Sports

Emotional Farewell: Nicholas Pooran Retires from International Cricket at 29

Published

1 year ago

June 11, 2025

In the last five weeks, the cricket world has seen several high-profile players announce their retirement from international cricket. The announcements began on May 7 with Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, closely followed by Virat Kohli’s retirement from the longest format just five days later.

Glenn Maxwell then announced his departure from One-Day International cricket to focus on the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year. Shortly after, South African wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen also retired from white-ball formats, having already stepped away from Test cricket.

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Rounding out this wave of retirements is West Indies’ top T20I batsman Nicholas Pooran. Surprisingly, the talented left-hander, who dazzled fans in the first half of IPL 2025 while playing for Lucknow Super Giants, is just 29 years old.

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Since making his debut for the West Indies in September 2016, Pooran has accumulated 61 ODI caps and played in 106 T20Is, scoring 1983 runs in ODIs at an average of 39.66 and a strike rate of 99.15. He has never played Test cricket but leaves the international scene as the leading T20I run-scorer for the West Indies with 2,275 runs, having last represented the team in December 2024.

“After much contemplation, I’ve decided to retire from international cricket. This sport has provided me with immense joy, purpose, and unforgettable memories, allowing me to represent the people of the West Indies. Wearing that maroon kit, standing for the anthem, and giving my all on the field holds a deep meaning for me. Leading the team is a privilege that I will cherish forever,” Pooran shared in his Instagram announcement.

“Although this chapter of my international career is closing, my love for West Indies cricket remains strong. I wish the team continued success and resilience moving forward,” he added.

Pooran participated in the 2014 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup before making his senior international debut in a T20I against Pakistan two years later. He made his ODI debut in 2018 and was included in the West Indies squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

He served as vice-captain for the Caribbean side in the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup and took on captaincy roles in both ODI and T20 formats for a six-month period in 2022, including the Men’s T20 World Cup campaign.

“Cricket West Indies extends heartfelt gratitude to Nicholas Pooran for his remarkable contributions to our cricketing legacy. Nicholas has officially communicated his retirement decision, marking the end of a significant chapter in his career,” Cricket West Indies stated.

“We celebrate his achievements and thank him for the unforgettable moments he has provided to fans across the region and beyond. We wish him the very best in this next phase of his journey,” it continued.

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Sports

Spain Beat France 2-0 to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Spain defeated France 2-0 in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to book their place in the final. The defeat ended France’s title hopes under captain Kylian Mbappe.

Spain took the lead in the 20th minute. Young star Lamine Yamal was fouled by France’s Lucas Digne inside the penalty area. Spain was awarded a penalty, and Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot kick to make it 1-0.

The goal was Oyarzabal’s fifth of the tournament. He equalled David Villa’s record for the most goals scored by a Spanish player in a single FIFA World Cup.

Spain doubled its lead in the 58th minute. Right-back Pedro Porro scored after receiving a fine pass from Dani Olmo. The goal gave Spain complete control of the match.

France suffered an early setback when central defender William Saliba left the field with an injury in the first half. Despite having stars like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, France failed to score. It was the team’s first match of the tournament without a goal.

Spain also created history in the World Cup semi-finals. It became the first team to start two teenagers, 19-year-olds Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, in a World Cup semi-final.

The victory sent Spain into the FIFA World Cup final for the second time and for the first time since 2010.

Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in Sunday’s final.

France, meanwhile, missed the chance to reach a third straight World Cup final. The defeat also marked the end of coach Didier Deschamps’ long and successful journey with the national team.

Sports

Passenger Turns Flight into FIFA Watch Party during Match

Published

7 days ago

July 12, 2026

Namma Kudla

FIFA World cup: A football fan turned a regular flight into a memorable FIFA World Cup watch party by streaming the Argentina vs Egypt match for fellow passengers.

The fan paid for the airplane’s WiFi and stood at the front of the cabin with his laptop. He streamed the live match so that everyone on board could watch it.

The flight had 187 passengers. Many leaned into the aisle, while some stood up to get a better view of the screen. The passengers watched the exciting match together and cheered for the teams.

Argentina made a stunning comeback after trailing 2-0. Led by Lionel Messi, the team fought back to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a thrilling contest.

A video of the moment was shared on X and quickly went viral. Social media users praised the fan for bringing strangers together and creating a special experience during the flight.

The match also ended with a controversial VAR decision. Egypt believed they had scored a second goal after taking a 1-0 lead. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review.

Match officials ruled that an Egyptian player had fouled Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez before the goal was scored. As a result, the goal was cancelled, leaving Egypt’s players and many fans disappointed.

Sports

Yuvraj Singh Set to Begin Coaching Career with Delhi Capitals

Published

4 weeks ago

June 20, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Former India all-rounder and cricket legend Yuvraj Singh is set to begin his coaching career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2027 season, according to reports.

Sources say that Yuvraj Singh is likely to join the Delhi Capitals coaching staff for the 20th edition of the IPL. He is expected to take up the role of batting coach for the franchise.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is also expected to return to the Delhi Capitals setup. Reports suggest that Ganguly wants Yuvraj Singh to be part of the team’s support staff.

The Delhi Capitals franchise is jointly owned by GMR Group and JSW Group. The two groups manage the team on a rotational basis for two-year periods. GMR Group was in charge during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. From 2027, JSW Group will take control of the franchise for the next two years.

Reports indicate that major changes are being planned within the team. Yuvraj Singh’s appointment is believed to be one of those changes.

During the previous JSW management period, Sourav Ganguly served as the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals. Recently, under Ganguly’s guidance, the Pretoria Capitals reached the final of the SA20 league. This success has increased the possibility of his return to a key role with Delhi Capitals.

Delhi Capitals had disappointing campaigns in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026. Despite having several star players, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons under captain Axar Patel.

Hemang Badani is currently the head coach of the team. However, reports suggest that his position could be under pressure after two unsuccessful seasons.

Fans are now eager to see whether the experience of Sourav Ganguly and the aggressive cricketing approach of Yuvraj Singh can help Delhi Capitals achieve better results in IPL 2027.