Nicholas Pooran crowned Wisden’s T20 titan after record-smashing 2024
Key Points(5)
- LONDON, England – After a year that redefined brilliance in the shortest format of the game, Nicholas Pooran has etched his name into the annals of cricketing greatness.
- The 29-year-old West Indies dynamo has been named Wisden’s Leading T20 Cricketer in the World for 2024, a crowning accolade for a campaign that was nothing short of historic.
- Pooran’s blistering performances throughout the calendar year lit up stadiums and record books alike, as the left-handed batting maestro amassed a monumental 2,331 runs at an average of 40, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 2,036 runs set by Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan in 2021.
- <h2>A year of firepower and firsts</h2> With a bat that seemed forged from thunder, Pooran not only rewrote the record for runs in a calendar year but also launched his way past another Caribbean legend.
- He smashed 139 sixes in 2024, obliterating Chris Gayle’s previous record of 135 set back in 2015 and, in doing so, soared past Gayle’s all-time West Indies T20 scoring record.
LONDON, England – After a year that redefined brilliance in the shortest format of the game, Nicholas Pooran has etched his name into the annals of cricketing greatness.
The 29-year-old West Indies dynamo has been named Wisden’s Leading T20 Cricketer in the World for 2024, a crowning accolade for a campaign that was nothing short of historic.
Pooran’s blistering performances throughout the calendar year lit up stadiums and record books alike, as the left-handed batting maestro amassed a monumental 2,331 runs at an average of 40, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 2,036 runs set by Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan in 2021.
A year of firepower and firsts
With a bat that seemed forged from thunder, Pooran not only rewrote the record for runs in a calendar year but also launched his way past another Caribbean legend. He smashed 139 sixes in 2024, obliterating Chris Gayle’s previous record of 135 set back in 2015 and, in doing so, soared past Gayle’s all-time West Indies T20 scoring record.
His fearless strokeplay, remarkable consistency, and flair for high-impact innings propelled him into a league of his own, affirming his evolution from explosive prospect to global phenomenon.
“A simply sublime year”: Wisden’s verdict
The accolade, awarded annually by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, places Pooran among the elite of world cricket, recognizing his dominance on the T20 stage amidst an ever-deepening field of international stars.
The publication highlighted the West Indian’s ground-breaking achievements, noting that 2024 was a year in which he did not just excel—he transcended expectations.
A Caribbean star among global giants
Pooran wasn’t the only cricketer to earn Wisden’s coveted recognition. India’s fast-bowling talisman Jasprit Bumrah and batting virtuoso Smriti Mandhana were named the world’s leading male and female cricketers, respectively.
Bumrah was lauded for his electrifying form across all formats in 2024, culminating in being named Player of the Tournament as India lifted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Caribbean soil. His precision, pace, and poise made him a constant threat to every batting line-up.
Meanwhile, Mandhana carved her name into history with a run-laden year that featured five international centuries, four of which came in ODIs. She also led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden Women’s Premier League title, further cementing her legacy as one of India’s greatest female batters.
Legacy in motion
For Nicholas Pooran, the Wisden honor is more than an individual milestone—it represents a shining moment for West Indies cricket, a region that continues to birth legends whose talents echo across continents.
As he adds his name to the distinguished list of Wisden awardees, Pooran’s 2024 stands as a masterclass in power, perseverance, and panache—a season where Caribbean cricket once again commanded the world’s attention.
“It was a year where Nicholas Pooran didn’t just swing for the fences—he soared above them,” Wisden declared.
