India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant expressed his admiration for Nicholas Pooran after the West Indian cricketer announced his retirement from international cricket. In a message shared on Instagram, Pant referred to Pooran as a “true teammate” and an “absolute powerhouse.” He also wished him success in the next chapter of his career.

Pant’s message read, “You have made your mark bro – a true teammate, friend and an absolute powerhouse. Proud to have shared the field with you. Congrats on everything you have done for West Indies cricket. Wishing you nothing but success for the road ahead. Respect always.”

Pooran Announces Retirement

On Tuesday, Nicholas Pooran officially ended his international career. His departure added to the list of high-profile retirements this year.
Earlier, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell also stepped back from some formats.

Pooran described his decision as a “difficult” one. He had recently requested West Indies selectors not to consider him for the England white-ball tour.

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A post shared by Nicholas Pooran (@nicholaspooran)

Impact on West Indies Cricket

Pooran’s retirement has come as a major blow to the West Indies team, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 still months away.
As the most capped and highest-scoring T20I player for the West Indies, his absence will be deeply felt.

Career Filled with Highs and Challenges

Pooran’s international career began in 2016. Despite facing a ban in 2019 for ball tampering, he managed to make a strong comeback.
He even led the West Indies to a 4-1 series victory over Australia in Kieron Pollard’s absence. His final appearance for the team came against Bangladesh, where West Indies suffered an 80-run defeat in Kingstown.

A Look at the Numbers

Since his debut, Pooran played 106 T20 Internationals and 61 One-Day Internationals.
In T20Is, he scored 2,275 runs with an average of 26.14 and a strike rate of 136.39.
In ODIs, he tallied 1,983 runs at an average of 39.66, striking at 99.15. His record includes three centuries and eleven half-centuries.

Farewell Message to Fans

In his retirement note on Instagram, Pooran shared his emotions about representing the Caribbean side, “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.”