West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine has officially declared his retirement from international cricket, drawing the curtains on an illustrious eight-year career representing the Windies. Narine, who last donned the Men in Maroon jersey in August 2019 during a T20I match, made the announcement on Sunday, expressing his sentiments through an Instagram post quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
In his heartfelt message, Narine said, “I appreciate it has been over four years since I last played for West Indies, but today I am announcing my retirement from international cricket.” Known for his quiet demeanor publicly, Narine acknowledged the unwavering support of a select few who played pivotal roles in helping him achieve his dream of representing West Indies, offering them his deepest gratitude.
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Sunil Narine initially catapulted into the limelight with standout performances for Trinidad and Tobago in the now-defunct Champions League T20. He went on to make his international debut for West Indies in December 2011, subsequently featuring in a total of 122 international matches. His international career comprised six Tests, 65 ODIs, and 51 T20Is, during which he amassed 165 wickets.
One of the crowning moments of Narine’s international career was helping West Indies secure their first ICC T20 World Cup in 2012. He also played a significant role in the 2014 edition of the tournament.
Narine’s journey continued to flourish as he became a consistent member of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders since 2012. His IPL record boasts 163 wickets in 162 matches and 1,046 runs with four fifties. Beyond the IPL, Narine showcased his talents in various T20 leagues across the globe, including the International League T20 (Abu Dhabi), Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, and Los Angeles in Major League Cricket. He also participated in the Hundred men’s competition with Oval Invincibles and featured in the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, and Bangladesh Premier League.
In 2014, Sunil Narine faced scrutiny for a suspect bowling action, leading to his withdrawal from the 2015 ODI World Cup. This incident had a lasting impact on his sporadic appearances in international cricket over the years.
Narine expressed his deep gratitude to his father, who played a pivotal role in his career, saying, “[My father] is ever present with me when I take to the field, and I am indebted to his support and love, which carried me through the times I questioned whether the pursuit of my dreams was really worth it.” He concluded by expressing his love for representing Trinidad & Tobago and his aspiration to win the Super50 Cup as the perfect send-off to his cricketing journey.
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