Cricket

Nicholas Pooran, the swashbuckling Trinidadian, has etched his name in the annals of West Indies cricket history by becoming the leading T20 run-scorer, surpassing the legendary Chris Gayle. This remarkable achievement is a testament to Pooran's unwavering determination and relentless hard work.Pooran's journey to the top has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. After a promising start in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, he suffered a major setback in a car accident that sidelined him for an extended period. Undeterred, Pooran persevered, honing his skills in various franchise leagues.His international breakthrough came at the 2019 50-over World Cup, where he showcased his explosive batting with a brilliant 118 against Sri Lanka. However, a four-game suspension for ball-tampering later that year cast a shadow over his career.In 2022, Pooran was appointed captain of the T20 squad for the World Cup in Australia. Despite the team's disappointing losses to Scotland and Ireland, Pooran remained resolute in his belief in his abilities.Now, as the West Indies prepare for the Super Eights stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pooran's experience and leadership will be crucial. He has vowed to continue the legacy of Chris Gayle, entertaining fans and inspiring the next generation of West Indian cricketers.Pooran's success is a reminder that with hard work, dedication, and a belief in oneself, anything is possible. His journey from adversity to triumph is an inspiration to all aspiring athletes.

In a thrilling encounter at St Lucia, West Indies unleashed an explosive batting display against Afghanistan, setting a new record for the highest powerplay score in men's T20 World Cups. The Caribbean side amassed a staggering 92 runs for the loss of just one wicket in their first six overs, leaving the Afghan bowlers reeling.The catalyst for this batting onslaught was Nicholas Pooran, who unleashed a brutal assault on Azmatullah Omarzai's bowling in the fourth over of the innings. Omarzai's over went for a record-equaling 36 runs, with Pooran smashing three sixes and a four.The carnage began with a towering six over third man, followed by a no-ball four through midwicket. A wide delivery and a missed yorker further compounded Omarzai's misery, before Pooran sliced a boundary through deep backward point. The over culminated in two more sixes, with Pooran clearing the deep midwicket and non-striker boundaries with ease.Pooran's onslaught was reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh's iconic six consecutive sixes against Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup. The West Indian's power-hitting prowess left the Afghan bowlers shell-shocked and set the tone for a dominant performance by the Caribbean side.

After two disappointing T20 World Cups, West Indies are determined to redeem themselves in this year's edition, which they co-host. Nicholas Pooran, the former captain, believes the squad is hungry to recapture the glory they experienced when they won the title in 2012 and 2016."We want to get that special feeling we had when we won those two T20 World Cups," Pooran said. "Everybody wants to be a part of that winning feeling. Doing it in front of our fans is even more special."Despite their recent struggles, Pooran is confident that the team has grown and matured since their disappointing performance in Australia last year. "We all have grown as players, as team-mates as well," he said. "We are much better players as well. Most of our guys that play franchise cricket, they understand what is needed to be a professional as well."Pooran was impressed with the team's performance in the recent T20I series against South Africa, which they won 3-0 despite the absence of several senior players. "You saw the performances, you saw that guys are fighting and that's really important," he said. "We may win, we may not win, but what's more important for me, as a senior player as well, is that we need to give it 100% on and off the field."West Indies have a formidable batting lineup, with Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd all capable of match-winning performances. Russell, in particular, is in top form after helping Kolkata Knight Riders win the IPL title."He's a winner. He wins T20 games," Pooran said of Russell. "He wins tournaments and whenever you have that experience in the dressing room, it helps a lot, especially in a World Cup. Experience is key."Pooran also highlighted the presence of other match-winners in the team, such as Powell, Hetmyer, Rutherford, and Shepherd. "We have numerous match-winners on our team," he said. "That's what you want."With the tournament being played in their own backyard, West Indies will be eager to make a statement and prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket.

West Indies' blistering batting display, led by Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell, propelled them to a commanding 35-run victory over Australia in their final T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match in Trinidad.Pooran, the left-handed opener, unleashed a whirlwind 75 off just 25 balls, smashing three sixes in his first three deliveries. Powell, the skipper, followed suit with a belligerent 52 off 25, as the duo combined for 12 sixes. Sherfane Rutherford's unbeaten 47 off 18 balls added to the carnage, propelling West Indies to a formidable 257 for 4.Australia, fielding a depleted team with only nine players and coaches as sub fielders, struggled to contain the West Indies onslaught. Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa, Australia's main spinners, were particularly punished, conceding 120 runs from their combined eight overs.In reply, Australia's Josh Inglis struck a valiant 55 off 30 balls, but the absence of a full complement of batters proved insurmountable. Nathan Ellis, who had impressed against Namibia, continued his strong form, conceding 42 from his four overs.Gudakesh Motie stifled Australia's middle order, claiming the wickets of Inglis and David to finish with 2 for 31. Ellis and Zampa added some respectability to the total with a 51-run seventh-wicket stand, but Australia fell well short of the target, finishing on 222 for 7.This victory serves as a timely confidence boost for West Indies ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, while Australia will be eager to regroup and address their batting concerns before the tournament begins.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) emerged victorious over Mumbai Indians (MI) in a high-scoring encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, but both teams were left with a sense of disappointment. LSG's 18-run win took them to 14 points, but their negative net run rate (-0.667) kept them out of the top four. MI, on the other hand, finished bottom of the points table with their tenth defeat of the season.LSG's innings was anchored by Nicholas Pooran's blistering 75 off 29 deliveries. With the top order struggling, Pooran's knock injected life into the innings against an inexperienced MI attack missing Jasprit Bumrah. KL Rahul also contributed with a steady 55.MI's chase started promisingly with Rohit Sharma smashing boundaries at will. However, the middle overs proved disastrous as they lost five wickets for 32 runs, effectively ending their hopes of a realistic chase. Rohit's 68 and Tilak Varma's 62* were in vain as LSG's bowlers, led by Ravi Bishnoi (2-37) and Avesh Khan (2-50), kept them at bay.The result marked a disappointing end to MI's season under new captain Hardik Pandya, who finished last for the second time in three seasons. LSG, despite their impressive win, will also miss out on the playoffs for the first time in their three-season history.

Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a crucial 19-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their final group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The win keeps DC's hopes of a top-four finish alive, albeit mathematically.LSG, who have one game remaining against Mumbai Indians, are not yet eliminated, but both teams will need favorable results from other matches to qualify for the playoffs.Chasing a challenging target of 209, LSG found themselves in a precarious position at 44 for 4. However, Nicholas Pooran's blistering 61 and Arshad Khan's unbeaten 58 at number eight brought them back into contention.Pooran's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he smashed six fours and four sixes in his 34-ball knock. Khan, meanwhile, played a responsible innings, anchoring the chase and hitting five fours and two sixes in his 41-ball stay.Despite their valiant efforts, LSG fell short in the final over. Rasikh Salam, who had conceded 14 runs in his previous over, defended 20 runs in the final six deliveries to secure the victory for DC.Earlier, DC had posted a competitive total of 208 for 4, thanks to half-centuries from Lalit Yadav (58) and Phil Salt (57). Rovman Powell also chipped in with a quickfire 35 off 18 balls.For LSG, Naveen-ul-Haq was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 51. Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan also picked up a wicket each.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has hailed Nicholas Pooran as the "cleanest hitter in the world" after the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wicketkeeper-batter's blistering cameo in a stunning chase of 211 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).Pooran's 15-ball 34, alongside Marcus Stoinis' sensational maiden century (124 off 63), powered LSG to the highest run chase at Chepauk. Hayden, who played with MS Dhoni in CSK, praised Pooran's exceptional hitting ability."Nicholas Pooran is the cleanest hitter in the world, I think, in this IPL," Hayden said on Star Sports Cricket Live. "Such a talented free hitter of the ball. Got great options against both pace and spin."Hayden suggested that LSG could utilize Pooran more effectively by moving him up the order to bat alongside Stoinis, similar to his role for the West Indies."There's two schools of thought. There's a school of thought that says, we need someone batting in that 5 and 6 position that can bring a game home. And Nicholas Pooran can do exactly that," Hayden said."But then you look at, you know, someone like Devdutt Padikkal, who hasn't had the tournament that you'd expect him to have. And you've got a world-class player in Nicky P who can come up the order with the Stoinis and in combination at 4 and can bat longer."Hayden believes that Pooran's experience and international pedigree could be invaluable for LSG as the tournament progresses."There's still, I think, room as the tournament gets a little tighter and scoreboard pressure becomes an option. You want an experienced international player there to take it forward for the team," he concluded.

T20 Batting: A Delicate Balance of Aggression and ExecutionIn the fast-paced world of T20 cricket, batting is a high-stakes game that demands both aggression and precision. Unlike traditional formats, where batsmen can afford to build their innings gradually, T20s require a relentless pursuit of runs from the outset.West Indian star Nicholas Pooran, who represents Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, has mastered the art of T20 batting. According to Pooran, the key to success lies in adapting to different game situations and executing under pressure."It's all about execution in different situations," Pooran explained. "The key is hard work. I've been focusing on my power hitting since I was 20. It's about finding the right position, being comfortable, and keeping your head towards the ball."Pooran emphasized the importance of understanding the game situation and trusting one's skills. "In T20s, you have to score quickly," he said. "It's about trusting your skills and making decisions based on the game. There will be days when you can't take down a bowler, but on other days, you might be able to. You need to execute in different situations."The size of the venue also plays a crucial role in T20 batting. "Lucknow is a big venue," Pooran noted. "Setting a total is challenging when one side is big and one side is small. You can shut down one side completely. There are different venues in India, so you need to adapt to each one."Pooran's advice for aspiring T20 batsmen is simple: "Hard work is key. Focus on your power hitting, find your comfortable position, and keep your head towards the ball. Trust your skills and make decisions based on the game situation."

Rajasthan Royals (RR) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with a hard-fought 20-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur. Led by Sanju Samson's unbeaten 82 off 52 balls, RR posted an imposing 193 for 4.LSG's chase got off to a disastrous start as Trent Boult and Nandre Burger reduced them to 11 for 3 within the first four overs. However, KL Rahul (58) and Nicholas Pooran (64*) put up a valiant fight with an 85-run partnership.Sandeep Sharma's crucial spell of death bowling, which included limiting Pooran to just two boundaries in the penultimate over, proved decisive. Avesh Khan then closed out the contest with ease, leaving LSG with too much to do.Samson's innings was the cornerstone of RR's total. He shared a 93-run stand with Riyan Parag (43), who also played a key role in the team's recovery from a slow start.LSG's spinners, particularly Krunal Pandya, found some purchase on the dry surface. However, Samson and Parag stepped up their intensity after the strategic time-out, hitting three sixes in a 21-run over.Boult's early wickets set the tone for LSG's batting collapse. He dismissed Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal in quick succession, while Burger accounted for Ayush Badoni.Despite Rahul and Pooran's efforts, LSG ultimately fell short of the target, handing RR a valuable victory in their opening match.