Nicholas Pooran Overtakes Gayle to Become West Indies’ Highest T20I Run-Scorer

West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran has cemented his place in cricketing history during his innings against New Zealand at the ongoing T20 World Cup. Pooran surpassed the legendary Chris Gayle to become the all-time leading run-scorer for West Indies in T20 Internationals.

Gayle, a giant of the format, amassed 1899 runs in his 79 T20I appearances, averaging 27.92 and striking at a fearsome 137.50. Pooran only needed three runs to eclipse this record before the start of the match, and he did so convincingly.

His knock against New Zealand wasn’t a flashy one, but it held historical significance. With three boundaries in his 12-ball innings, Pooran reached 17 runs, taking his overall T20I tally to 1914. He is now the only West Indies batter to breach the 1900-run mark in T20 Internationals.

Since his debut against Pakistan in September 2016, Nicholas Pooran has played 91 T20Is, boasting a healthy strike rate of 134.03 and an average of 25.52.

Following Pooran on the list of most T20I runs for the West Indies is former batter Marlon Samuels, who compiled 1611 runs in his 67 T20I matches. The legendary all-rounder Kieron Pollard sits at number four with 1569 runs in 101 T20I appearances.

Top 10 Highest Run-Scorers for West Indies in T20Is

1. Nicholas Pooran (91 Matches, 1914 Runs)
2. Chris Gayle (79 Matches, 1899 Runs)
3. Marlon Samuels (67 Matches, 1611 Runs)
4. Kieron Pollard (101 Matches, 1569 Runs)
5. Lendl Simmons (68 Matches, 1527 Runs)
6. Evin Lewis (53 Matches, 1465 Runs)
7. Brandon King (53 Matches, 1365 Runs)
8. Rovman Powell (74 Matches, 1351 Runs)
9. Dwayne Bravo (91 Matches, 1255 Runs)
10. Johnson Charles (54 Matches, 1206 Runs)

West Indies Qualifies for Super 8s

Meanwhile, the West Indies have been dominant in the ongoing T20 World Cup, securing their spot in the Super Eight round. They began their campaign with a convincing win over Papua New Guinea, followed by another one-sided victory against Uganda.

Continuing their winning streak, the West Indies batted first against New Zealand and managed to post a competitive 149/9 on the board.

Their bowlers then delivered a stellar performance, with Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie claiming four and three wickets respectively.

New Zealand’s batting unit crumbled under the pressure, mustering only 136 runs, handing the West Indies a comfortable victory and a place in the Super Eight stage.