Nicholas Pooran retires: LSG batter shocks fans with retirement at just 29, ‘This was very difficult'
Nicholas Pooran shocked fans by retiring from international cricket at just 29. Pooran played the most T20I matches for the West Indies and is also the highest run-scorer for the country in the format.
'This was very difficult, but I have thought long and hard about this,' Nicholas Pooran wrote on Instagram.
'After much thought and reflection, I've decided to announce my retirement from International Cricket. 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 continued.
'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,' he added.
His exit is a big blow, especially when the team is trying to rebuild after missing the 2023 ODI World Cup. In 2023, he hit the most sixes in T20s (170). During IPL 2025, scored over 500 runs with 40 sixes, the highest this season.
He didn't play Test matches and debuted in T20Is in 2016, followed by ODIs in 2019. He hasn't played an ODI since the World Cup qualification miss.
Pooran also captained the team in 2022 but won only 8 out of 30 games. He stepped down after West Indies' early exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup.
With the next T20 World Cup only eight months away, West Indies must now find a strong middle-order replacement.
His fans expressed their frustration over his retirement.
'Whyyyy Nicky?? this is not done.. You're one of my most favorite player from WI, For the upcoming WI tour of India , I was soo excited!! But this breaks my heart,' wrote an Indian fan.
'At 29, I could never accept this as a Trinidadian and West Indian, you have so much more to give the people of the Caribbean,' came from another fan.
Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹ 21 crore, and he proved his worth. Once the strongest contender for Orange Cap, Nicholas Pooran lost his flow as IPL 2025 progressed. He scored 524 runs in 14 matches with a massive strike rate of 196.25, his best ever in IPL. However, LSG started losing matches, and Pooran became inconsistent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
8 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Son to 'wait and see' on Tottenham future after Saudi links
Son Heung-min has cast doubt on his Tottenham future after saying he will "wait and see" what happens amid speculation the skipper could move to Saudi Arabia. The South Korean forward has a year left on his contract and has been linked with an exit after helping Spurs end their 17-year trophy drought. "Rather than saying anything at this moment, I think we should all wait and see what happens," the 32-year-old told reporters after South Korea's 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Kuwait on Tuesday. "But no matter where I end up, I will always do the best I can. It will never change." Son lifted the Europa League trophy last month to claim his first piece of silverware with Tottenham after helping his team beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao. Spurs have since fired coach Ange Postecoglou following a dismal Premier League campaign that saw them finish one place above the relegation zone. Son came under pressure after a series of underwhelming displays but he vowed to come back stronger next season, wherever he is playing. "I know people may say I had a disappointing year but personally, this was a special season because you play football to win, and only winners are remembered," said Son, who joined Tottenham from Germany's Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. "I wasn't in my best form for most of the season but hopefully I will be in better condition going into the new season." South Korea booked their place at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with 2-0 win over Iraq last week. They finished top of Group B in the Asian third round of qualifiers and were unbeaten in 10 games. "I know people just assume that we should come out of Asia with ease but nothing has been easy," said Son, who came on as a 75th-minute substitute against Kuwait. "I think we were able to finish well here because everyone came together with the same goal of never losing a match." amk/pst TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Manchester United
Hindustan Times
11 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US concedes 4 first-half goals, falls to Switzerland 4-0 for first 4-game losing streak since 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United States gave up four goals in the first half and looked unprepared for next year's World Cup, getting routed by Switzerland 4-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night as the Americans lost their fourth straight game for the first time since 2007. Dan Ndoye scored in the 13th minute, Michel Aebischer in the 23rd, Breel Embolo in the 33rd and Johan Manzambi in the 36th. The Americans have lost four consecutive home games for the third time and first since 1988. Switzerland won its third straight match and extended the U.S. winless streak against European opponents to eight games since 2021. Fans at Geodis Park booed loudly as the U.S. gave up four goals by the 40th minute for the first time since Nov. 9, 1980, at Mexico and the first time ever at home, according to Opta. The match was played one year and one day before the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S. starts. Going into their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Americans are 5-5 under Mauricio Pochettino, who took over after first-round elimination last year's Copa America led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter. Ndoye burst behind Nate Harriel to run onto a through pass for the first goal; Manzambi dribbled past Max Arfsten along the endline to leave Aebischer with a tap-in for the second; goalkeeper Matt Turner spilled Ricardo Rodriguez's shot to leave Embolo an open net for the third; and a mix-up when Quinn Sullivan passed to Sebastian Berhalter as the former coach's son slipped created a giveaway that led to Manzambi's first international goal. The U.S. had not lost four straight games since a five-game skid in 2007. The Americans were missing Christian Pulisic ; Yunus Musah ; Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna ; Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun ; and Sergiño Dest . Turner played his first game for club or country since March 23. Berhalter started in his debut, and Brenden and Paxten Aaronson became the fourth set of brothers to start for the U.S., and the first since George and Louis Nanchoff in 1979. Pochettino made nine changes from Saturday's 2-1 loss to Turkey, keeping only Arfsten and midfielder Johnny Cardoso. The U.S. made five changes to start the second half and Damian Downs made his debut in the 75th minute. soccer: /hub/soccer
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
FIFA World Cup 2026: Canada, USA and Mexico brace for World Cup extravaganza
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on a year from now, on June 11 (Image via AP) The largest and most complex World Cup in history kicks off in just over a year's time, with the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosting the football extravaganza against a backdrop of political tension triggered by Donald Trump. Forty-eight teams and millions of fans are set to descend on North America for the first ever World Cup shared by three nations, with the tournament getting under way on June 11 next year. In theory, the 23rd edition of the most popular sporting spectacle on the planet has all the makings of a successful tournament. An array of venues ranging from Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca to the glittering $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will play host to 104 games spread over nearly six weeks. The United States will host the bulk of those fixtures - 78 - with Canada and Mexico staging 13 each. All games from the quarter-finals onwards will be held in the United States, with the tournament culminating in the final at New Jersey's 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026. 'Like 104 Super Bowls American officials believe the return of the World Cup to the country - 32 years after the United States hosted the 1994 finals -- could represent a watershed moment for football in the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Poll Do you believe the 2026 World Cup will successfully boost football's popularity in the United States? Yes, definitely No, I don't think so "The World Cup is going to raise the attention of the sport in ways that nobody ever dreamed of," said Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer. FIFA's President Gianni Infantino meanwhile has been hyping next year's finals as the equivalent of "104 Super Bowls", contrasting the World Cup's estimated six billion viewers to the 120 million or so who tune in for the climax of the NFL season. There are historical precedents which suggest the hype might be justified. The 1994 World Cup in the United States remains the best attended World Cup in history, with an average of 68,600 fans flocking to each game. Yet while organisers eagerly anticipate a commercial success, with one FIFA estimate suggesting it could generate a mammoth $11 billion in revenues, questions over other aspects of the tournament remain. The 48 teams - up from 32 in 2022 - will be spread into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout rounds, and the eight best third-placed teams joining them to make up a last 32. That expansion is likely to reduce the sense of jeopardy in the first round, a problem seen in other major championships which have increased in size in recent years. The curious case of the Visa backlogs There is also the question of how the polarising policies of US President Trump may impact the tournament. Since taking office, Trump has launched a global trade war, repeatedly threatened to annex World Cup co-host Canada and launched an immigration crackdown at US borders which has seen overseas visitors from countries like France, Britain, Germany and Australia either detained or denied entry in recent months. Trump this week signed a travel ban on 12 countries including Iran, who have qualified for the World Cup, but the ban will not apply to players taking part in the tournament. Trump, who is chairman of a White House task force overseeing preparations for the World Cup, says overseas fans travelling to the tournament have nothing to fear. "Every part of the US government will be working to ensure that these events are safe and successful, and those traveling to America to watch the competition have a seamless experience during every part of their visit," Trump said last month. FIFA chief Infantino, who has forged a close relationship with Trump, echoed that point, insisting that America was ready to "welcome the world." "Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun, to celebrate the game will be able to do that," Infantino said. With one year to go however, it is by no means clear that Infantino's pledge will hold up. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that some embassy staff may be required to work double-shifts to expedite visa processing, citing the example of Colombia, where US visa wait times are currently 15 months. "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup unless we go to double shifts," Rubio told lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Those fans who do make the trip to North America may also find themselves having to fork out a small fortune due to FIFA's reported decision to use dynamic pricing to determine ticket prices. That system, where prices on ticketing websites fluctuate according to demand, may well force fans to shell out thousands of dollars to obtain tickets for the highest profile games. "Dynamic pricing does not belong in football because it is an exploitation of fans' loyalty," Ronan Evain, the executive director of the Football Supporters Europe fan group told The Times. "It would be a fiasco for FIFA to use it for the World Cup."
