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Nicholas Pooran Succeeds Kieron Pollard As Trinbago Knight Riders Captain For CPL 2025

Akshita Patel

Trinbago Knight Riders to have new captain for CPL 2025 [Source: @TKRiders/X.com]Trinbago Knight Riders to have new captain for CPL 2025 [Source: @TKRiders/X.com]

In a big change ahead of CPL 2025, Nicholas Pooran has been named captain of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), replacing Kieron Pollard, who has led the team since 2019. The leadership transition marks the dawn of a new era for TKR.

Pooran’s journey with TKR began in the inaugural CPL in 2013, when the team was called Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel. He later played for Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors before returning to TKR in 2022.

Nicholas Pooran Handed Over Captaincy Role By TKR

In an official announcement, Trinbago Knight Riders confirmed the transition in leadership, as Nicholas Pooran will be taking over the baton from Kieron Pollard to captain TKR in the CPL 2025 season.

For Pooran, the role is a special honour. In an official video, the wicketkeeper-batter said he still has plenty of experience around him, with Pollard continuing to play and Sunil Narine and Andre Russell also in the squad.

"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. I want to give it my best shot, and hopefully make as many correct decisions as I can. 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," Pooran said.

Over his CPL career, Nicholas Pooran has scored 2,447 runs at a strike rate of 152.27 in 114 matches. He has also captained the West Indies in white-ball cricket and currently leads MI New York in the MLC and MI Emirates in the ILT20. 

As for Pollard, his time as captain was highly successful, highlighted by TKR’s unbeaten title run in 2020 when they won all 12 matches. They qualified for the playoffs in subsequent seasons but lost in 2024, going down to the Barbados Royals in the Eliminator.

Pollard Feels The Time Is Right To Pass The Baton

That being said, Kieron Pollard supported the captaincy transition and said the timing was right for the change, especially with Dwayne Bravo taking over as head coach this season. He placed trust in Nicholas Pooran to handle the responsibility and lead TKR to glory.

"I believe grooming the next generation is very important. 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 homegrown, and I think this is the right opportunity for him. We've actually been preparing him for this over the years," Pollard said.

With Bravo as coach, Pooran as captain, and a strong lineup of star players, TKR will look to start their CPL 2025 campaign on a high when they face St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on August 17.