Vidia Ramphal Aug 17, 2025
The Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) enter the 2025 season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as the clear favorites to reclaim their crown. With a refreshed leadership structure, key additions, and renewed optimism, the four-time champions are eager to end their four-year title drought. Yet, questions about aging stars and the new captain-coach dynamic could define the campaign. The Trinidad and Tobago franchise remains the most successful in the competition’s history, with four titles (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020).
Leadership shakeup
Nicholas Pooran has been entrusted with the captaincy, taking over from Kieron Pollard, who led the team to the title in 2020. Pooran, who began his T20 career with the T&T Red Steel, is one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. He enters the role on the back of a brilliant 2024 season where he smashed 504 runs in 11 matches at an average of 56.00. In 2025, Pooran’s purple patch has continued with 1,185 runs in 38 matches at 39.50.
“It is a privilege that I’m getting the opportunity to lead this franchise. I want to give it my best shot and hopefully make as many correct decisions as I can,” Pooran said on accepting the role.
Pollard gave his blessing to the new captain, describing Pooran as the natural choice. “He understands our vision for playing cricket and the winning culture we aim to create, and he holds a lot of respect for many players worldwide. So, for me, it was an easy decision to hand over the captaincy to Pooran,” he said.
Newly-installed coach Dwayne Bravo also backed Pooran to succeed. “He’s the right choice, and this is the right time,” Bravo said, “We want to make sure that we’re there to support him and give him everything he needs to embark on this journey.”
Pooran will benefit from the guidance of both Bravo and Pollard, two of the most decorated T20 leaders in the world.
Watch Nicholas’s Pooran’s full reaction below 👇
Coaching shakeup
Former captain and global T20 icon Dwayne Bravo has stepped into the role of head coach, replacing Phil Simmons. Bravo, who retired from T20 cricket in 2024, immediately transitioned into coaching, working with the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 tournament, Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 Indian Premier League, and Afghanistan’s national team at the 2024 T20 World Cup team in 2024.
“It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to be head coach of TKR, a team that’s very close to my heart,” Bravo said on his appointment. “I look forward to this new challenge for me and my staff.”
Bravo aims to bring “passion, pride, success, and some silverware to the home nation,” and is also looking forward to developing local talent and re-igniting the team’s competitive edge.
Bravo is one of the legends of T20 cricket, taking 631 wickets at 24.40 and scoring 6,970 runs at 23.22. His skill, showmanship, and passion for the game made him one of the most bankable stars in the sport.
Key players
The Trinbago Knight Riders franchise has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to considering their key players.
From big-hitting batters like Pooran, Alex Hales, Pollard, and Andre Russell, to world-class bowling talents like mystery spinner Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, and Mohammad Amir—the TKR squad has all bases covered in the T20 format.
The challenge for the newly minted management team of Pooran and Bravo will be to ensure harmony in a dressing room full of superstars. Bravo and Pollard’s credibility as players and leaders will be critical in uniting the squad.
Key additions
To solve their issues at the top of the order, TKR have brought in Alex Hales, Colin Munro, and Darren Bravo.
Hales arrives in the peak of form, having scored 816 runs in 26 T20 matches in 2025. Including a century in the Bangladesh Premier League, the England star averages 37.09 for the season. Hales has experience in the CPL, scoring a century for the Jamaica Tallawahs during the 2023 season.
Munro, a three-time CPL winner with the TKR, returns having scored 3,280 runs at 29.28 with a strike rate of 137.69. He remains a consistent performer and has scored 240 runs at 26.66 in 10 matches this year.
Bravo, a veteran of TKR’s four title-winning campaigns, brings invaluable experience to the squad. However, he faces questions about his form after limited appearances during recent years. Bravo has played only 13 T20 matches, outside of local club cricket, scoring 158 runs at 17.55.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir will be a key asset to the TKR bowling attack, bringing swing, control, and the ability to take wickets at critical junctures. Amir has 51 wickets in the CPL at 18.09. His economy rate is an impressive 6.93 per over.
Challenges
One of the main challenges for the TKR has been its dependence on the form of its big players. During the last four seasons, the production rate from their stars has left TKR fans wanting. When the stars fail to align, the Knight Riders have not fired at the crucial moments, leading to a dearth of titles since 2020.
The leadership chemistry is another issue that must be considered. While Pooran has grown up in cricket while playing under the likes of Bravo and Pollard, will his stint as captain be a successful one? From the noises coming out of the team, his captaincy has been universally accepted.
Pooran’s captaincy stint with the West Indies team ended with the regional team failing to qualify for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Has the self-described “child of T20 cricket” exorcised those demons from his head?
Bravo has several things working for him as the new coach of the Knight Riders. He has global T20 experience and brings inspiration as an astute man-manager. Bravo is a relative newcomer to coaching and is yet to prove his acumen as a tactician from the dugout.
Verdict?
While critics will point to concerns about age and depth, the TKR squad’s blend of leadership, experience, and star power makes them the team to beat for the 2025 season. If Pooran can translate his brilliance into team success, and Bravo’s coaching can unlock consistency, the Trinbago Knight Riders could win a record-extending fifth CPL title.
Upcoming fixtures
14 Aug – Patriots vs Knight Riders – Warner Park
20 Aug – Falcons vs Knight Riders – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
23 Aug – Kings vs Knight Riders – Daren Sammy Cricket Ground
27 Aug – Knight Riders vs Falcons – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
29 Aug – Knight Riders vs Royals – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
30 Aug – Knight Riders vs Amazon Warriors – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
1 Sept – Knight Riders vs Patriots – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
3 Sept – Knight Riders vs Kings – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
6 Sept – Amazon Warriors vs Knight Riders – Providence Stadium
12 Sept – Barbados Royals vs Amazon Warriors – Kensington Oval
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