IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant lauds Nicholas Pooran, says the way he is batting is phenomenal

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant showered praise on Nicholas Pooran after they clinched a six wicket win against Gujarat Titans at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 181 runs for the win, Pooran continued his rich form, scoring 61 runs off just 34 balls with the help of one four and seven sixes. Furthermore, Aiden Markram scored a crucial knock of 58 runs off 31 balls, including nine fours and one six. Makram was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock in the run-chase.

Rishabh Pant said in the post-match presentation, “We are happy to have Nicholas Pooran in our team. You want someone like that to be in our team rather than the opposition. The way he has been batting is phenomenal.”

Pooran has been in amazing form as he has scored 349 runs in six matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 69.80 and a blistering strike rate of 215.43. The left-hander has smashed a total of 31 sixes in the ongoing tournament. 

Meanwhile, GT got off to a flying start as Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill added 120 runs in the first 12 overs but the visitors could only manage 60 runs in the last eight overs. Pant credited his bowlers for bowling in the right areas and making a comeback.

He added, “Definitely feeling happy. We just follow the same path and believe in our ability and just take one game at a time. The idea was to bowl yorkers and into the wicket slower balls. Bowlers put it in the right place to pull it back for us. The start (with the ball) wasn’t happy but the way we pulled it back was amazing.”

LSG will next take on CSK at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Monday.