"The Franchise Believes In Me" - Andre Russell On Retention By KKR Ahead Of IPL 2024 Auction

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell addressed rumors about his potential release from the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 mini-auction. The all-rounder expressed his determination to make a significant impact for KKR in the upcoming season of the IPL.

Reports indicated the possible end of Russell’s tenure with KKR as the franchise sought a major rebuild following consecutive seasons without playoff qualification. Nevertheless, the Kolkata-based franchise has opted to retain the hard-hitting batter for the 2024 edition.

I Can Do What I Have Done In The Past – Andre Russell

In an exclusive interaction with the Hindustan Times, Andre Russell emphasized the franchise’s belief in his abilities and past performances amid speculation about his potential release.

“There has been a lot of talk about me getting released and all that. But the most important thing is that the franchise believes in me. They know what I can do and what I have done in the past. I really want to make sure to have a mega season next year,” Russell said.

Russell, one of the most explosive players in the shortest format, joined the KKR team in 2014. The franchise retained Russell for ₹12 crore despite underwhelming performances in 2020 and 2021. His performance in the most recent season was largely lackluster.

I’ll Be Ready To Go – Andre Russell

Andre Russell, predominantly involved in franchise cricket, last played for the West Indies in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. Despite his absence, he expressed his desire to potentially make a comeback and represent the West Indies in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“Once I’m selected I’ll be ready to go. There have been some conversations going on between me and the coach (Daren Sammy) so if he stays true to his words, I’ll be ready to play.”

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Released And Retained Players

Retained Players: Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz , Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer

Released Players: Aarya Desai, David Wiese, Johnson Charles, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Lockie Ferguson, Mandeep Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Shakib Al Hasan, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav

Also read: It’d Be Madness If Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Don’t Play T20 WC 2024 – Andre Russell