach, Mysore said it was the very image of the Jamaican walking out to unleash some big shots that prompted it. He added:

"It was almost a spur of the moment thought. We were talking what role he could best do and I said: what are you best known for? It is your ability to come in and finish games with very few balls left and go from ball one. The image of him when he walks in itself is like, oh my God, here he comes. There's going to be some power hitting now. I said to him: "what can you help us, help the team the most with is all your experience and skills. When you bring them together, it's all about power, every thing that you did." So I said, "we will call you power coach."

Having released a handful of high-profile players, KKR have an available purse of ₹64.03 crore for IPL 2026 auction. They have appointed Abhishek Nayar as the head coach after Chandrakant Pandit's departure.