'This was very difficult, but ...': Nicholas Pooran retires from international cricket at 29, leaves behind a maroon legacy

NEW DELHI: Nicholas Pooran, one of West Indies’ most explosive and dependable white-ball cricketers of the modern era, announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday at the age of 29. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The left-handed batter, who holds the record for most T20I runs and appearances for West Indies, confirmed the decision via an emotional Instagram post. Along with the post, he mentioned that it was very difficult, but he had thought long and hard before coming to this decision.

“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,” Pooran wrote. “To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart.”

Pooran’s career was marked by highs, including his rise to become the team’s all-time leading scorer in T20Is, as well as a few lows — notably his brief suspension in 2019 for ball-tampering against Afghanistan. He bounced back swiftly and went on to captain the team during Kieron Pollard’s absence, leading West Indies to a 4-1 series victory over Australia.

He was later named permanent white-ball captain in 2022, though he stepped down following a disappointing T20 World Cup exit in Australia.

In 106 T20Is, Pooran amassed 2,275 runs at a strike rate that made him a constant threat. He also featured in 61 ODIs, scoring three centuries and representing West Indies in the 2019 World Cup.Cricket West Indies hailed him as a “game-changer” and thanked him for his “outstanding contributions” to the game and the team.