IPL 2025: Nicholas Pooran nearing T20 batting perfection for Lucknow Super Giants
Pooran is regarded as one of the world’s best hitters of spin.
Over the past two IPL seasons, playing for Lucknow Super Giants, he has scored 448 runs at an average of 89.6 and strike-rate of 184.4 against slow bowlers – again suggesting he can bat with severe aggression while not getting out.
He stands with a classical-looking, slightly-open stance, taps the ground once as the spinner enters his delivery stride and then thrashes the ball with his fast hands.
“I’ve never worked on my bat speed, I’m just blessed with incredible talent,” Pooran said.
The Trinidadian is not afraid to dispatch pace either. His strike-rate is 173.5 against left-arm quicks and 163.5 against right-armers.
According to analysts CricViz, there is not one line of pace bowling Pooran does not strike at more than 200 against at the death.
He strikes at more than 200 against every length except for yorkers, against which he takes down bowlers at a still-remarkable 166.
“He is a hard worker. No one ever sees that,” former England all-rounder Samit Patel, who has played with Pooran at Trinbago Knight Riders and MI Emirates, told the BBC.
“The amount of training he does to try and hit sixes is phenomenal.
“His mindset is absolutely second to none and he is fully committed. There are no half-hearted swings.
“Having seen him train, if the ball lands in a certain area, he has trained and trained so it is natural to him [to hit sixes].”
Since the start of 2023, Pooran strikes at 344.7 runs per hundred balls when playing the slog sweep, 266.7 when playing a hook shot and 234.7 on the pull.
