Swashbuckling West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran has left everyone surprised by announcing his retirement from international cricket at the age of only 29. Pooran is the West Indies’ most-capped player in T20Is and their highest run-getter in the format also.

His retirement has come as a massive blow for the West Indies team, especially in white-ball cricket, after having missed out on qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup as well. Pooran has been in sublime form in T20 cricket, and he had hit the most number of sixes (170) in the format last year as well. In the just-concluded IPL, Pooran managed to score 500 runs in a season for the first time and smashed 40 sixes – the most in this year’s tournament as well.

However, he was not picked for the ongoing tour to England and Ireland after he had requested Cricket West Indies for a break. Having never played Test matches for West Indies, Nicholas Pooran made his debut in a T20I in September 2016. His ODI debut came in February 2019, but he hasn’t played ODI ever since the West Indies failed to secure a spot in the 2023 World Cup as well.

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Pooran has also led the West Indies team full-time in limited-overs internationals in 2022, but could manage to win just 8 games out of 30 across both formats as well. However, the West Indies’ first-round exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia led him to step down as the captain as well.

“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,” Pooran wrote in his statement on Instagram. “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.”

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“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,” he again added.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a statement: “Nicholas officially informed the leadership of his decision to retire from international cricket, bringing to a close a significant chapter in his career. A world-class player and a game changer, Nicholas leaves the game as the most capped West Indian in T20 Internationals with 106 matches and the leading T20I run scorer with 2,275 runs. His performances on the field and influence within the team have made a lasting impact on West Indies cricket.”