Kamil Pooran earns maiden T20I call-up for WI tour of India; Holder rested

West Indies have handed opening batter Kamil Pooran a maiden T20I call-up and rewarded Shimron Hetmyer with a place in the side for the white-ball tour of India which starts on September 27.

Hetmyer, who is the second-highest scorer in CPL 2026, was allowed to skip the three-match ODI leg and will link up with the West Indies team in India for the five T20Is that follow. Jason Holder, who captained St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL, has been "rested" altogether and features in neither squad. Holder hasn't played any ODIs since July 2023 but was with West Indies on their most recent T20I assignment, against Sri Lanka in June.

Pooran emerged as the standout new face of this CPL season, scoring 273 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 159.64 for St Lucia Kings. A CWI release said his inclusion reflected a "deliberate approach towards identifying and developing emerging talent ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup".

Hetmyer recently featured in the last two ODIs of West Indies' home series against New Zealand series in July. He made a match-winning 69 not out in the fifth ODI. The release stated that he "remains committed" but has been given an "extended recovery period post CPL" due to which he's not in the ODI squad.

Opener John Campbell returned to West Indies' ODI squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. Middle-order batter Quentin Sampson is among the T20I prospects. Top-order batter Ackeem Auguste meanwhile has been ruled out of the tour, as he recovers from surgery that took place in August. Jewel Andrew, who last played for West Indies in September 2025, has been included in both sides, which will be led by Shai Hope.

"Playing against the top team in the world presents us with a chance to fine tune and improve our performances as an ODI team which has seen quality performances across the cycle", West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said. "The series also creates a valuable platform to assess players who are stepping into important roles for this series with a long-term target of competing in the World Cup in 2027."

West Indies will play three ODIs and five T20Is from September 27 to October 18 across eight cities in India. The squad will leave home on September 21 before arriving in Thiruvananthapuram on September 23.

The first two ODIs will mark the end of the automatic qualification period for the 2027 ICC men's ODI World Cup. But West Indies will have to go through the qualification tournament early next year as even wins will not allow them to finish above their nearest challengers in the standings.

West Indies ODI squad

Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales.

West Indies T20I squad

Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.