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In a development that has stunned Caribbean cricket fans and the global cricketing fraternity alike, West Indies power-hitter Nicholas Pooran has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 29. The decision, confirmed through a heartfelt post on social media, comes at a time when Pooran is arguably at the height of his powers, especially in the T20 format.
Nicholas Pooran bids farewell to international cricket
In his farewell statement, Pooran reflected deeply on the emotional bond he shares with cricket and West Indies. He spoke about how the sport has filled his life with joy, purpose, and countless unforgettable memories, while also allowing him the honor of representing his nation. The pride he felt wearing the maroon jersey and singing the national anthem was beyond words, and he cherished every moment he gave his all on the field. Leading the side as captain was a special privilege he will forever treasure. Though he’s stepping away from international cricket, Pooran assured fans that his love for West Indies cricket remains strong, and he extended his heartfelt wishes for the team’s future success.
“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. 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,” Pooran wrote in his statement on Instagram.
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Impressive numbers for Pooran in international arena
Pooran’s decision arrives as a body blow for West Indies cricket, especially given the team’s ambitions of resurgence in white-ball formats. He retires as West Indies’ most experienced T20I player and their all-time leading run-scorer in the shortest format. His tally of sixes in T20Is (149) and a recent 500-run IPL season — his best yet — underscore just how vital he had become in global T20 cricket.
Despite his recent dominance in franchise leagues, Pooran was not part of the squad for the current tour of England and Ireland, having earlier requested a break from Cricket West Indies. While he never featured in a Test match for his country, Pooran made his T20I debut in 2016 and entered the ODI arena in 2019, though he hasn’t represented West Indies in the 50-over format since their failure to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Notably, in 106 T20Is, Pooran amassed 2275 runs with the help of 13 half-centuries. Similarly in ODIs, Pooran appeared in 61 games and scored 1983 runs, including 3 hundreds and 11 fifties. In T20s overall, the left-handed batter smashed a massive 9166 runs from 398 matches, including 639 sixes.
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