Andre Russell, one of the all-time greats of the Indian Premier League (IPL), was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last month. He had spent
12 seasons playing for the Knights and won the IPL title twice.
After his release, fans and experts started speculating where Russell could be headed next, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) looking to be his most likely destination. However, the Caribbean all-rounder dropped a bombshell a few days later, as he announced his retirement from the IPL and joined KKR as their Power Coach.
The upcoming edition of the IPL will be bereft of one of its greatest cricketers, a two-time MVP (Most Valuable Player) award winner.
Let's take a look at three players who could fill the big boots of Andre Russell in the IPL:
Marco Jansen
Punjab Kings' Marco Jansen is more of a bowling all-rounder. However, his batting is improving all the time. During the ongoing series between India and South Africa, Jansen has shown his capability with the bat, hitting massive sixes by putting his long levers to good use.
Jansen is just 25 years old and has the experience of playing 19 T20Is and 35 IPL matches. IPL 2026 could be the season where he takes the world by storm as a batter and establishes himself as a top seam-bowling all-rounder in the shortest format.
Romario Shepherd
Romario Shepherd might be 31 years old, but he is still very fit and rarely misses matches. Like Russell, Shepherd is a powerful batter who can also bowl crucial overs for his team. No one will forget his breathtaking knock of 53 runs off just 14 balls in an important clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025.
Shepherd can make the biggest boundaries around the world look small due to the surreal power he possesses. He has scored 2376 runs at an average of 24.24 and a strike rate of 156.93 in 213 T20 matches. With the ball, he has 201 wickets at an economy rate of 9.21. The Guyana-born will be an important player for RCB as they look to defend the title in IPL 2026.
Cameron Green
There is plenty of excitement surrounding Cameron Green ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16. The Australian all-rounder is set to return to the cash-rich league next year after missing the last two seasons. Green is an all-format player for Australia. He can bowl around 140 kph and bat at the top, middle, and also down the order.
KKR, who have the highest purse heading into the auction, are the favourites to acquire the services of Green. He could be the ideal player to continue the legacy of seam-bowling all-rounders at KKR after Jacques Kallis and Russell. Green has an outstanding IPL record, having scored 707 runs in 28 innings at an average of 41.59 and a strike rate of 153.70. With the ball, he has accounted for 16 wickets at an economy rate of 9.08 from 29 matches. Many believe that the 26-year-old will win the highest bid in the IPL 2026 auction.
