Legendary West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. Although he had previously called time on international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) he participated in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He has now said farewell to cricket during the ongoing CPL in his home country.
The 40-year-old announced his international retirement in 2021 and subsequently took on new roles. Post-retirement, he served as the bowling coach for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during the IPL 2024 season and has now signed a deal with Kolkata Knight Riders as their mentor.
He took to Instagram and shared an emotional post, expressing his heartfelt goodbye to cricket.
“Dear Cricket, Today is the day I say goodbye to the game that has given me everything. From the age of five, I knew this was what I wanted to do—this was the sport I was destined to play. I had no interest in anything else, and I dedicated my entire life to you. In return, you gave me the life I dreamed of for myself and my family. For that, I can’t thank you enough.
“Twenty-one years as a professional cricketer – it’s been an incredible journey, filled with many highs and a few lows. Most importantly, I was able to live my dream because I gave you at every step. As much as I’d love to continue this relationship, it’s time to face reality. My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain. I can’t put myself in a position where I might let down my teammates, my fans, or the teams I represent” Bravo wrote in his Instagram post.
“To my fans, I want to say a massive THANK YOU for your unwavering love and support throughout the years. To all my fans across the Caribbean, worldwide, and especially in Trinidad & Tobago – thank you for standing by me, especially in these recent weeks.
“Though this ending is bittersweet, I have no regrets about my career or this decision. Now, I look forward to my next chapter. Once again, thank you. See you soon on the other side. With love, Sir Champion,” he added.
See Dwyane Bravo’s Instagram post here:
A post shared by Dwayne Bravo aka SIR Champion🏆🇹🇹 (@djbravo47)
Speaking of his achievements in T20 cricket, Bravo joined CSK in 2018 and won the IPL title with the team that same year. In the 2019 draft, he signed with Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where his team clinched the title for the first time by defeating Peshawar Zalmi in the all-important final.
While playing for Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2024 CPL, the 40-year-old sustained a back injury while fielding against the St. Lucia team. Notably, this injury has ultimately led to his retirement, forcing him to miss the entire season. Having played T20 cricket since 2006, Bravo holds the record for the most wickets, with an impressive tally of 631 wickets in 582 matches.