Pooran, 30, earned his spot in the T20Is following a breakout debut season in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he finished as the top scorer for St Lucia Kings. Pooran amassed 273 runs in eight innings at an explosive strike rate of 159.64, and established himself as one of the most destructive new talents in the region. Uncapped batter Kamil Pooran admitted to being left speechless and in shock upon receiving his maiden West Indies T20I call-up for the upcoming series against India, adding that the national team selection is the ultimate reward for years of relentless hard work on the domestic circuit.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) had said that Pooran’s inclusion is due to a ‘deliberate approach towards identifying and developing emerging talent ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup. “Batting, obviously. I love the square cut with the ball. That’s my favourite shot. Square cut, cover drive – mainly offside. That’s my strength, I would say. Having grown up idolising Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, and now keenly following India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Pooran admitted that sharing a dressing room with senior stars in the West Indies team still feels surreal.
A self-proclaimed fan of off-side strokeplay, Pooran singled out his favourite shots ahead of his potential international debut in Lucknow on Tuesday.
