‘Teammate, friend and powerhouse’- Rishabh Pant's message to Nicholas Pooran after his international cricket retirement

Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran both play for LSG in IPL.

Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran for LSG | LSG X

After West Indies southpaw Nicholas Pooran retired from international cricket, star Indian batsman Rishabh Pant sent his best wishes to the West Indies star.

Pant and Pooran shared the dressing room at IPL 2025 when they were both playing for the Lucknow Super Giants. Pooran ended his international career on Tuesday at the age of 29.

Pooran made his West Indies debut in a T20I in September 2016 after never having participated in a Test match. He made his ODI debut in February 2019; however, he hasn't participated in the format since the West Indies' 2023 World Cup failure.

In 2022, Pooran captained the West Indies full-time in limited-overs internationals, but he only managed to win eight of thirty games in both formats. He resigned as leader after the West Indies lost in the first round of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

In a statement on his social-media handle on Monday, Pooran wrote: "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. 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.”

He played 61 ODIs and 106 T20Is for West Indies, scoring 1983 and 2275 runs respectively. He hit 3 ODI hundred, 11 fifties, and 13 T20I fifties. He hit 229 sixes in international cricket.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, his LSG captain, paid a rich tribute to the West Indies entertainer. The two share a close bond, as Pooran had sent Pant encouraging messages when the Indian star had met with a serious car accident. Pooran himself was involved in a car accident when he was 19 and was told he would never play cricket again.

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 on the road ahead. Respect always," Pant posted in his Insta story.

Rishabh Pant's story for Nicholas Pooran | Instagram

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 11 Jun, 2025

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