Last Updated:
Nicholas Pooran showed his batting exploits with a fine performance in IPL with the Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday as he smashed six sixes during a 26-ball 70.
Nicholas Pooran smacked 70 runs off just 26 balls against SRH (Picture credit: AP)
West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran, who is currently playing for the Lucknow Super Giants, has said that he tries to get in good positions and time the ball well to hit sixes at will, adding that he has just been blessed with ‘incredible’ talent to be able to do so on regular occasions.
Pooran was the Windies’ leading run-scorer at the 2024 T20 World Cup with 228 runs and finished the tournament having hit more sixes (17) than any other player that featured in the event.
Pooran has more sixes than any other player at the Indian Premier League till now and he believes that keeping a clear mind at the pitch is helping him maintain the status as one of the biggest hitters in world cricket.
“I don’t plan to hit sixes. I just try my best to get in good positions and if it is there, just time the ball nicely. In the last nine years, I have been working on my craft. I have been getting the opportunity to bat higher up in the Powerplay as well,” Pooran said while speaking after the match, having smacked a 26-ball 70 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“It is really important to cash in when the wicket is nice, and obviously when the match-up is there, you try your best to execute your skills,” Pooran added.
The T20 World Cup exploits were just rewards for the Windies wicketkeeper-batter, who admitted he is lucky to have been born with such considerable talent.
“I’ve never worked on my bat speed, I’m just blessed with incredible talent. I am really happy that I have put in the work over the years and I am getting the reward on the cricket field and winning games for my team as well,” Pooran said.
Rishabh Pant and his men had suffered a one-wicket defeat to his former franchise, Delhi Capitals, in their opening game but returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Hyderabad.
It was Pooran’s whirlwind 70 that powered Lucknow to chase down the target in the 17th over and they are currently on second on the points table, with two points from as many games and a net run rate of 0.96.