Nicholas Pooran picks All-Time T20 XI, no place for Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni [Exclusive]

Published - 31 Oct 2025, 19:07 IST | Updated - 31 Oct 2025, 19:11 IST

In an exclusive interaction with CricTracker, former West Indies cricketer Nicholas Pooran revealed his all-time T20 XI, a star-studded line-up he believes could dominate any opposition with ease.

At just 30 years old, Pooran shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket. However, the explosive left-hander continues to feature in various franchise leagues around the globe. For the West Indies, he represented the national side in 61 ODIs and 106 T20Is, scoring 1,983 and 2,275 runs respectively.

Pooran named his West Indies teammate Chris Gayle as one of the openers, acknowledging his record of hitting over 1,000 sixes in T20 cricket. Partnering him at the top is Virat Kohli, with whom Pooran noted Gayle shared fiery partnerships during their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

At No. 3, Pooran picked Jos Buttler, for his consistency in international and franchise cricket, while AB de Villiers slots in at No. 4, described by Pooran as a “run machine” who dominated that position throughout his career.

Pooran placed himself at No. 5, followed by his compatriot Kieron Pollard at No. 6, highlighting Pollard’s unmatched success in global leagues and his ability to finish games. Andre Russell takes the No. 7 spot, a power-hitter known for demolishing bowlers in the death overs with his exceptional strike rate.

The two spin options in Pooran’s XI are Sunil Narine and Rashid Khan. Pooran noted that Narine’s ability to bowl in the powerplay and contribute with the bat makes him invaluable, while Rashid’s control and variations in the middle overs can strangle any batting lineup.

Completing the bowling attack are two yorker specialists, Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, both renowned for their deadly accuracy and ability to dominate at the death. Interestingly, Pooran’s XI does not feature Rohit Sharma or legendary captain MS Dhoni, but his chosen line-up is strong enough to outclass anyone in the format.

Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, AB de Villiers, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga