Nicholas Pooran Announces Retirement from International Cricket at 29

West Indies and Lucknow Super Giants’ wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran surprisingly announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on Monday. The 29-year-old revealed his decision in a heartfelt post on Instagram, marking the end of a notable, if relatively short, international career.

“After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to announce my retirement from international cricket,” Pooran wrote, bringing a conclusion of his journey with the West Indies side.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) acknowedged Pooran’s departure in an official statement, expressing gratitude for his contributions. “Nicholas officially informed the leadership of his decision to retire from international cricket, bringing to a close a significant chapter in his career,” CWI stated.

Pooran retires as a record-holder in the T20 format. He is the most capped West Indies player in T20 Internationals with 106 appearances and remains the team’s leading run-scorer in the format with 2,275 runs. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he featured in 61 matches, amassing 1,983 runs. Notably, Pooran never played a Test match for the West Indies.

His final ODI came against Sri Lanka in Harare in 2023, while his last T20I appearance was in Kingstown against Bangladesh the same year.

Pooran’s retirement comes amid a stellar run in franchise cricket, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Representing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2025 edition, he had his most successful IPL season yet. In 14 matches, he scored 524 runs at an average exceeding 40 and a blistering strike rate approaching 200.

According to CWI, Pooran had already opted out of the ongoing series against England and the upcoming series against Ireland due to IPL commitments. While he has not elaborated on his reasons for stepping away entirely from international duties, his decision reflects the growing trend of top players choosing franchise commitments over national representation.

Pooran’s explosive batting, sharp glove work, and dynamic presence on the field made him a fan favourite and a core part of the West Indies white-ball squads. His retirement leaves a void in the West Indies lineup, and the team will now look toward nurturing emerging talents to fill his shoes in the years ahead.