When Nicholas Pooran was signed for INR 16 crore ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) would have thought they were signing one of the best T20 players in the world. And it felt that way, especially after he produced three excellent seasons, in which he scored 358, 499 and 524 runs, respectively.
Everything pointed towards Pooran having potentially the best season of his IPL career. However, what has transpired is that the southpaw is having his worst season not just in the IPL, but in T20 cricket.
In T20 tournaments or series in which he has played at least seven innings, he has never scored fewer runs (73) at a lower average (10.42) and strike rate (82.02) than he is in the ongoing IPL season.
He has fallen to pace on five occasions and for the first time this season, he fell to spin today. That comes as a surprise as he has dominated both in T20 cricket with a strike rate of 151.37 against the pacers and 141.06 against spinners.
However, this season, his numbers have been extremely sub-par, striking at 75 and 90 against pace and spin, respectively.
Pooran not the only problem
It’s not just Pooran; the entire LSG batting has struggled. They have had only four fifties this season so far – joint-lowest with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), they are the only team to score under eight an over this season and have lost a wicket every 19.16 runs – the lowest this season. Everything points towards the LSG batting unit have a terrible season and it comes as no surprise that they are currently ninth on the points table.
Chasing 160 against Rajasthan Royals (RR), the LSG top-order should have ideally taken responsibility and batted the opposition out of the match. But an unnecessary run-out and a couple of needless shots from Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram brought the opposition right back into the game. Mitchell Marsh saved some face with a half-century, but overall, it was another poor showing with the bat from LSG and overall.
Pooran might be LSG’s worst batter this season, but the team does not have a batter who they can look up to this season. LSG have not made it to the playoffs in the last two seasons and at this rate, they seem set to extend it to a third consecutive season.
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