Kolkata Knight Riders’ choice to launch Andre Russell forward of the IPL 2026 public sale has triggered a wave of reactions on-line, particularly after an previous assurance from the franchise resurfaced on social media. Followers have been fast to level out that the staff has gone again on its phrase after letting go of the Jamaican all-rounder who served KKR for 12 years.

Venky Mysore publish

The now-viral second dates again to 2020 when Russell had publicly expressed his want to symbolize KKR till he retired. In a video posted by the franchise on X, Russell mentioned he hoped to play for the Knight Riders for the remainder of his profession. Responding to that, CEO Venky Mysore famously commented: “Little doubt you’ll stay a Knight Rider till you retire from the sport & past! #Superman.” With KKR releasing Russell forward of the mini-auction, followers are pointing to that declaration as a damaged promise. Russell, who joined KKR in 2014, turned the franchise’s most recognisable match-winner, starring of their title runs in 2014 and 2024. His general influence — greater than 2,500 runs, over 120 wickets, a strike price touching 175, landmark feats like turning into the quickest to 200 IPL sixes, and 16 Participant-of-the-Match awards — cemented him as one of many best gamers in Knight Riders historical past. But the franchise opted to maneuver on, liberating up INR 12 crore by releasing him, together with a number of others together with Venkatesh Iyer and Quinton de Kock, as a part of a large squad overhaul that leaves KKR with a hefty INR 64.3 crore purse for the public sale. Age, health considerations and the excessive wage bracket performed key roles within the choice, with experiences indicating that KKR even explored commerce choices however discovered no takers at his current worth. Russell, now 37 and retired from worldwide cricket, nonetheless stays a possible buy-back choice, however that has not stopped followers from calling out the franchise for contradicting Mysore’s assertion from 4 years in the past.