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CPL 2026 Squads Revealed: Trinbago Knight Riders Keep Core Stars

Sidharth Menon
· 4 min read
CPL 2025 Winners

The Road to CPL 2026 Begins

The anticipation for the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is reaching fever pitch as the official squad lists have finally been unveiled. Scheduled to run from August 7 through September 20, the tournament will once again showcase the vibrant spirit of Caribbean cricket, with matches spanning eight distinct nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinbago Knight Riders Retain Their Championship Core

Defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have opted for stability and proven pedigree. By utilizing their right-to-match (RMO) options during the draft, TKR secured the services of their most vital assets: Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, and Akeal Hosein. These players were instrumental in the franchise’s 2025 title-winning campaign.

The management at TKR clearly believes that the chemistry developed by these veterans is the key to repeating their success. Beyond the core, the side has bolstered its all-rounder depth by drafting Justin Greaves and Dominic Drakes, providing more versatility to a squad that already boasts Kieron Pollard, the previous tournament’s Player of the Tournament, and Akeal Hosein, who claimed the Player of the Match honors in last year’s final.

Strategic Moves Across the League

The landscape of the CPL is constantly evolving, and this year’s draft saw several significant shifts in team dynamics. The Jamaica Kingsmen have made a bold statement by signing marquee players Andre Russell and Rovman Powell. Powell, who previously led the Jamaica Tallawahs to glory in 2022, will take the helm as captain. The Kingsmen also secured 19-year-old spin sensation Vitel Lawes, who made headlines with 10 wickets in the recent U-19 World Cup.

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Meanwhile, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have prioritized continuity, retaining stalwarts like Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, and Romario Shepherd. They have also brought in Khary Pierre to add depth to their spin department. In the Patriots camp, St Kitts and Nevis made a massive splash by adding Jason Holder and the league’s all-time leading run-scorer, Johnson Charles, to their roster.

The Shuffle of Talent

Perhaps one of the most notable changes involves powerhouse hitter Evin Lewis, who has departed the Patriots after a decade of service to join the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. He will be joined by Alzarri Joseph in a revamped Falcons lineup that also retains Fabian Allen and Jayden Seales. Barbados Tridents have focused on reclaiming their former strength by bringing back opener Brandon King via the right-to-match process, alongside the acquisition of Gudakesh Motie.

Complete Roster Overview

The competitive balance for the 2026 season appears to be at an all-time high. Here is how the franchises have shaped up for the upcoming tournament:

  • Antigua & Barbuda Falcons: Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Jayden Seales, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Springer, Jahmar Hamilton, Rahkeem Cornwall, Anderson Phillip, Karima Gore, Anderson Mahase, Joshua James.
  • Barbados Tridents: Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King, Zachary Carter, Kadeem Alleyne, Ramon Simmonds, Shadrack Descarte, Zishan Motara, Jakeem Pollard, Johann Layne, Kofi James.
  • Guyana Amazon Warriors: Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Khary Pierre, Shamar Joseph, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Veerasammy Permaul, Matthew Nandu, Jonathan van Lange, Mavendra Dindyal, Isai Thorne, Quentin Sampson.
  • Jamaica Kingsmen: Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, Shaqkere Parris, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Romaine Morris, Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, Jeavor Royal.
  • St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Kevin Wickham, Obed McCoy, Ashmead Nedd, Jeremiah Louis, Alick Athanaze, Micah McKenzie, Navin Bidaisee, Mikyle Louis.
  • St Lucia Kings: Roston Chase, Jewel Andrew, Matthew Forde, Kamil Pooran, Darron Nedd, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Bishop, Damion Joachim, Keon Gaston, Amari Goodridge, Johann Jeremiah, Ackeem Auguste.
  • Trinbago Knight Riders: Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, Justin Greaves, Dominic Drakes, Jyd Goolie, Dexter Sween, Terrance Hinds, Nathan Edward, Joshua da Silva, Abdul-Raheem Toppin.
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With such high-caliber talent distributed across all teams, the CPL 2026 season promises to be a thrilling spectacle of T20 cricket, showcasing the best of the Caribbean’s cricketing heritage and future stars.

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Sidharth Menon

Sidharth Menon is a senior cricket correspondent for The New Indian Express, known for his lyrical long‑form features and his intimate knowledge of Kerala’s cricketing culture. A University of Kerala graduate who fell in love with the game on the backwaters’ makeshift grounds, he cut his teeth covering Ranji Trophy matches at the Thumba and Wayanad cricket academies before stepping onto the national beat. Sidharth specialises in the art of wrist‑spin, dedicating much of his writing to the mechanics, psychology, and beauty of leg‑break and googly bowling. He has covered multiple IPL seasons with a sharp eye on emerging talent from South India, and his player profiles regularly appear in the Express’s weekend supplements. A recipient of the K. C. Mammen Mappillai Award, Sidharth brings a literary sensibility to cricket journalism, believing that a well‑told sports story can illuminate much more than a scoreboard.

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