Kamil Pooran's Shock Call-Up: What It Means for West Indies

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-20

### Kamil Pooran's Maiden T20I Call-Up: A Sign of Things to Come West Indies cricket is turning a page. For the first time, opening batter Kamil Pooran has been named in a T20I squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of India, which kicks off on September 27. It's a big moment for the young left-hander, and it signals a clear shift in how the team is thinking about its future. Pooran earned his spot after a standout run in CPL 2026, where he racked up 273 runs in eight innings for the St Lucia Kings. His strike rate of 159.64 turned heads, and he even finished unbeaten on a fifty in one match to seal a win for his side. Cricket West Indies (CWI) said the selection is part of a planned effort to find and build emerging players ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup. ### Shimron Hetmyer Skips ODIs, Jason Holder Rested While Pooran gets his first taste of international T20 cricket, two big names are missing from parts of the tour. Shimron Hetmyer, the second-highest run-scorer in CPL 2026, won't play the three-match ODI series. Instead, he'll join the squad later for the five T20Is. CWI explained that Hetmyer remains committed to West Indies but needs an extended recovery period after a heavy CPL workload. He last played for the ODI team in July against New Zealand, where he scored an unbeaten 69 in the fifth ODI. Jason Holder, on the other hand, has been rested entirely. The former captain, who led St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL, doesn't feature in either squad. He hasn't played an ODI since July 2023, though he was part of the T20I side against Sri Lanka in June. ### New Faces and Returning Players It's not just Pooran who's getting a look. Middle-order batter Quentin Sampson is another T20I prospect in the group. Jewel Andrew, who last played for West Indies in September 2025, is back and features in both the ODI and T20I squads. Shai Hope will captain both sides, bringing stability at the top. Opener John Campbell returns to the ODI squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. Ackeem Auguste, however, is out while he recovers from surgery performed in August. ### Tour Details and World Cup Qualification West Indies will play three ODIs and five T20Is across eight cities in India between September 27 and October 18. The squad leaves home on September 21 and arrives in Thiruvananthapuram on September 23. The first two ODIs close the automatic qualification period for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup. Even if West Indies win the series, they won't leapfrog their nearest challengers in the standings, so they'll still need to play the qualification tournament early next year. Head coach Daren Sammy sees this series as a golden opportunity. "Playing against the top team in the world lets us fine-tune our ODI performances," he said. "It also gives us a chance to assess players in new roles with the 2027 World Cup in mind." ### Full Squads **West Indies ODI squad:** Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales. **West Indies T20I squad:** Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer. ### What This Means for West Indies Cricket This tour isn't just about results. It's about building a team that can compete on the biggest stage. With the 2028 T20 World Cup on the horizon, blooding new talent like Pooran and Sampson is crucial. Hetmyer's absence from the ODIs is a precaution, not a red flag. Holder's rest is part of managing a heavy workload. For fans, it's exciting to see fresh faces get a chance. It's a reminder that cricket is always evolving, and West Indies is making moves to ensure they're not left behind. Stay tuned for more cricket news and updates.