Andre Russell Dedicates Victory to Dwayne Bravo

Andre Russell summed up the emotions at Queen's Park Oval, as Trinidad came out in full force to celebrate one of their greatest T20 legends, Dwayne Bravo, who was potentially playing his final CPL match. 

Before CPL 2024 began, Bravo had announced his decision to retire after the season. Though he has featured in only two matches so far, the game against defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors might have been his last, according to Russell, who dedicated his Player-of-the-Match award to his longtime friend.

"I'm glad I was part of this game tonight, and that’s why there was so much emotion behind that celebration," Russell said, following Trinbago Knight Riders’ five-wicket victory over Amazon Warriors. "Bravo deserved a win tonight. He's helped me a lot in my career—teaching me how to outthink batters and be a smarter bowler. You don't always get it right, but having the right mindset for execution is key."

Russell spoke highly of Bravo’s influence on his career, reflecting on the 130 matches they played together, including 74 for the West Indies. He acknowledged Bravo’s pivotal role in shaping him into the cricketer he is today, recalling how he used to wicket-keep and bat lower down the order before learning valuable lessons from Bravo’s all-round performances for West Indies.

Russell hinted that the TKR dressing room would miss Bravo, but hoped he would stay around for the rest of the tournament. He added that Bravo is someone everyone looks up to and listens to, mentioning that there might be some emotional moments in the changing room.

Before the match, there were signs that this could be Bravo’s final CPL game. His teammates and support staff wore shirts bearing his No. 47 and formed a guard of honour as he entered the field. Bravo contributed to the game by bowling Keemo Paul for 3 and taking a sharp catch at slip to dismiss Tim Robinson. During the innings break, he took a victory lap around Queen’s Park Oval, signing balls and tossing them to the crowd in a celebratory gesture.

Bravo is the most successful player in CPL history, having won five titles—three of them with TKR. He played a key role in building the Trinidad franchise before Kieron Pollard took over as captain. Bravo's leadership brought international talents such as Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum, and Johan Botha to the franchise, alongside local icons like Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin.

Kieron Pollard, who succeeded Bravo as TKR captain, also praised Bravo’s contributions to the team in a recent interview. He commended Bravo for assembling a strong support staff and players from around the world, which played a key role in TKR's success over the years.

As Bravo’s illustrious career approaches its conclusion, it seems fitting that his final CPL moments are spent with the team he helped build. Whether this was his last game or not, his legacy at TKR and in Caribbean cricket will remain unmatched.