India, Nov. 30 -- In a shocking move just two weeks before the mini-auction for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), Andre Russell announced his retirement from the tournament. The revelation came days after he was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 19th edition of the league, with Russell making the announcement on Instagram.

"I had some amazing times and great memories (in the IPL), hitting sixes, winning games, getting MVPs," Russell said in a release.

"When I made this decision, I felt it was the best one at this point. I don't want to fade out; I want to leave a legacy behind. It's best to retire when fans ask 'why? You still have more in you,' instead of 'yeah, you should have done it years ago.'"

The West Indies...