World Champion Dwayne Bravo Announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket-2024 Updated
Cricket star Dwayne Bravo made a poignant declaration announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket after an injury-plagued, difficult final season in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The all-around player, 41, who is thought to be the greatest wicket-taker in T20 cricket history, sent an emotional farewell on Instagram:
“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. So, with a heavy heart, I officially announce my retirement from the sport. Today, the Champion bids farewell.”
Bravo is the all-time leading T20 wicket-taker, and he will turn 41 next month. He had already ended his international career in 2021 and left the IPL the previous year to focus on his coaching career; in the past 12 months, he has worked with the Afghanistan men’s team and the Chennai Super Kings.
Over the course of an 18-year career, Bravo won two global titles with the West Indies and trophies at the IPL, PSL, and Big Bash. He also contributed to setting the standard in T20 cricket. With 631 wickets from 582 appearances in the format, he finishes second only to fellow countryman Kieron Pollard.
Bravo declared that this would be his final CPL edition before the current one started. After being retained by MI Emirates, he was scheduled to participate in the third season of the UAE’s ILT20. However, he has opted to withdraw from the competition after injuring his groin when playing against St Lucia Kings on Tuesday in Tarouba.
Bravo won five titles in all, three of them with Trinbago Knight Riders alone, making him the most decorated player in CPL history. Before leading the Patriots to their first championship in 2021, he had guided TKR to consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018.
Bravo has been using his experience to develop new players in several T20 tournaments across the world, most notably the CPL, where he has taken on a role similar to that of MS Dhoni for CSK. For instance, he mentored all-rounder Dominic Drakes during the 2021 CPL and helped him develop into a match-winning player. Drakes, who won Player-of-the-Match in the CPL 2021 final, went on to collaborate with Bravo in other leagues, such as the T10 (Delhi Bulls) and IPL (CSK).
Bravo has also had a close working relationship with USA fast bowler Ali Khan, who frequently steps in to bowl for TKR in the closing moments. Before suggesting Khan to TKR, Bravo had originally seen him in the US Open T20 competition and signed him for the Winnipeg Hawks in the Global T20 Canada.
Dwayne Bravo Joins KKR as Mentor for IPL 2025 After Parting Ways with CSK
Dwayne Bravo, a former all-around player for the West Indies, has concluded his illustrious career at Chennai Super Kings, where he participated in four IPL titles in a variety of capacities. He became a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning champions, starting in the 2025 season.
In addition, the former all-rounder from the West Indies will coach the Knight Riders clubs in other T20 tournaments.
Bravo recently agreed to a long-term contract at a meeting with KKR CEO Venky Mysore during the CPL. In addition to KKR, he will oversee the Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL), Los Angeles Knight Riders (MLC), and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20)—all teams in the T20 competitions that have the Knight Riders name.
“DJ Bravo joining us is an exciting development.” Mysore stated in a press release. “His relentless drive to win, along with his vast experience and deep knowledge, will greatly benefit our franchise and players.”
Bravo, who will turn 41 in October, takes Gautam Gambhir’s place as India’s head coach. Gambhir joined Bravo as head coach shortly after KKR won their third IPL championship in 2024. Bravo had resigned from all forms of cricket one day before the announcement. In addition to losing Gambhir, KKR also lost two of their assistant coaches, Ryan ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar, who were both assigned to positions in the Indian support staff. Chandrakant Pandit will be the head coach of Bravo at KKR, while Bharat Arun will be the bowling coach.
“I’ve played in the CPL for the last ten years with the Trinbago Knight Riders. I have a great deal of respect for the way the Knight Riders run their business, having played both for and against them in different competitions,” Bravo stated in a statement. It’s a unique venue because of the founders’ enthusiasm, the management’s expertise, and the cozy, familial atmosphere. As I go from being a player to a coach and guide to the players of tomorrow, this is the ideal platform for me.”
Bravo’s second IPL team management role is as a mentor with KKR. He began playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2011 and left the team to become bowling coach in 2023. Bravo, who won three titles as a player for CSK, was successful right away in his first coaching position when the team won the title in 2023. Bravo, the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and the first player to win two purple caps in the competition, is one of the best death bowlers in T20 cricket.
Bravo has more than 500 T20 matches under his belt, and teammates and players alike rank him among the top strategists and motivators—qualities that helped propel him to the West Indies captaincy. Following the 2021 T20 World Cup, he announced his retirement from international cricket.
Bravo continued to play in T20 competitions, for the Mumbai Emirates in ILT20, Texas Super Kings in MLC, and TKR in CPL, but he progressively transitioned into teaching. As an advisor coach for Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Bravo was instrumental in helping the side go to the semi-finals for the first time ever.
