Nicholas Pooran will lead Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2025 Caribbean Premier League, taking over from long-time skipper Kieron Pollard. The handover keeps captaincy within the franchise’s core, following the line from Dwayne Bravo to Pollard in 2019 and now to the 29-year-old left-hander.
“It means a lot, first and foremost, to represent Trinbago Knight Riders. It is a privilege that I’m getting the opportunity to lead this franchise,” Pooran said. “I want to give it my best shot, and hopefully make as many correct decisions as I can. It’s a responsibility that has been passed on from Bravo to Pollard, and now to me.
“For me, the most satisfying thing is that Pollard is still playing; Sunil [Narine] and Andre [Russell] are here too. That’s a lot of experience I can bank on. To lead them on the field – it means a lot to me.”
Key facts first
• Pooran joined TKR as a 17-year-old in the CPL’s inaugural season, missed only the 2015 edition after a road accident, and returned to the side in 2022 after spells with Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors.
• He has 2,447 CPL runs at a strike-rate of 152.27 from 114 matches.
• Beyond the Caribbean, he already captains MI New York in Major League Cricket and MI Emirates in the ILT20.
• Pollard’s tenure brought TKR a perfect 12-from-12 championship run in 2020 and two further play-off appearances.
• Bravo, now head coach after retiring last season, will work alongside Pollard in easing Pooran into the role.
Why the change now?
Pollard framed the timing as part of a planned transition. “I believe grooming the next generation is very important,” he said. “With Bravo coming on board this year as the new head coach, we felt this is the right time to get a new captain in. Pooran is home-grown, and I think this is the right opportunity for him. We’ve actually been preparing him for this over the years.
“I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be playing for, but I’m happy for the opportunity to still be on the field and help Nicholas ease into this role. He’s someone who we’ve seen grow in front of us and he understands our values and principles. He understands how we want to play cricket, he understands the winning culture that we want to create, and he shares a lot of respect with a lot of players around the world. So for me, it was an easy decision to hand over the captaincy to Pooran.”
What Pooran brings
Pooran’s power-hitting is well known, yet his leadership résumé is growing quickly. He led West Indies white-ball sides in 2022, and franchise owners have trusted him with emerging leagues in the USA and UAE – a sign, analysts argue, of his tactical clarity and communication skills. His familiarity with TKR’s senior figures should help keep dressing-room dynamics settled.
Potential challenges
Balancing multiple captaincy roles in overlapping calendars can be draining, both mentally and physically. TKR management reckon the presence of Pollard, Narine and Russell will share the on-field load, while Bravo’s move into the dug-out provides an additional sounding board.
Looking ahead
TKR open their campaign against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on 17 August. Supporters are keen to see whether the franchise’s refreshed leadership can reclaim a title last won in 2020. Early signs suggest a smooth handover, but as ever in T20 cricket, momentum can shift quickly.
