What Is Andre Russell's 'Power Coach' Role At KKR? Shah Rukh Khan Drops Big Hint

Bollywood superstar and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday (November 30) seemed to give away what Andre Russell’s unique new role at the franchise, as the ‘Power Coach’, would

entail. In a tribute post in reply to Russell’s IPL retirement announcement, Shah Rukh said that Russell would be ‘passing down the wisdom,’ the muscle, and the ‘power’ to other members in the franchise.

Russell spent most of his IPL career at KKR, a franchise that supported him through controversies and fitness issues and got a legend’s contribution to two titles in return. They released him to the auction pool this year, deciding to use the Rs. 18 crore purse value otherwise, after reportedly failing in talks to trade him.

Russell could still have been a handy option for many teams at the auction, where his base price would have likely started at Rs. 2 crore. However, the all-rounder decided to call time on his IPL career, taking to social media to explain how he felt ‘weird’ seeing himself in the edits of social media fans putting him in a variety of other teams’ kits.

“Thank you for the wonderful memories, Andre,” Shah Rukh wrote on X. “Our Knight in shining armour!!! Your contribution to @KKRiders is one for the books… and here’s to another chapter in your fantastic journey as a sportsman… The power coach – passing down the wisdom, the muscle and of course the power down to our boys in purple and gold… And yes, any other jersey would indeed look weird on you my man… Muscle Russell for life! Love u… on behalf of the team and everyone who loves the sport!!” he added.

Russell is renowned as one of the best power-hitters in the IPL. He’s the 39th highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history with 2651 runs at a strike-rate of 174.17.

None of those with more runs against him in the league can boast of a strike rate of more than 160.

“I had a few sleepless nights,” Russell said in an emotional video. “There have been a lot of conversations between me and Venky Mysore and also Shah Rukh Khan about another chapter in my IPL journey, and they have shown me respect and love. They appreciate whatever I have been doing on the field and to be in a setup where I’m familiar. That matters to me a lot. So Kolkata, I’ll be back. I am here now just to say that I will be part of the KKR support staff. So when I heard that name, coming from Venky. I said, ‘You know, power coach —that describes Dre Russ, that describes Andre Russell’ because the power that I possess when I bat and the energy that I show in the field with the ball in hand I can help in any department.”

He’ll continue to play across other leagues in the world.