WI all-rounder Bravo retires, joins Kolkata as mentor

Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has retired from professional cricket after 21 years and joined Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor.

The 40-year-old suffered a groin injury earlier this week that prematurely ended his participation in the Caribbean Premier League.

Kolkata announced his appointment as a team mentor in a social media post on Friday.

“My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain,” Bravo wrote on Instagram on Thursday.

“I can’t put myself in a position where I might let down my teammates, my fans, or the teams I represent.

“So, with a heavy heart, I officially announce my retirement from the sport.”

Bravo, the most successful bowler in professional Twenty20 cricket, has 631 wickets in the format including T20 Internationals (T20Is) and franchise tournaments.

He played 40 Tests, 164 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 91 T20 for West Indies and was part of their T20 World Cup-winning side in 2016.

After retiring from international cricket in 2021 Bravo began his foray into coaching last year, serving as the bowling coach of the IPL’s Chennai Super Kings and the Afghanistan national team.

He won three Indian Premier League titles with the Chennai Super Kings - and is currently third on the list of most wickets taken with 183.

He will now be involved with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in UAE’s ILT20, Los Angeles Knight Riders in USA’s Major League Cricket and Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League as mentor.

Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders Group, said, “DJ Bravo joining us is an exciting development. His relentless drive to win, along with his vast experience and deep knowledge, will greatly benefit our franchise and players. We’re also pleased that Bravo will be involved with our other franchises globally, including CPL, MLC, and ILT20.”

Bravo also expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter, “I’ve been part of the Trinbago Knight Riders for the last 10 years in the CPL. Having played for and against the Knight Riders in various leagues, I have a lot of respect for how they operate.

Agencies