A compact batsman and a handy off-spin bowler, Deonarine made his first-class debut for Guyana at the age of 17. He went on to captain the West Indies under-19 side in 2002. The left-handed batsman first made news in 2005 when he was drafted into the Test side against South Africa after seven first-team players were left out following a contract dispute. He didn't have a great start to his Test career but did well on his ODI debut against India in Dambulla where he top scored with 41 as the West Indies batting fell apart.

Deonarine's career came to an abrupt halt as the big-guns returned and inconsistencies started to creep in. However, his consistency in domestic cricket earned him a recall to the Test side in 2009 where he made a gritty comeback scoring a determined 82 against Australia on a dicey Perth track. It has been a start-stop career for him so far. He was recalled for the 2013 Indian tour and made headlines as he scalped the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in his last ever innings in international cricket, at the Wankhede stadium.

With his useful off spin and sharp fielding, Deonarine is a safe bet for the Caribbean side but it has been his inconsistency, combined with poor technique that has seen his downfall on several occasions. Unless the Guyana man performs consistently, an assured place in the side will always elude him. Following the footsteps of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Deonarine's main aim would be to emulate the cricketing success of his hero and establish himself permanently in the West Indies side.