Russell’s reign ends as KKR wield the axe in IPL’s great retention shake-up

MUMBAI: In what ranks among the most stunning decisions in Indian Premier League history, Kolkata Knight Riders have severed ties with Andre Russell, ending a decade-long partnership with the explosive all-rounder who became synonymous with their brand of fearless cricket. The two-time champions didn’t stop there—Venkatesh Iyer, acquired for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore just last year, has also been shown the door.

The ruthless cull leaves KKR flush with Rs 64.3 crore for the upcoming auction, the fattest purse among all franchises. Chennai Super Kings weren’t far behind in their own bloodletting, releasing 11 players to amass Rs 43.4 crore—the second-largest war chest heading into the player bazaar.

The retention announcements revealed contrasting philosophies across teams. Mumbai Indians, typically conservative, showed surprising aggression by retaining 15 players including traded acquisitions Shardul Thakur (Rs 2 crore from Lucknow Super Giants) and Sherfane Rutherford (Rs 2.6 crore from Gujarat Titans). Royal Challengers Bangalore kept faith with just 14 players, whilst Sunrisers Hyderabad held onto a lean 13.

The trade market produced its own fireworks. The blockbuster swap saw Sanju Samson head to Chennai Super Kings for Rs 18 crore, whilst Ravindra Jadeja moved in the opposite direction to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 14 crore. Sam Curran joined Jadeja at the Royals for Rs 2.4 crore, completing a three-way reshuffle that could reshape the balance of power in the tournament.

Delhi Capitals bolstered their Indian core by trading for Nitish Rana (Rs 4.2 crore from Rajasthan), surrendering Donovan Ferreira (Rs 1 crore) in return. Punjab Kings assembled an eclectic mix of 21 retained players, the joint-highest alongside Lucknow Super Giants, who welcomed Mohammed Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 10 crore and Arjun Tendulkar from Mumbai for a modest Rs 30 lakh.

Gujarat Titans retained 18 players despite losing Rutherford, banking on stability over upheaval. Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, kept faith with just eight players marked as traded in their official release—though the true number appears higher given their massive purse.
 

For Russell, who smashed 2,803 runs at a strike rate of 176.90 and claimed 101 wickets across 140 matches in KKR colours, the decision marks the end of an era. His ability to turn matches on their head with both bat and ball made him one of the league’s most feared competitors. Now, as teams sharpen their auction strategies, the West Indian maverick will find himself in unfamiliar territory—up for grabs in what promises to be one of the most consequential player sales in recent memory.