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Nicholas Pooran Names the Greatest T20 Player of All-Time – Check Here!

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Nicholas Pooran

Former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran, named him the greatest T20 player of all time. There the former captain named the devastating West Indies player Chris Gayle.

Pooran said, “For me, Gayle is the greatest T20 player who has played the game.”

“When Chris is batting, you always have a chance of winning the game. Once he is there, it is a different mood in the camp obviously. He started off slowly, but he had not played cricket for a long time…He has shown once more why he is the greatest T20 batsman. It is wonderful to see him get runs.”

Chris Gayle has been a successful player for the West Indies in all forms of cricket but is known to many as a devastating opener in the shorter format. That is why he has the highest value in various franchises around the world.

The Jamaican, the world’s highest T20 run-scorer, has scored 14,562 runs in 463 T20 matches with 22 centuries and 88 fifties at an average of over 35.

Apart from that, he has scored 7214 runs in 103 international test matches and 10480 runs in 301 one-day international matches.

Happy Birthday Brian Lara: Here’s the West Indies Legend’s Top Records!

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Brian Lara is known for his flair, grace, and unmatched timing. Lara wasn’t just a cricketer, he was a storyteller with a bat. Every innings he played was a symphony of strokes, captivating fans and intimidating bowlers around the world.

From his signature cover drives to his wristy flicks, Lara brought a rhythm to the crease that felt more like ballet than brute force.

Lara’s records speak volumes:

400 vs England – The Highest Individual Score in Test Cricket History

Brian Lara holds a record that remains untouched to this day. His unbeaten 400 against England in 2004 is the highest individual score in Test cricket. Remarkably, he is the only cricketer ever to reach the 400-run mark in a single Test innings. While several players have crossed 300, no one has come close to eclipsing Lara’s monumental achievement.

501 for Warwickshire – The Highest Individual Score in First-Class Cricket

If his Test record wasn’t enough, Lara also owns the highest individual score in first-class cricket history: 501 for Warwickshire* against Durham in 1994. In an era when team totals above 400 were considered dominant, Lara achieved that figure alone, showcasing an extraordinary display of concentration, skill, and mental strength.

Career Stats That Reflect His Brilliance

11,953 Test runs in 131 matches

10,405 ODI runs in 299 matches

Each run was scored with a rare blend of timing, grace, and aggression—traits that made Lara one of the most admired batters of all time. His legacy isn’t just built on numbers, but on the style and artistry with which he played the game.

But beyond the numbers, it was the aura of Lara that made him special. He carried the hopes of a generation of West Indies fans during a time when the team lacked consistency. Whether playing in front of a packed Kensington Oval or a buzzing Eden Gardens, Lara never failed to mesmerize.

Today, as he celebrates another year, the cricketing world pays tribute not just to his records, but to his style, his courage, and his undying love for the game.

Happy Birthday, Brian Lara, the man who didn’t just play cricket, but composed it like poetry.

“I haven’t gotten as much opportunity” – Joshua Da Silva eyes breakout moment in new T20 League

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Joshua Da Silva is embracing the opportunity to shine in the game’s shortest format and is eager to see fellow emerging talents across the Caribbean do the same, as the inaugural West Indies T20 Breakout League gets underway at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago this Friday.

The 26-year-old West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman, who will captain the Trinidad and Tobago Legions, believes the new tournament offers a much-needed platform for players like himself who are hungry to make their mark in T20 cricket.

“I’ve played 22 (T20) games and just haven’t gotten as much opportunity. This tournament should provide more opportunity for me and a lot of other players as well. I think it’s a great initiative and hopefully the start of something that can happen every year,” Da Silva shared via a recent Cricket West Indies (CWI) release.

Da Silva, who has played 33 Tests since debuting for the West Indies in 2020, has been in a rich vein of form in 2025, scoring 583 runs at an average of 64.77 during the West Indies Four-Day Championship.

Now, he’s ready to turn heads in the white-ball format.

Amir Jangoo.

“You never know who’s watching. So each opportunity you get to walk out into the middle, it’s something worth its weight in gold. Do the best that you can. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. And most importantly, have fun, because at the end of the day, it’s a new tournament,” he said.

The TT Legions will begin their campaign in the tournament’s marquee fixture on opening day, facing Barbados Pelicans at 7:00p.m. in the second game of a double-header.

Earlier in the day, Guyana Rainforest Rangers will take on Windward Islands Infernos at 2:00 p.m. Jamaica Titans and Leeward Islands Thunder, are the other participating teams.

Players eligible to participate must be under 30 at the start of the tourney and must have played fewer than 40 List A T20 matches and fewer than ten T20 internationals. Each team is closely affiliated with a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise.

Guided by head coach Rayad Emrit, the Legions boast a strong mix of youth and experience, and Da Silva knows the importance of continuing Trinidad and Tobago’s proud tradition in T20 cricket.

Johann Layne.

“We pride ourselves on the legacy that we have in T20 cricket, that’s for sure. For us, It’s an honour to represent the country at any level. This is a tournament where a lot of eyes are going to be on us and performance is going to be key. We can use it to land bigger contracts or get your first one. Just showcase your talent,” Da Silva stated.

The Legions’ lineup is loaded with potential. Red Force standouts Amir Jangoo and Jyd Goolie headline the batting, with Jangoo having recently debuted for the West Indies in both T20 and Test cricket.

All-rounders Joshua James, Navin Bidaisee, and CPL 2024 winner Mikkel Govia provide balance, while Cephas Cooper and Kamil Pooran round out a powerful top order.

In the pace department, overseas recruits Johann Layne (Barbados) and McKenny Clarke (St Lucia) will bring heat and variation to the attack.

TT Legions squad: Navin Bidaisee, McKenny Clarke, Cephas Cooper, Joshua Da Silva, Jyd Goolie, Mikkel Govia, Joshua James, Damion Joachim, Amir Jangoo, Johann Layne, Shaaron Lewis, Kamil Pooran, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Crystian Thurton

Jason Holder names 6 former West Indies greats for his all-time Test XI – Check full list here

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Former West Indies captain and all-rounder Jason Holder has named his all-time Test team. He stated this in a private program. He mentioned that his favorite format was the Test format. His squad included several former West Indies greats.

West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder named his all-time best Test XI, where he included His list includes six West Indies, three Australians, one each from Pakistan and India.

Holder said that Test cricket is his most favorite format and the list he named includes plenty of former West Indian greats. There were quite a few surprise picks in the batting order, Chris Gayle was named the opening batsman.

Middle-Order: Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Adam Gilchrist

Australian duo Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist have found their place in the team. Where Ricky Ponting has scored 13378 runs from 168 Test matches, Adam Gilchrist has played 96 matches and has scored 5570 runs, but he is quite famous for wicketkeeping.

The other 2 batsmen are the Caribbean duo of Brian Lara and Viv Richards, two of the greatest ever to play for West Indies. Brian Lara has amassed a massive 11953 runs from 131 matches, and Viv Richards has played 121 matches and has scored 8540 runs.

“I am sorry for being a bit biased but Christopher Henry Gayle at one with Virender Sehwag as his partner. It would be a great spectacle. Three, I would have Ricky Ponting. Four, I would have Brian Lara. Five, I would have Vivian Richards,” Holder said.

The only proper all-rounder that Jason Holder has included is Sir Garfield Sobers, West Indies’ one of the greatest all-rounders ever. He has played 93 Test matches and has scored 8032 runs and has picked up 235 wickets.

Shane Warne, though is mainly recognized as a leg-spin bowler, can also bat. He has played 145 Test matches and has picked up 708 wickets and scored 3154 runs.

The quick bowling trio that he included are Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram.

Holder mentioned that Curtly Ambrose is his all-time favorite. The West Indies cricketer has played 98 Test matches and has picked up 405 wickets.

Malcolm Marshall, on the other hand, has played 81 Test matches and has 376 wickets to his name. Wasim Akram rounds off the list. The Pakistani great has picked up 414 wickets from 104 Test matches.

“Six, Sir Garfield Sobers. Seven, Adam Gilchrist. Eight, Shane Warne. Nine, Curtly Ambrose – my favorite of all time. Malcolm Marshall at 10 and Wasim Akram at 11,” Holder added.

He mentioned the names of Glenn Mcgrath, Kumara Sangakkara, Dale Steyn, Jacque Kalis, and Muttiah Muralitharan but was not included in his all-time XI test squad.

Jason Holder’s all-time Test XI

01. Chris Gayle, 02. virender shewag,  03. Ricky Ponting , 04. Brain Lara, 05. Viv Richards 06. Garfield Sobers, 07. Adam Gilchrist, 08. Shane Warne 09. Curtly Ambrose, 10. Malcolm Marshall, 11. Wasim Akram

‘West Indies had to be ‘brave’ on pitch where ‘you are going to get out’ – Brathwaite proud of West Indies’ Test win in challenging conditions

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West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said that batters had to be brave and trust their plans to succeed on the difficult pitches in Multan, after they won the second of two Tests to level the series and also create a little bit of history. This 120-run victory was their first in Pakistan for 34 years.

Brathwaite led by example. After being part of a collapse that left West Indies 38 for 7 in the first innings, he chose a far more aggressive approach in the second.

In fact, he made his fastest fifty in Tests, consciously taking chances against the Pakistan spinners. This approach earned West Indies a lead of 254 and it proved plenty more than enough.

“Both Test matches the pitch was tough to bat on and we knew that so as I said I just wanted us to be brave, to do whatever plans we have, to go there and execute them as good as possible, because regardless of what there will be a ball with your with your name on it on this pitch,” Brathwaite told reporters after the second Test in Multan on Monday.

“I mean it was a difficult pitch to bat on so it was good to see the confidence we went about doing it and you know as I said very proud of this team.

“It was just for the batsmen to be brave you know. I mean as batsmen, as I said everyone’s going to have their plans. Be brave in whatever you want to do as batsmen,” Brathwaite said about West Indies’ strategy. “Bowling wise bring forward the batsmen as much as possible and there will be 20 balls that you will get 20 wickets because as I said the pitch is a difficult pitch so there’s no second guessing.

Brathwaite maintained that the pitch was “very, very difficult” but had no complaints about PCB preparing spinning tracks.

“I would say Pakistan could prepare the pitch how they want. What I’ll say is batsman will not be averaging high on these pitches. You would average 15-20 and obviously the spinners will do well. and as I said it’s a difficult Test pitch to score runs. You’re going to get out regardless, it’s just a matter of when. So you know as batters we had to come up with a plan of how we want to score and put runs on the board.”

Brathwaite also heaped praise on Jomel Warrican. The left-arm spinner finished the series with 19 wickets – the most by a visiting bowler in a two-Test series in Pakistan.

“Jomel was outstanding. To see how he went about his bowling and the pressure he built from from ball one, I mean it was amazing,” Brathwaite said.

Warrican also put in a crucial contribution with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 36 in the first innings, with his 68-run stand for the last wicket with Gudakesh Motie key in reviving West Indies from being 38 for 7 after they won the toss and chose to bat.

“With the bat you can’t count him out, I think he did a fantastic job with the bat as well. But bowling wise I know he’s worked hard over the years. He’s been in and out of the team but it’s good to see him get the chance and he grabbed it. very very proud of him uh he was outstanding.”

West Indies’ triumph in Multan came almost exactly a year after Gabba 2024, and Brathwaite said it showed their ability to adapt to different conditions.

“It’s a very important win for us it just shows that we can get it done in any conditions once we believe and always have a plan,” he said. “It’s right up there with some amazing Test wins because coming here, playing here in Pakistan, it’s never easy to win a test match you know so coming up with a win is fantastic.”

IPL 2025 Auction: Sherfane Rutherford Sold to GT for INR 2.6 Crore at Indian Premier

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Gujarat Titans (GT) have signed West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford for Rs 2.60 crore while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bagged Manish Pandey for Rs 75 lakh on the second day of the IPL 2025 Auction here at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah on Monday.

In the accelerated auction, the bid for Rutherford started at Rs 1.5 crore from GT while Mumbai Indians also chipped in to raise the price beyond Rs 2.5 crore. Gujarat had the final say in the room sealing the deal for Rs 2.6 crore.

Rutherford’s T20 stats

In 153 matches, Rutherford owns 2,471 runs at 23.09. He has 12 fifties under his belt. Notably, 106 of his T20 runs have come in the IPL from 10 games. With the ball, Rutherford owns nine wickets in T20 cricket.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders also made a wise move with the addition of experienced middle-order batter Manish Pandey in the squad. The defending champions bought the player at the base of Rs 75 lakh with no bidding to offer from other teams.

The other notable purchase in the accelerated auction was Tamil Nadu spinner M Siddharth, who was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 75 lakh. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured the services of Uttar Pradesh legspinner Zeeshan Ansari for Rs 40 lakh after an early interest from Delhi Capitals.

Lucknow Super Giants also bagged offspinner Digvesh Singh at his base price of Rs 30 lakh.

International stars Finn Allen, Dewald Brevis and Ben Duckett remained unsold while domestic players Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Prashant Solanki, Rajan Kumar, Sakib Hussain and Vidwath Kaverappa also didn’t get the buyer in the accelerated auction.

The ten IPL franchises have submitted a shortlist of 143 players for the accelerated round. Notably, James Anderson, the oldest player in the auction pool, was not included. Glenn Phillips and Kane Williamson were the other notable omissions.

Among Indian players, prominent names like Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur, Devdutt Padikkal and Ajinkya Rahane were absent from the accelerated round.

“we’ve got to gel those consistent performances together” – Shai Hope stresses need for efficient execution, consistency in ODI series against Sri Lanka

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West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope knows all too well that winning their three-match series against Sri Lanka will be incumbent on players pulling their weight and executing with precision.

In fact, Hope highlighted the need for consistency across all departments, stressing that no one can afford to have an off day if the team is to compete at the highest level and climb back up the ICC rankings, as crucial ICC ranking points and World Cup qualification implications are at stake in this series.

The opening match of the series will take place at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Game time is 4:00am Jamaica time and 5:00am Easter Caribbean Time.

“We’re looking ahead, so we got to ensure that we play good cricket and see if we can get ourselves back up the rankings. We don’t necessarily have to qualify this time around, but we got to take it one step at a time because, as much as we are looking ahead, we still got to make sure we stay in the present as well,” Hope said in a pre-game press conference.

“We’ve got a few new members, we got some returning guys, and we’ve got to gel those consistent performances together as best as we can. Especially now when things are not looking too bright for us in the last couple of years. But I’m sure we’ve got everything in the tank that we need to become a successful team,” he added.

Despite having undeniable talent, the West Indies have struggled to string together efficient performances in the ODI format, in particular, and Hope believes this is where the team must show improvement if they are to rise in the rankings, as the Caribbean side is currently lagging at 10th in the rankings.

“We want to improve in all areas. As you can see, we’re not where we want to be, but this is how it goes. Sometimes you can’t win every game, but in order to be one of the top teams in the world, you got to be a lot more consistent in all three areas. So we just need to be more ruthless when it comes to our preparation and the way we go out there on the field and just find ways to win key moments in games and do it more consistently,” Hope stressed.

With Sri Lanka expected to pose a tough challenge, especially on their home turf, Hope is determined to ensure that his squad is mentally and physically prepared for what lies ahead.

“Well, whenever you come to Sri Lanka, you got to expect the ball to do a little bit, especially from a spin bowling standpoint. But yeah, we can’t have too much of a predetermined mindset; we have to wait and see what the pitch is going to offer tomorrow (Sunday).

“It’s important to have an idea, but at the end of the day you still got to play what you see. It’s important that we understand that it can look like a dust bowl but play pretty much straight on, so we got to make sure we’re very adaptable in that aspect and ensure that we’re ready to play whatever they throw at us,” Hope noted.

While his squad includes the likes of vice captain Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, and young stalwarts such as 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, Hope emphasized the need for each player to focus on executing their roles with discipline.

“Everyone has to pull their weight. I’m not going to single out and say the fast bowler has to do x or y. But yes, we know the quality of bowlers that we have, and as long as the confidence is there and the planning is there, all we need to do is execute. So the rest is up to us; we’ve got the ball in our court, and so we’ve got to make sure we’re playing good cricket starting with this first game on Sunday,” the Barbadian ended.

‘I Feel Robbed, Just Pure ****ry’: Andre Russell Drops F-bomb in a Fiery X-rated Rant on Instagram

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Andre Russell expressed his frustration following the unfortunate exit of Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) from the CPL 2024 after an eliminator loss to the Barbados Royals.

The high-stakes match at Providence Stadium, Guyana, was marked by an unexpected floodlight failure that disrupted play, ultimately affecting the outcome and leaving Russell and TKR fans aggrieved.

Russell took to his Instagram to call-out the concerns over floodlights which cost them an eliminator 2 berth. TKR were in a commanding position at 168/3 with just one ball left in their innings when a sudden power outage hit the stadium.

This unexpected incident not only cut short their momentum but also led to a huge delay, causing a major shift in the match’s dynamics.

The disruption forced officials to resort to the DLS method, resulting in a significantly reduced target of just 60 runs for the Royals in five overs. The outcome left TKR players visibly upset, especially Russell, who felt the situation was unfair to his side.

Defending a modest target in a T20 match is always a tough ask, and TKR’s bowlers faced an uphill battle to contain a hard-hitting Barbados Royals batting lineup.

Despite an early breakthrough by Sunil Narine, who dismissed Quinton de Kock, and a brief moment of hope when Chris Jordan almost had Rovman Powell out, the tide turned against TKR.

Andre Russell’s Instagram story

How TKR lost the match?

David Miller’s explosive 50* off just 17 deliveries, including five towering sixes, took the game away from TKR in no time, sealing the win for the Royals with 9 wickets in hand. The shortened chase heavily favoured Barbados Royals, leaving TKR players, particularly Russell, questioning the circumstances under which the match was decided.

Fans and players alike were left puzzled by the handling of the situation, with many feeling the delay could have been managed better. TKR’s superior position in the points table would have allowed them to progress if the match had been called off.

Russell’s frustration was evident, as the abrupt conclusion denied TKR a fair chance to defend a competitive total they had built through Nicholas Pooran’s outstanding 91* and strong contributions from Jason Roy and Andre Russell himself. For Russell and TKR, this loss in such unusual circumstances felt like an opportunity lost, leaving them with a sense of unfinished business in the CPL 2024 campaign

“Defending title tougher than winning it the first time” – Imran Tahir eye for second CPL title as they take on ST Lucia Kings

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Defending CPL champion Amazon Warriors are set to lock horns with the St Lucia Kings in the second playoffs of the Caribbean Premier League.

The match between Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Kings is scheduled to take place at 4:30 AM (IST) on the 3rd of September 2024 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

The Warriors finished the group stage at the top of the CPL table. Meanwhile, the Kings finished second on the points table. Naturally, it is going to be a clash of the titans in CPL 2024. This match can turn out to be a virtual final.

“We had to do a lot of hard work to win the competition like this team are very strong and very good opponent. We are proud of that last year we won. I think coming back and defending the title is a bigger challenge and we are ready for that challenge as we have a confident team when we go to the playoffs.” says warriors captain Imarn Tahir

Eliminator: Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals

Though Nicholas Pooran’s barnstorming century was not enough for Trinbago Knight Riders to secure a top-two slot, they can draw some positives from their win in the final league match of CPL 2024. Despite the injury-enforced absence of Sunil Narine and despite being the last team to play in the Guyana leg, TKR managed to breach fortress Providence this season.

It remains to be seen whether Narine has recovered enough to return in the playoffs. TKR also had to contend with injuries to Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo – who has now retired from all cricket – at various points during the season. This has left Kieron Pollard scrambling for options – Tim David, for example, bowled with the new ball when TKR last met Barbados Royals in Tarouba last week. If Narine isn’t fit yet, will TKR run the risk of handing local offspinner Bryan Charles a T20 debut in a knockout game?

All eyes will be on Pooran once again. He’s already had a record-breaking year – his 2160 runs in 2024 is already the most by a batter in a calendar year in T20 cricket – and he’s now two sixes away from surpassing Chris Gayle’s sixes tally in the CPL. His familiarity with the Providence pitch, having played for and captained Amazon Warriors in the past, could serve TKR well.

As for Royals, their run has mirrored that of their parent franchise – Rajasthan Royals – in the IPL. After having been the early pace-setters with five wins in their first six games, they ran out of gas and lost four in a row. Captain Rovman Powell’s batting struggles – 137 runs in eight innings at an average of 22.83 and strike rate of 117.09 – haven’t helped. That strike rate drops to 91.66 against spin.

The South Africa pair of Quinton de Kock, who is currently the highest run-getter this season, and David Miller will have to do the heavy-lifting with the bat.

Royals’ bowling attack looks in much healthier shape with Maheesh Theekshana, Keshav Maharaj, Naveen-ul-Haq and Jason Holder all doing the job for them at different stages. Unless Royals’ batters back up their bowling, TKR are favourites to make it 3-0 against them this season.

Qualifier 1: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Lucia Kings

Imran Tahir is 45 and continues to rock the CPL. His legbreaks and wrong’uns in particular continue to befuddle batters and his celebrations have been as lively as ever. Along with Gudakesh Motie, the left-arm fingerspinner, and Moeen Ali, the offspinner, Tahir has ensured that Providence remains Amazon Warriors’ fortress. Dwaine Pretorius’ slower cutters have also suited the slow, low surfaces in Guyana.

Like Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Amazon Warriors have constructed a squad with a variety of spin options and a number of spin-hitters. The last time Amazon Warriors faced St Lucia Kings at Providence, during the weekend, Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope bossed the middle overs to all but confirm their top-two spot.

Hetmyer against Khary Pierre and Noor Ahmad could be a key match-up that could influence the rest of the game. Hetmyer has been particularly severe on left-arm spinners this CPL, taking them for 106 runs off 50 balls at a strike rate of 212. Hetmyer has also been dismissed by left-arm spin six times in ten innings, but that hasn’t stopped him from lining them up.

Kings captain Faf du Plessis suffered from cramps while batting against Amazon Warriors but coach Daren Sammy suggested that du Plessis will be ready for the rematch against the defending champions in the playoffs. Like Tahir, du Plessis is still going strong in his 40s and has forged a potent partnership at the top with Johnson Charles, who has reinvented himself at 35 by adding the switch-hit to his repertoire.

On Saturday, however, Kings perhaps missed a trick by not promoting the left-handed Shadrack Descarte to counter Tahir and Motie, who dominated the right-hand heavy Kings middle order. So, keep an eye on how Kings use Descarte or Ackeem Auguste in the middle order against Amazon Warriors’ spinners.

In CPL 2023, Kings lacked a gun wristspinner, but they remedied it this season by recruiting Afghanistan’s Noor, who has been largely un-hittable, thanks to his bag of variations. He will have to continue his terrific form if Kings are to secure their maiden CPL title.

Nicholas Pooran Pays Tribute to Dwayne Bravo by Sharing Heartfelt Post on Instagram As Star All-Rounder Retires From All Forms of Professional Cricket (See Post)

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West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran shared a heartfelt post for Caribbean and Trinbago Knight Riders legend Dwayne Bravo.

Bravo announced his retirement from all forms of professional cricket and retired after suffering a groin injury during the ongoing edition of the CPL.

Pooran shared a heartfelt post for Bravo on his official Instagram handle and paid his tribute to the modern-day T20 legend.

Nicholas Pooran Pays Tribute to Dwayne Bravo

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nicholas Pooran (@nicholaspooran)