India, March 25 -- Kolkata Knight Riders have retired Andre Russell's No. 12 jersey in a landmark tribute to one of the most influential overseas players in the franchise's history, formally preserving a number that had become inseparable from the West Indies all-rounder over his long association with the team. The announcement was made at KKR's preseason event, Knights Unplugged, in Kolkata, with CEO Venky Mysore presenting it as a fitting honour for a player who had helped define an era for the franchise.

Russell represented KKR from 2014 to 2025, except for the 2017 season, and 133 of his 140 IPL appearances were for the Kolkata franchise. He was part of KKR's title-winning squads in 2014 and 2024 and retired from the IPL ahead of the...