Dwayne Bravo has played his final game in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Initially planning to retire after the conclusion of the 2024 season, a groin injury sustained while fielding against St Lucia Kings in Tarouba on Tuesday cut his CPL career short just before the playoffs.
Bravo injured himself while attempting to catch St Lucia Kings' captain Faf du Plessis in the seventh over. After pulling up injured, he immediately left the field and did not bowl in what became his last CPL match. He returned to bat at No. 11 during Trinbago Knight Riders' chase of 219, but only managed to face one ball before retiring hurt, visibly emotional.
TKR captain Kieron Pollard, speaking after the game, remarked, "When he got injured, it looked pretty serious. His return to bat wasn't just about trying to win but also assessing the injury. We don't know if this marks the end for him, but we want to thank him for everything he's done for cricket, Trinidad & Tobago, and the world. He's been a charismatic and inspiring figure, and we are grateful for his contributions. Cricket has rewarded him for all he's given to it."
Sunil Narine was also absent from the match, recovering from a quad strain. His injury isn't expected to be as serious as Bravo's, and he is likely to return soon. Andre Russell, managing a hamstring issue, bowled two overs in the game. With both Bravo and Narine unavailable, Pollard stepped up and bowled his full quota of overs for the first time since 2022.
Pollard added, "With Bravo out and Russell not fully fit, I had to take responsibility. It's fortunate we're already qualified for the playoffs. Though we'd prefer to finish in the top two, we need to assess who can step up as we approach the latter stages of the tournament. I haven’t bowled much, but it was a good shift today, though there’s still work to do on our bowling."
Du Plessis Pays Tribute to Bravo
After Bravo retired hurt and left the field, Faf du Plessis embraced him and later paid tribute to the CPL legend. Bravo, the most decorated player in CPL history, has won five titles, including three with TKR, and led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their first title in 2021.
Du Plessis, who has captained Bravo in both Major League Cricket (MLC) and at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, shared his admiration. "It's sad to see DJ Bravo finish his CPL career like this. He's someone I've admired for a long time. What a player, what a career, what a man! The people of the Caribbean should be proud of his contributions to cricket. I wish I could have given him a proper send-off on the field, but he definitely deserves a special mention."