Big Setback For West Indies! Star Batter All Set To Retire Just Ahead Of 2026 T20 World Cup News24 –

By Correspondent On Jul 17, 2025

Nothing is going well for West Indies. First, their star batter Nicholas Pooran announced his retirement, then came the 27 all out failure against Australia, and now, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has declared that he will be retiring from international cricket after the first two T20Is against Australia, set to be played at his home venue – Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Andre Russell Set To Retire From International Cricket

“Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life,” Russell said. “When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realise what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others.”

“I love playing for the West Indies and I love playing at home in front of my family and friends where I get to showcase my talent and produce more high-quality performances. I want to finish my international career on a high while being a role model for the next generation of cricketers coming out of the Caribbean.”

Retirement Shocker Just Before 2026 T20 World Cup

The 37-year-old batter has been considered a T20I specialist since 2019, and now he is all set to hang up his boots. The decision comes just seven months ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. In addition to T20Is, Russell has featured in 56 ODIs and just one Test for the Caribbean side. This marks the second setback for West Indies as their star player Nicholas Pooran recently announced his retirement and now Russell’s exit has dropped yet another bomb.

Russell was a very important member of the T20 World Cup winning squad in 2012 and 2016. After the news of Russell’s retirement, coach Daren Sammy praised him for his contributions and wished him luck for the future.

“Andre has always been the consummate professional and a fierce competitor,” coach Daren Sammy said. “Whether I was captaining him or now coaching him, his hunger to perform and win for West Indies has never wavered. I wish him all the best on his next chapter, and I hope he continues to inspire generations to come.”