3 IPL Legends who chose to retire instead of playing for another franchise

Andre Russell

Another West Indies superstar, Andre Russell, is remembered as one of the most destructive all-rounders in IPL history. Russell made his IPL debut with Delhi Daredevils in 2012 but found his true home after joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014. That very season, KKR went on to win their second IPL title. Russell evolved into a fearsome lower-order batter and a match-winning bowler for KKR.

The Caribbean cricketer scored over 2,400 runs at a staggering strike rate of 170+ and picked up more than 100 wickets for the three-time champions. Russell crossed 300 runs in a season on four occasions and became a fan favourite at Eden Gardens. Having played over 100 matches for the franchise, Russell opted for retirement and later took up the role of ‘Power Coach’ in the league just before the 2026 season.