IPL 2024: Andre Russell's Fate Sealed As Kolkata Knight Riders Set To Release 3 Stars

Andre Russell has not really managed to deliver as per expectations in the recent seasons of the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Since scoring 510 runs in IPL 2019, he has touched the 300-run mark just once in the last four seasons.

Since 2020, he has managed to score only two fifties for Kolkata Knight Riders. In the last season of the competition, the T20 World Cup winner managed 227 runs and 7 wickets. With his performance not up to the mark and age not on his side, it was widely anticipated that Kolkata Knight Riders would release him ahead of the upcoming auction.

However, the two-time IPL champions are set to keep the hard-hitting allrounder in their camp for at least one more season. According to Cricbuzz, Andre Russell is set to ply his trade for the Kolkata-based outfit in IPL 2024. The report further added that Kolkata Knight Riders are set to release three pacers.

Kolkata Knight Riders to release three players ahead of auction

One of the three pacers is India’s Shardul Thakur. The right-arm pacer was traded in from Delhi Capitals before the IPL 2023 auction at a price of Rs 10 crore. In his maiden season with Kolkata Knight Riders, he picked up 7 wickets in 11 games. His performance with the bat was not very consistent either.

In addition to Shardul Thakur, two more players – Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee – are also set to be released by Kolkata Knight Riders. Ferguson was traded in from Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL 2023 auction. The New Zealand pacer managed to play just 3 games last season and claimed a solitary wicket while having an economy rate of over 12. On the other hand, Southee played only a couple of games and conceded more than 13 runs per over.

Ahead of the upcoming season, the franchise has also made a big change in its backroom staff. They have secured the services of their former captain Gautam Gambhir as the mentor. Gambhir plied his trade as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants in the last two seasons. He is likely to be replaced by Rahul Dravid in the Lucknow-based outfit.