Ravichandran Ashwin Slams West Indies for Leaving Out Pooran and Narine Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Ashwin criticises West Indies for not recalling Pooran and Narine, questioning their planning before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned West Indies’ selection calls for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, saying the board missed a big chance by not bringing back Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said he was disappointed that West Indies did not try harder to convince the two senior players, who are retired from internationals but remain active in T20 leagues.
Ashwin felt the board should have personally spoken to them and pushed for their return, given their experience and current franchise form across the world.
“I am very disappointed that the West Indies did not pick Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine in their squad for this World Cup,” Ashwin said. “You need to sit across the table from them, talk to them, and bring them to the World Cup.”
He questioned how a team could enter a global event without two players who have been match-winners in T20 cricket for years.
“How can you leave Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine out and go into a World Cup without them?” Ashwin added.
Pooran, one of the most explosive left-handed batters in T20s, and Narine, a mystery spinner who can also open the batting, continue to play in top franchise leagues despite stepping away from international cricket.
Ashwin used this decision to point out deeper issues in West Indies cricket, especially around planning and long-term thinking.
“I am a big fan of the West Indies. They have a lot of ability,” he said. “But the way they plan and sometimes even the infrastructure in the West Indies leaves me with my mouth open.”
He believes the team has huge potential but needs to rethink how it prepares for major tournaments like the World Cup.
“I think West Indies cricket has a high ceiling and huge potential, but they really need to re-look at the way they approach and plan for World Cups,” Ashwin said.
West Indies’ recent T20 record backs Ashwin’s concern. Since their Super Eight exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup, West Indies have won only 14 of their 43 T20Is, losing 27 matches, with two ending in no result.
In the 2026 tournament, West Indies are placed in Group C along with India, Nepal, Scotland and Italy. They begin their campaign against Scotland on February 7 in Kolkata.
Ashwin’s comments have sparked debate around whether West Indies are doing enough to use their best T20 talent when it matters most.
