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In a significant development ahead of the 13th edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have made a high-profile change in their leadership structure. With CPL 2025 set to begin on August 14, the four-time champions have named a new head coach to guide them into the future.
Trinbago Knight Riders name Phil Simmons’ replacement
The franchise has confirmed the appointment of former West Indies star allrounder Dwayne Bravo as their new head coach for CPL 2025. He steps into the shoes of Phil Simmons, who has taken over coaching duties for the Bangladesh men’s national team. Bravo’s appointment signals a new era for TKR, as he transitions from his stellar playing career into a full-time coaching role.
“It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to be Head Coach of TKR, a team that’s very close to my heart. I would like to personally thank Coach Phil Simmons for his time and commitment over the last few years, and now I look forward to this new challenge for me and my staff,” said Bravo, expressing his excitement about the role, in an official statement.
Sir Champion is back again, but this time he will wear a new hat for TKR 🎩
Welcome, Head Coach, Dwayne Bravo 👏
“It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to be Head Coach of TKR, a team that’s very close to my heart. I would like to personally thank Coach Phil Simmons for his… pic.twitter.com/biNfvtvrho
— Trinbago Knight Riders (@TKRiders) June 20, 2025
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A decorated career and coaching pedigree to back it up
Bravo’s credentials as a T20 stalwart are unquestionable. Over the span of 11 CPL seasons, he featured in 107 matches and bagged 129 wickets, maintaining an economy of 8.74. He spent nine seasons with TKR and was part of five CPL-winning campaigns, including a title-winning stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2021.
Since hanging up his boots in franchise cricket, Bravo has remained closely involved in the game. He was named head coach of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 and served as a mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2025 season. Earlier, he worked as a bowling consultant for Chennai Super Kings during 2023 and 2024. Most recently, he was part of Afghanistan’s coaching staff as their bowling consultant at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where the team made a historic semi-final run.
TKR had a mixed campaign in 2024, finishing third in the league stage before bowing out in the Eliminator against Barbados Royals. With the new coaching structure in place and Bravo’s familiarity with the TKR ecosystem, expectations are high for a strong bounce-back this season.
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