West Indies wicket-keeper–batsman Nicholas Pooran stunned fans by announcing his retirement from international cricket at the age of 29 via a social media post on Monday, June 10. Pooran, who holds West Indies’ records for most Twenty20 Internationals played and most T20I runs scored, joins a growing list of star players stepping away from national duty while continuing in franchise leagues.
In the past month alone, Australia’s Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell retired from ODIs, and South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen took full retirement from international cricket. Now Pooran’s name has been added to that list, although he intends to carry on playing franchise cricket around the world.
Pooran’s departure comes at a critical time for a two-time world champion team that failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup and has been rebuilding its white-ball squad ever since. His retirement therefore represents a significant blow to West Indies’ plans.
Peak T20 Form and IPL Success
• In T20Is, Pooran last year smashed the most sixes for any player in the format, striking 170 maximums across his career.
• In the recently concluded IPL season, he passed 500 runs for the first time in a single tournament—ending with 525 runs and hitting 40 sixes, the highest tally in that edition.
After IPL 2025, Pooran withdrew himself from West Indies’ upcoming tours of England and Ireland to rest, and then confirmed his decision to retire. In his Instagram announcement, he wrote:
> “After much thought and self-reflection, I have decided to retire from international cricket.”
He added:
> “Wearing the maroon jersey, standing for the national anthem, and giving my all on the field are feelings beyond words. Captaining this team was an honor I will always cherish. Though my international chapter ends here, my love for West Indies cricket remains undiminished. I wish my team and region continued success and strength.”
Career at a Glance
• Test Cricket: Did not play.
• T20 Internationals: Debuted September 23, 2016, against Pakistan; amassed 2,275 runs in 106 matches at an average of 26.14, plus 63 catches and 8 stumpings.
• One-Day Internationals: Debuted February 20, 2019, against England; scored 1,983 runs in 61 matches at an average of 39.66, along with 23 catches and 2 stumpings.
• Total White-Ball Runs: Over 4,000 runs across ODIs and T20Is.
West Indies Reaction
Cricket West Indies (CWI) paid tribute to Pooran’s “maroon legacy,” noting his record for most T20I appearances and runs, and thanked him for his memorable contributions.
Though Pooran’s international career concludes, he is expected to remain a powerful presence in franchise cricket worldwide.