Twenty-five of its scheduled thirty-five round-robin matches have now already been completed. As such, the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has since undeniably entered the “business end” of this year’s. With all but one of its seven participating franchise teams, ironically the defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders, still at the time of writing, jockeying to be among the final four that would qualify for the four Playoff matches. The outcomes of which will, of course, determine the identity of the eventual 2026 CPL Champions.
The tightness of its playoff qualification race, in addition to several other rather unique aspects of this year’s 2026 CPL, has provided much fodder for longstanding observer cricket scribes like myself to muse over. The majority of which can most thankfully be described as being far more pleasant than undesirably unpleasing!
At the very top of the list of such musings would be the aforementioned points table standings. With its inherent, arguably even unprecedented, unpredictability as to the eventual identity of the final four Playoff contenders.
Ten matches out from completion of its scheduled thirty-five round-robin matches, one franchise, Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, sat on top of the table with 11 points from 9 of its scheduled 10 matches played. Three teams, the Guyana Amazon Warriors 8/4, Jamaica Kingsmen 8/8 and the St Lucia Kings 8/8 were, however, well within striking distance, while a fourth, the St Kitts-Nevis Patriots, were only marginally behind with a 7/8 record.
While having secured only 4 points from its first 5 matches played, even the table-bottom Barbados Tridents dwellers were still very much in contention. With as many as 10 points still available through potential outright victories in their 5 remaining matches, every one of which will be played on their hallowed Kensington Oval home turf, the Tridents were indeed still very much in line for Playoff qualification!
As always in any cricket tournament such as the CPL, Playoff’s qualification as well as eventual champions identity are invariably determined by which team best demonstrates and executes its relative strengths in each of the three disciplines: batting, bowling and, just as importantly, fielding. From a solely Caribbean-oriented perspective, therefore, it will be very interesting to see which of the “home-grown” players come to the fore in leading their respective franchises to CPL 2026 Playoffs qualification.
In terms of batting, after 25 completed matches, some seven Caribbean-born players were among the 2026 CPL season’s leading run scorers. Most discouragingly, however, certainly in terms of the prospect of potential new blood infusions to the West Indies T20I team.
All but six of those seven were the customary aged old handers, namely Nicholas Pooran (M8 R224 Avg 37.33), Andre Fletcher (M8 R222 Avg 44.40), Rovman Powell (M8 R213 Avg 35.50), Shimron Hetmyer (M4 R186 Avg 93.00), Johnson Charles (M8 R183 Avg 26.14), and Sunil Narine (M8 R178 Avg 34.60).
Kamil Pooran, with 193 runs scored at a 38.60 average was the only newcomer among the current top-ten run getters. Having already celebrated his thirtieth birthday this past June, the less famous Kamil Pooran is certainly no spring chicken.
Despite his age, Kamil Pooran’s emergence as an opener of note should certainly be of interest to West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy. Looking as he now should be towards the immediate future construction of the West Indies team that will be competing in the forthcoming 2028 ICC T20 World Cup!
An even more exciting prospect as a potential immediate future WI T20I opener should be the nineteen-year-old Barbadian batter, Zachary Carter. Now playing in his very first CPL Season, Carter has already garnered much attention with his explosive top-order batting. 131 runs from just 5 matches played with a 26.20 average and 142 strike rate are highly commendable returns for such a young CPL season debutant.
Carter, however, desperately needs to work on improving his fitness. His rather obvious midriff excess weight has already shown signs of limiting his agility. This is evident both in terms of his running between the wickets, as well as in the field.
Of all the revelations this year’s CPL has to date provided, however, by far the most encouraging of all would now surely be Shimron Hetmyer’s demonstrated much improved maturity. Since bursting onto the scene as captain of the West Indies squad which captured the ICC 2016 U19 World Cup, Hetmyer has long since been universally regarded as unquestionably one of the region’s most naturally talented batters. His performances since have, however, most unfortunately, not quite lived up to the expectations associated with such a lofty reputation.
Five ODI centuries among 1638 runs scored from 59 matches played an at an average of 32.76 have provided mere fleeting glimpses of his obvious prodigious batting talents. His returns from both Tests and arguably even more so T20Is have been even more disappointing.
838 runs scored from 16 matches played and 30 innings batted with an average of 27.93, including zero centuries and just five fifties. Those are Hetmyer’s Test stats to date. His T20I returns aren’t any better: 1678 runs from 85 matches played and 75 innings batted; Average 24.67, centuries 0, fifties 5, strike rate 140.41
As disappointing as Hetmyer’s overall statistics may be, his explosive power-hitting abilities, validated as they have been by his T20I 140.41 strike rate, have always qualified him as a potential T20 match winner. When at his very best, he possesses the undeniable ability to turn games on their head through his relentless power-hitting assaults on opposition bowlers. Hence, the maturity he’s demonstrated in his crease appearances to date during this year’s CPL, as evidenced most recently by the 43ball 111 not out, including 8 fours and 9 sixes, he scored against the TKR defending CPL champions, augurs well for a much-improved future as a reliable West Indian batter!
In a recent in-person audio interview with yours truly, Hetmyer openly acknowledged the disappointing unreliability of his past performances. He also, however, indicated that his intentions are now to become far more reliably consistent with his batting performances for all the teams he represents and across every format.
That bodes well for the West Indies. So much so that Head Coach/Chief Selector Daren Sammy would do well to have an urgent conversation with Hetmyer about his potential future West Indies top-order batting involvement in all three formats.
Hetmyer also expressed that balancing the continued generation of lifestyle sustaining incomes from his cricketing talents as his family’s breadwinner against the demands of representing the West Indies will henceforth be a primary consideration. For the remainder of his cricketing career, however long that may be.
As such it might also be worthwhile for Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO and acknowledged “money man guru,” Chris Dehring, to have a similar conversation with Hetmyer. As a means of providing some valued financial advice as to how best he can conquer both worlds. Converting the millions he’s already made and will continue to make into passive income that will secure his family’s long-term financial sustainability while continuing to represent the West Indies, particularly in Tests.
Franchise cricket can bring you fleeting fortunes. Only Test cricket can, however, give you globally recognized and acknowledged fame, forever. A reality Shimron Hetmyer would do well to contemplate whenever he considers his desired cricketing legacy!
Again, from a Caribbean perspective, CPL’s 2026 to date listing of its top ten wicket takers is even more encouraging by comparison to that for the batters. As many as eight of the listed top ten wicket takers are Caribbean-born. Albeit, again though nit really inclusive of any new blood spring chickens.
Matthew Forde with 15 wickets from 8 matched played headed the list. Followed by Roston Chase 11/8, Alzarri Joseph 10/8, Shemar Springer 10/9, Joshua James 9/6, Andre Russell 9/6, Kemo Paul 9/8 and Jason Holder 8/8.
A super tight Playoff qualification race, as well as the revealing batting and bowling statistics, have all made for a highly entertaining 2026 CPL to date. So too has been the provided television commentary.
Ian Bishop’s measured, invariably carefully worded cricketing wisdom, the far more readily expressive insights of Carlos Brathwaite, Mali Richards and Nikhil Uttamchandani, the demonstrated statistical knowledge of whom has been overly impressive, Danny Morrison’s ever comical antics, even the equally comedic constant big word mispronunciations of both Samuel Badree and Daren Ganga which have at times undermined their otherwise excellent provided analyses. All have undeniably contributed to highly informative and entertaining 2026 CPL television commentary.
In addition to all of the above, however, this year’s standout CPL television commentator has unquestionably been the panel’s lone female contributor, Barbados Alex Jordan.
AJ, as she has long since become familiarly and fondly known, has invariably demonstrated feminine grace, impressive cricketing knowledge as well as profound insights throughout all of her tv commentary stints this year, even more so as anchor of the pre-, mid- and post-match analyses. Above everything else, though, she has a uniquely Caribbean exuberance that has made her an absolute delight to witness at work.
During one of this year’s Queen’s Park Oval-hosted home matches, there was an unscripted moment when the camera caught Alex Jordan Indian style dancing to the deejay’s provided background, obviously chutney, music in front of a female TKR fan. That single moment of footage, which has since gone viral on social media, reflected her true Caribbean spirit and has no doubt since endeared her even further t0 countless thousands of cricket fans across the globe.
Along with the island’s Prime Minister, the Rt Honorable Mia Mottley, as well as its native-born current West Indies Women’s cricket captain Hayley Matthews, Alex Jordan must now surely rank as one of the world’s most admired and respected Barbadian women. Throw in Jamaica’s Lisa Hanna to make it a region-wide listing, and AJ would now arguably be well within such a ranking of the most beloved Caribbean women.
Entertainment galore so far from CPL 2026, with the Playoff not even yet started. Even more to come for sure. Bring out the popcorn!