Skipper Rovman Powell leads WI from the front

WEST INDIES skipper Rovman Powell leads the two-time ICC T20 World Cup winners for the ninth edition, which bowls off in the Caribbean and USA, from June 1-29.

The Jamaican all-rounder was appointed captain of the maroon T20 International squad in February 2023, and has led his troops to three (South Africa, India, England) of four series wins since his tenure began. The only T20I series lost was against Australia, three months ago.

Powell is a key middle-order batsman for West Indies and a familiar face among the runs. He brings stability at the heart of the team’s batting line-up, and can also be a threat with the ball, with his medium pace.

In T20Is, he’s scored 1,312 runs from 71 matches, with a high score of 107, strike rate of 144.81 and average of 26.24. Overall, he has 3,863 runs in this format, inclusive of franchise cricket, with a similar strike rate of 140.01.

With the ball, he’s notched just 26 wickets from 52 innings, from 215 matches.

Powell’s experience in the shortest format, since his T20I debut against Pakistan in 2017, has been mesmerizing over the years.

However, his last stint at the 2022 World Cup as vice-captain saw the team eliminated in the qualifying round. After then-skipper Nicholas Pooran stepped down as skipper, Powell took up the role a few months later, and remains the team’s top brass.

Powell, like many other West Indians and international players to feature at this year’s World Cup, gained a welcome boost ahead of the tourney courtesy the Indian Premier League, which concludes on May 26.

His job ahead is no easy one and he will be tasked with breaking the curse of the host nation (no host nation has ever won the World Cup in all eight previous editions), and possibly lifting the title for a historic third time.

Only West Indies and England are two-time champions.

Powell was also Player of the Match in the final of the inaugural Abu Dhabi T10 League in 2018, hitting 61 not out off 25 balls for the victorious Northern Warriors.

In 2022, he made 107 off 53 balls against England at home in the series win, and a few games later, 68 and 61 against India and Bangladesh away, both unbeaten.