Nicholas Pooran Named MI New York Captain After International Cricket Retirement

Nicholas Pooran Named Captain of MI New York After Retiring from International Cricket

In a stunning turn of events, star West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran has been named captain of MI New York for the upcoming season of Major League Cricket (MLC) just a day after announcing his retirement from international cricket. The dynamic left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, renowned for his explosive batting, will now lead the MLC title defenders as they aim to reign supreme in 2025.

Pooran Retires From International Cricket

On Tuesday, the cricketing world was taken aback as Nicholas Pooran, at 29, announced his immediate retirement from international cricket after much consideration. Pooran exits having played 106 T20Is—the most by a West Indian—while amassing 2,275 runs at a healthy strike rate of 136.39. In ODIs, he boasts 1,983 runs at an average of 39.66. Despite his white-ball heroics, Pooran never represented the West Indies in Test cricket.

MI New York Announces Pooran as Captain

Soon after his retirement, MI New York, owned by Reliance Industries (the proprietors of IPL’s Mumbai Indians), made it official on X (formerly Twitter):

“There’s a new commander in town – captain Nicholas Pooran.”

Pooran was instrumental in MI New York’s inaugural MLC title run, topping the 2023 season charts with 388 runs and producing an unbeaten 137 in the MLC final—a feat MI fans are eager to see repeated in 2025 under his leadership.

Star-Studded Squad and MLC Aspirations

With seasoned internationals like Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, and Rashid Khan in the lineup, MI New York is primed for another championship push. The franchise has expressed full confidence in Pooran’s leadership and explosive abilities, expecting him to take the team to “greater glories.”

IPL and Franchise Cricket Excellence

Pooran’s captaincy appointment arrives after a spectacular IPL 2025 season with Lucknow Super Giants, where he smashed the record for most sixes in a calendar year (170) and piled up 524 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 196.25.

What Does This Mean for MLC 2025?

As the third Major League Cricket season begins on Thursday, all eyes will be on Nicholas Pooran to see if he can translate his international and IPL success to another title run for MI New York.

Stay tuned for all the updates on Major League Cricket and Nicholas Pooran’s journey as MI New York’s new captain!