In a shocking announcement, West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran has retired from all international cricket. Pooran, who will turn 30 this October, made his international debut in 2016 in a T20I game against Pakistan. Despite being the most capped T20I player for West Indies with 106 appearances and the highest run scorer for the side (2275 runs) in the same format, his shortest format career spanned only eight years. The ODI format even less, having made his debut in 2019. He ends his career with 1983 ODI runs in 61 games and 2275 T20I runs in 106 games.
Pooran, who also led West Indies in 40 white-ball games, announced the decision through his social media:
“After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to announce my retirement from international cricket. This game we love has given and will continue to give so much – joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and a chance to represent the people of the West Indies. Wearing that maroon, standing for the anthem, and giving everything I had each time I stepped on the field… it’s hard to put into words what that truly means to me. To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart.
“To the fans – thank you for your unwavering love. You lifted me in the tough moments and celebrated the good ones with unmatched passion. To my family, friends and teammates – thank you for walking the journey with me. Your belief and support carried me through it all. Though this international chapter of my career closes, my love for West Indies Cricket will never fade. I wish the team and the region nothing but success and strength for the road ahead.”
His recent stint with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL saw him accumulate 524 runs at an insane strike rate of 196. His appearances in franchise cricket have all but increased over the years, being a regular at IPL, CPL, ILT20, and Major League Cricket (MLC) among others. He is also expected to be a part of the Hundred this year after finishing the last edition as the fourth-highest run scorer.
He last played an international game in December last year against Bangladesh, having opted out of the recent England tour. His last ODI game came even before that, ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023. He had plenty in him to keep going; he knew rightly so. In November last year, when he played his 100th T20I game, he wanted to play ‘a hundred more’.
“Cricket West Indies extends sincere gratitude and appreciation to Nicholas Pooran for his outstanding contributions to West Indies cricket,” a CWI statement read.
“We salute his achievements and thank him for the moments he has given fans across the region and beyond. We wish him all the very best in the next phase of his journey.”
Being the sort of T20I player he was and being the highest run-getter for West Indies in the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was one of the key players for Windies’ 2026 T20 World Cup plans.
