‘12 forever’: KKR retire Andre Russell’s jersey in special tribute

Kolkata Knight Riders have recently retired the iconic No. 12 jersey as a tribute to one of their most influential overseas players in the franchise's history, making the number immortal and preserving the greatness of the West Indian all-rounder for the three-time IPL champions.

CEO Venky Mysore presented the KKR legend with the honour at the franchise's preseason event, Knights Unplugged, ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League.

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An emotional ode to the entertainer

Andre Russell has been a key figure in KKR’s success throughout the 2014-2016 and 2018-2025 seasons. The West Indian all-rounder has gifted several breathtaking moments on the field to the KKR as well as global cricket fans. He has had an influential run when KKR lifted the 2016 and 2024 titles, and this decision from the franchise justifies the importance and the love the team shares with the player.

“We’ve had a long association with Andre Russell, not just with KKR but also on a personal level. On the field, he has given us so many reasons to celebrate his performances over the years. He always wore the number 12 proudly, and the number is so unique to Dre Russ that he wanted to share a fitting tribute. So, in the Knight Riders tradition of starting a new legacy, we’d like to retire this number for KKR in his honour”, said CEO Venky Mysore in the Knights Unplugged event.

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Russell has been associated with the Knight Riders franchise for 10 years now and has been an absolute stalwart for the Knights. 10 years from the day he joined KKR for the first time, Andre has now represented 4 of the Knight Riders-owned franchises.

Another exciting season beckons for Dre-Russ at KKR, and he’ll be back working with Gautam Gambhir, who believed in Dre right from the start. Russell continues to remain one of the most important players in the KKR setup as IPL 2024 looms around the corner.