Did Shah Rukh Khan ask Andre Russell to consider IPL retirement? KKR CEO reveals shock conversation

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore shared his views on his choice to part ways with Andre Russell, one of the franchise’s key stars, ahead of the IPL mini-auction later this month. In an in-depth discussion with ESPNcricinfo, Mysore explained that this decision was largely influenced by the financial framework of the retention tranches and the significant impact that retaining Russell would have on the team’s auction budget.

Mysore stated that although Russell’s contract is worth ₹12 crore, keeping him for the 2025 season would lead to a reduction in KKR’s auction budget by ₹18 crore.

“Some miss the basic point; [purse] “By releasing Dre, the cut for us was 18 crore, not 12 crore,” he said. “Although the contract price was 12 crore, the cut from our wallet in 2025 was 18 crore. Many people overlooked this and said, oh, why wouldn’t KKR see value in a person who is worth 12 crore? The 18 crore that would have been deducted from our wallet if we had recaptured it is a huge amount of money in the context of the auction. That was the trigger.”

He emphasized that mini-auctions require maximum flexibility.

“In mini auctions, you want to go as far as you can to have the flexibility to look at options that may come your way. So from that perspective, I think the decision would be very different if it was 12 crore.”

When asked whether Russell would have been retained if the purse cut had been limited to ₹12 crore, Mysore admitted that the situation would have been different.

“It would make a huge difference. Although 12cr is still a lot, can we get a player of his quality for 12cr in the auction? It’s very unlikely in the mini-auction. But taking 18cr out of the auction purse is quite a reasonable amount of money.”

Mysore also revealed that Russell was emotionally affected after receiving the news. This news was quite unsettling for him, as he has been part of KKR since 2014 and has never entered the auction pool since then.

“He said, ‘Wow, he hasn’t been to an auction since 2014’… A few days later it dawned on him. He came back to me and said, ‘Oh, I’ve had some really sleepless nights wondering where this was all going. I’ve gotten so used to the purple and gold and the Knight Riders and the relationships I’ve had with the franchise and you and the owners.’

The CEO also revealed that talks about Russell potentially retiring from the IPL arose during the talks. Mysore stated that the idea gained traction after speaking to KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

“Somewhere in this conversation [retiring from IPL] came up as an option and thought more about it. For various reasons this appealed to him and he said: Yes, why not? Let’s do this.”

According to Mysore, it was SRK who suggested that retirement during this transition period could be a dignified and meaningful next step for all-rounders.

Mysore explained that this suggestion stemmed from empathy, recognizing the concerns players experience as they approach the end of their careers.

“I could see that he was pained about it, and when I shared it with SRK, it was actually SRK’s suggestion. Because, look, somewhere in the back of a player’s mind, he’s thinking about what’s going to happen after I hang up my boots? But I don’t think they want to think about it that much either, because that’s how pro athletes are. They still believe I’m good, and Dre still does; he’s great and plays in other leagues.”

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