Nicholas Pooran - The Pocket Rocket
Nicholas Pooran first came into the international limelight after his exploits in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup for the West Indies. The left-handed batter played an important role for the Caribbeans in the tournament, being the vice captain and first-choice wicketkeeper too. His score of 143 against Australia, which was the highest score in the tournament, caught the eye of everyone and the young wicketkeeper-batter soon became one to watch out for.
After his impressive performances in the Under-19 World Cup, he made his first class debut for Trinidad and Tobago later that year. That same year, he also became the youngest player to be selected for the Caribbean T20 League. He smashed 54 off 24 balls on his debut, which included 6 sixes, showcasing his talent with the bat.
Following his consistent performances and potential on offer, Pooran was given the opportunity to make his international debut in T20Is against Pakistan in 2016. He made his ODI debut in 2019 against England. He was also included in the West Indies squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where he finished as his team’s top scorer scoring 367 runs in nine matches. His excellent performances earned him a spot on the West Indies team for the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he scored two 40 plus scores in five appearances but was unable to help his side go beyond the group stages.
In 2017, Pooran was selected by Team Mumbai for the Indian T20 League. However, he didn’t play a single game for the 5-time champions. Nonetheless, looking at his consistent performances elsewhere, Team Punjab picked the West Indian for the 2019 edition of the Indian T20 League, where he stayed until last season but was sold ahead of the mega auction that took place in february 2022. It will be the Hyderabad team that Pooran will be part of this year after being signed by the franchise for ₹10.75 crores.
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Nicholas Pooran’s Personal Details
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- Name
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- Nicholas Pooran
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- Date of Birth
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- 2nd October, 1995
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- Birthplace
- :
- Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
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- Height
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- 5′7″
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- Batting Style
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- Left-handed batter
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- Playing Role
- :
- Wicketkeeper-batter
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- Major Teams Played For
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- West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, Mumbai, Punjab, Melbourne, Hyderabad
Nicholas Pooran’s Current Rankings
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T20 15
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ODI 35
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Test ---
Nicholas Pooran’s Career Summary
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- Format
- M
- Inn
- Runs
- HS
- Avg
- SR
- 100
- 200
- 50
- 4s
- 6s
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- ODI
- 37
- 34
- 1121
- 118 vs SL
- 40.04
- 98.85
- 1
- 0
- 8
- 100
- 36
-
- T20I
- 57
- 50
- 1194
- 70 vs EBG
- 27.74
- 128.97
- 0
- 0
- 8
- 86
- 69
Nicholas Pooran – Key Skills and Strengths
The West Indian is one of the best batters a team can have during the middle overs of an innings. His sustained acceleration of runs and aggressive approach make him an asset to the team. One of his best qualities is his technique and stroke play against spin. He is one of the rare players in the current West Indian team who can play spin well. Having an attacking mindset, the 26-year-old’s seamless body position and incredible bat speed ensures he helps the ball on its way out of the ground. The best part of his game is that he plays with a straight bat and scores the majority of his shots straight down the ground. The left-handed batter, however, struggles against pace and short balls. While this struggle is mainly due to his lack of foot movement, he ensures any ball of the full or good length is dispatched for a boundary. His power-hitting and elite approach toward the shorter format of the game make him one of the best in the business.
Apart from his batting skills, the West Indian is also a great asset to have on the field. Be it with the gloves or the outfield, he ensures he gives his best to save runs. The West Indies will soon be looking to have Pooran in their Test squad too, making him one of the most exciting players to watch out for in the near future.
Nicholas Pooran’s Awards and Achievements
Here are a few of Nicholas Pooran’s achievements at the international level:
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Pooran was the youngest player, at the age of 17, to play in the Caribbean T20 League.
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His score of 143 against Australia in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup was the highest score in the tournament.
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He was named The Rising Star of the Squad by the ICC following the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Nicholas Pooran’s Indian T20 League Journey
In the 2018 edition of the Indian T20 League, Nicholas Pooran was bought by Team Mumbai following his impressive performances all over the world in the T20 format of the game. However, due to the talents the 5-time champions possessed, the West Indian didn’t get an opportunity to play. Nevertheless, the left-hander continued his good performances in the T20 format and was then purchased by Team Punjab for ₹4.2 crore.
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He scored 168 runs in seven innings in his debut season, striking at a rate of over 157.
He became an integral part of Team Punjab when, in the following season, he scored 353 runs in 14 matches, striking at 170. -
He was also the fourth highest six hitter in the 2020 season of the Indian T20 League as he hit 25 sixes in the 14 matches.
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He also has a 17-ball fifty to his name against Hyderabad. He will be playing for a new franchise this year after being bought by the Hyderabad team.
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- Format
- M
- Runs
- HS
- Avg
- SR
- 100
- 50
- 4s
- 6s
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- Indian T20 League
- 33
- 606
- 77 vs Hyderabad
- 22.44
- 154.98
- 0
- 2
- 36
- 44
Nicholas Pooran: FAQs
He likes watching India play if he had to choose a team after the West Indies.
Pooran and Kieron Pollard are best friends. They chat online and hang out together quite often.
Pooran prefers wicketkeeping over fielding in the outfield.
The Indian T20 League is Pooran’s favorite cricket league to watch and play.
The left-hander finds the Kookaburra gloves most comfortable to wear.