Most individuals for whom cricket is a bit more than some enjoyable sport, but a way of life and something to view with a smile always, will agree to the fact that the moment one thinks of St Lucia, one thinks of Daren Sammy. One of the finest ever born in the island and loved everywhere in the West Indies, he is a cult.
However, in the current context of the game, if you were to ask Daren Sammy himself about cricketers from his island nation who bring entertainment to the art of batting, then probably, he’d take the name of a certain Kimani Melius. He wouldn’t forget this particular name.
Happy-go-lucky, yet determined, fiercely competitive, yet easy-going in real life, attacking as a batter and yet, someone who doesn’t stay bereft of that smile, Kimani Melius sports a wide range of emotions, all of which find true purpose in the craft of cricket. It’s much like the lofted strokes he hits in the air and the shots along the ground, Kimani Melius represents attractive but contrasting traits.
One the one hand here is a talented batsman with lofty ambitions for a cricketing future and yet, at the same time, he doesn’t fly high, chasing to stay simple and grounded. The innocence in his smile, a lot of which appears once he has destructed bowling rates and smashed economical spells seem to suggest that.
This was actually evident most recently back in the Caribbean where Kimani Melius lorded with elegance and his gift of playing uncomplicated cricket. That brand of cricket, which mirrors his personality.
Who else but Kimani Melius himself topped the scoring charts aka the most runs scored in the 2025 edition of the St. Lucia Premier League.
In this case, it was an avid and heartening instance of one of St. Lucia’s own, owning the vital T20 tournament that has spread around the island nation much like wildfire.
From just 11 matches, Kimani Melius scored in excess of 500 runs, 518 to be precise. Caught At Point, who’ve tried to keep a close eye on the right handed blazing batsman from the start reached out to the man himself, the website known for its penchant for covering West Indies cricket, as far as possible.
And could sense the warmth and humility in the voice of the man to whom the future belongs! We asked what the batting success in the St Lucia Premier League meant to Kimani and here’s what he had to say:
“The tournament was very important for me. This was for many reasons. But the most important reason is that the tournament gave me a chance to showcase my talent for a wider audience and my ball striking ability. I was able to engage in good strike rates, won some matches for my team and I scored runs very quickly, in a quick manner. I felt comfortable at the wicket. Now it’s just about taking it to the next level. This time I was given an opportunity and I basically grabbed it with both hands.”
To dive further into his statistics, the main man with the bat for the prestigious SAIL Gros Islet Knights, one who batted like a knight carrying the hopes of his team as captain, scored at a staggering rate of 238 in this recent series. The white-ball series saw Kimani Melius, yet to turn 25, play 9 innings from which he scored at a whopping average of 74.
His leadership mirrored his batting with brilliance being the key attribute in both aspects.
How? Under his leadership, the team just lost 2 games of the 11 they played, winning 9.
With 1 century and 4 fifties, Kimani Melius who’s even played for different clubs in England in the past couple of summers, is constantly trying to perform to a level expected of a confident, technically correct batter.
One hopes that the eminent selectors back in the West Indies are nursing a close watch on this particular talent. Not only because Kimani bats as if there’s no tomorrow, but he really adds to the tempo of excitement that Caribbean cricket is known for, one that is unsullied by pressure and the burden of expectations.
Free flowing like the breezy beaches of St Lucia, Kimani’s home!
