Dre Russ’s new chapter: KKR’s ‘Power Coach’
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell (‘Dre Russ’) has retired from the Indian Premier League (IPL), prompting the franchise to add him to the coaching staff as a ‘Power Coach’. Russell clarified that he made the decision because he “didn’t want to be seen in any other jersey.” He responded to Cricbuzz’s questions through the KKR media team.
On IPL retirement: “The right time”
Russell admitted that playing the IPL is more physically and mentally challenging than other leagues.
Challenges: The IPL involves a high number of matches and extensive travel. As an all-rounder, he had to juggle batting, bowling, and fielding, while also focusing on quick recovery and managing his workload.
Reason for retirement: He said that he retired because fans were asking, ” Why? ” He cited the examples of Usain Bolt and AB de Villiers and said that he wanted to leave a legacy and not reach a point where people say he should have retired 3-4 years ago.
The role of the all-rounder: Complementary performance
When asked if he ever considered playing solely as a batsman, he replied:
“I never thought about it, because I feel my batting complements my bowling and my bowling complements my batting .”
He always wanted to bowl at least two overs in a match, as he felt that good bowling allowed his batting to flow naturally.
Memorable moments of career (IPL Highlights)
Russell picked four of his most memorable moments from his 12 IPL seasons:
2014 IPL Trophy Win: This was his first major league championship (apart from the World Cup), which made him emotional.
Five wickets against Mumbai Indians (2021): Bowling at the end of the innings, he executed his plans with precision.
Storming innings against RCB at Chinnaswamy (2019): He hit sixes to bring the crowd back to the stadium in what was a very special innings for him.
KKR’s last trophy win in 2024: It was emotional and special for him to contribute to the victory by taking 3 crucial wickets in the final.
Biggest battle and toughest bowler
Memorable rivalry: He enjoyed playing against most teams, but the matches against Mumbai Indians were always a tough one that he will always remember.
Toughest bowler: He named Jasprit Bumrah as the most challenging bowler he faced. Russell said that as soon as he came out to bat, he would be handed the ball to Bumrah. He acknowledged Bumrah’s challenges and considered him one of the best T20 fast bowlers in the world today.
The secret to success in unstable batting
Having the best ball-per-six ratio among batsmen to hit more than 50 sixes in the IPL and the best strike rate of 174.17, Russell spoke about his preparation:
Clarity in role: He knows he is a finisher, so he doesn’t practice like a top-order batsman.
Training Method: He tries to hit sixes and fours from the very first ball he bowls in practice sessions. His goal is to hit at least six sixes and four fours in 18 balls.
The result: His strike rate is the result of his hard work in the gym, in his room, behind the scenes.
Data & Homework
Russell said that he used to watch a lot of cricket before IPL matches, especially focusing on the performance of bowlers under pressure.
“I was more interested in seeing how each bowler bowled after 10 overs because in KKR matches, that’s when I knew it was my turn to bat.”
Underrated Performance
He cited a match from 2016 (likely) as an underrated performance:
The situation: After missing a long flight, he stayed in Miami and arrived in India the next morning. Despite being jet-lagged, he went straight from the hotel to a team meeting and decided to play.
Match performance: He took three wickets and scored over 60 runs. He said that his commitment to play on the field despite mental fatigue was very special to him.
The role of the ‘Power Coach’
Russell spoke enthusiastically about his new role as ‘Power Coach’ :
Suitability of the name: He heard the name from CEO Venky Mysore who said that the name perfectly describes ‘Dre Russ’ as it reflects his batting prowess and his energy on the field.
Responsibilities: He will work closely with the current coaching staff, including Abhishek Nayar, Shane Watson, Tim Southee, and DJ Bravo. He is eager to assist in any department, be it gym or fitness, and will use his experience to assist any player who needs his help.
