Uncapped Trinidad batter Kamil Pooran has described his maiden West Indies T20I call-up as a moment that left him 'speechless' and 'in shock', saying the selection is the ultimate reward for years of persistence on the domestic circuit. Pooran is set to make his potential international debut in Lucknow on Tuesday, 7 October 2026, when West Indies face India in the T20I series opener.

The Breakout CPL Season That Changed Everything

Pooran, 30, earned his T20I berth after a standout debut campaign with St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he finished as the tournament's top scorer for the franchise. He amassed 273 runs across eight innings at an explosive strike rate of 159.64, announcing himself as one of the most destructive emerging talents in Caribbean cricket.

His route to that CPL contract was anything but straightforward. Pooran made his first-class debut for Trinidad at the age of 26, and it took a further four years of relentless domestic performances before he earned his first CPL opportunity. 'I told myself when I got selected, what's the worst thing that could happen if I put my all into it, train hard, dedicate? Put my everything into the sport right now, what could happen? This is the reward, this is the outcome. I'm just thankful right now for everything,' he said.

What Cricket West Indies Said About His Selection

Cricket West Indies (CWI) stated that Pooran's inclusion in the squad reflects a 'deliberate approach towards identifying and developing emerging talent ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup.' The framing signals that the West Indian board views this series against India not merely as a bilateral fixture but as part of a longer talent pipeline with a specific World Cup horizon in mind. Notably, this is in line with a broader regional trend of accelerating the integration of CPL performers into the senior setup.

Family, Idols and the Fanboy Moment

Upon learning of his call-up, Pooran's first instinct was to call his mother. 'The first person was my mother. I called her as soon as possible. When I got back to the hotel after the training session, I called her one time, and I told her. She was very, very happy and excited. My family supports me a lot back home. My uncle, aunties, everyone there supports me 100 percent. It means a lot to me to make each one of them proud,' he revealed.

Pooran grew up idolising Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, and now keenly follows India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. Sharing a dressing room with senior West Indies players has only deepened the sense of disbelief. 'To me, I'm a fanboy. It may seem funny, but I grew up watching almost everyone here play cricket at the highest level. To be here is something that I dreamt of. I'm still in shock; I'm just happy that I'm here,' he said.

His Game and What to Expect

A self-described off-side specialist, Pooran identified the square cut and the cover drive as his signature weapons heading into the series. 'Square cut, cover drive — mainly offside. That's my strength, I would say,' he noted. With a strike rate north of 159 in the CPL, opposing bowlers are likely to be wary of giving him width outside off stump.

All eyes will be on Pooran when West Indies take the field in Lucknow on Tuesday, in what could be the beginning of a long international career for a cricketer who waited patiently for his moment.