'End of an era, thanks for the entertainment' - Twitter reacts as Kieron Pollard bids adieu to international cricket

Veteran West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard on April 20 (Wednesday) called time on his international career. The 34-year-old announced his decision on social networking sites. Currently, the hard-hitting batter is playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Pollard made his ODI debut in the 2007 World Cup against South Africa and played a total of 123 ODI matches for his country. The right-handed batter also represented West Indies in 101 T20I matches. However, he never played Test cricket for his country. To note, Pollard played his last international cricket match against India in February 2022.

Pollard represented his country in 224 matches

In a career that spanned almost 15 years, Pollard made 2706 runs in the 50-over format and 1569 runs in T20I cricket. In his overall international career, Pollard stroked 19 fifties and three centuries. Apart from that, Pollard also holds the record of hitting six maximums in six balls in international cricket. West Indies also enjoyed some success under his captaincy in the white-ball format.

The former West Indies cricketer penned an emotional note on his social media accounts, to announce his retirement at the highest level.

He wrote, “After careful deliberation, I have today decided to retire from international cricket. As is the case for many young persons, it was a dream of mine to represent the West Indies team from the time I was a boy 10 years and I am proud to have represented West Indies cricket for over 15 years in both the T20i and ODI forms of the game. I can still vividly remember making my international debut in 2007 under the leadership of my childhood hero, Brian Lara.”

“As I move on and make room for those who will carry the game forward in West Indian colors, know that I will always be supported in whatever way I can. It is with profound gratitude for living my dream that I now raise my bat in salute to all that is West Indies cricket,” Pollard added in his statement.

Meanwhile, here are some Twitter reactions: