West Indies have turned to an exciting new face for their upcoming white-ball tour of India, with Kamil Pooran earning his maiden T20I call-up for the five-match series. The 30-year-old Trinidadian has been rewarded for his impressive performances in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026, where he emerged as one of the standout performers for Saint Lucia Kings.
Pooran is a right-handed opening batter who has spent several seasons working his way through the West Indies domestic system. His breakthrough in franchise cricket has now put him on the international radar, with West Indies looking to develop a strong core ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Kamil Pooran earns maiden West Indies T20I call-up
The biggest moment of Pooran’s career so far came when Cricket West Indies named him in the 15-member T20I squad for the India tour.
The squad will be led by Shai Hope and features several experienced names, including Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd. Pooran is one of the newer players being given an opportunity as West Indies begin preparations for the next T20 World Cup cycle.
The selectors’ decision follows an excellent CPL campaign in which Pooran showed that he can score quickly at the top of the order.
Kamil Pooran’s impressive CPL 2026 numbers
Pooran’s performances for Saint Lucia Kings were the major catalyst behind his international selection.
He scored 273 runs in eight innings, averaging 39.00, while striking at 159.64. His campaign included two half-centuries, with a best score of 81 not out. He also struck 33 fours and 13 sixes, underlining his aggressive approach with the bat.
His ability to maintain a high scoring rate makes him an interesting addition to the West Indies batting group. Pooran faced 171 balls during the CPL season and converted more than a quarter of his scoring shots into boundaries, according to his official West Indies statistics.
For a player making his first appearance at international level, those numbers provide a clear indication of why the selectors decided to give him an opportunity against India.
Pooran’s impressive performance: From West Indies domestic cricket to the CPL
Pooran’s route to the West Indies squad has been built through domestic cricket rather than an immediate rise to international prominence.
The Trinidadian has represented Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Combined Campuses and Colleges in domestic cricket. His first-class record includes 333 runs, while he has also scored 58 runs in List A cricket.
His domestic numbers may not have generated the same attention as his recent T20 performances, but they provided the foundation for his development as a top-order batter.
Pooran’s breakthrough came in the shorter format. Before his CPL opportunity, he also featured in the West Indies Breakout League in 2025, scoring 126 runs in five innings, including a 73-run knock.
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Why Pooran’s selection matters for WI?
The decision to select Pooran is part of a wider strategy from West Indies to identify and develop players who can contribute to the team over the next T20 World Cup cycle.
Head coach Daren Sammy has stressed the importance of building a strong core ahead of the 2028 tournament, and Pooran’s selection fits into that approach. The India series will provide him with an opportunity to test his skills against a high-quality international attack and adapt to the demands of international cricket.
While Pooran is primarily selected as a batter, his official profile also records him as a right-arm medium bowler. His main value to the T20I side, however, is expected to come from his aggressive batting at the top of the order.
Pooran’s first international challenge against India
The West Indies tour of India will begin with three ODIs, starting on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram. The five-match T20I series will then begin on October 6 in Lucknow, followed by matches in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
For Pooran, the India series could mark the beginning of an important new chapter. He has already demonstrated his ability to dominate attacks in the CPL. The challenge now is to translate that aggressive style to the international stage.
A maiden T20I appearance against India would give the Trinidadian an opportunity to show whether his impressive CPL form can carry over to the highest level. With West Indies looking toward the future, Pooran’s emergence is one of the most intriguing storylines of their upcoming India tour.
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