Lucknow Super Giants defeated Gujarat Titans by 33 runs in their 13th match of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League 2025. Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran were stunning for the franchise, and their sensational hitting took the team’s total to 235/2 in 20 overs. It proved sufficient in the end, as GT was restricted to 202/9.
Marsh scored 117 runs off 64 balls, including 10 fours and 8 sixes. Pooran continued his impressive form, amassing 56 not out in 27 balls, packed with 5 sixes and 4 fours. The southpaw has accumulated 511 runs in 13 matches at an average of 46.45 and a strike rate of 198.83. He has hit five fifties, 44 boundaries, and 40 sixes so far.
Former India player Navjot Singh Sidhu compared him to the legendary opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Lucknow retained Pooran for INR 21 crore, and he was the front-runner to become the franchise captain, but the team management and the owner, Sanjiv Goenka, decided to go for Rishabh Pant, who was bought for INR 27 crore in the mega auction.
“Nicholas Pooran is like Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who used to attack the bowlers from the start as wickets didn’t matter to him. Pooran will not stop playing his shots no matter what happens. If the ball is in his arch, he will send it to the stands,” Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Star Sports.
Pooran started brilliantly and was the leading run-scorer for a few matches in the first half. However, he was set up beautifully by the bowlers in the second phase by bowling full and targeting his pads. His poor returns impacted the result column a bit. Although he returned to form in the last couple of contests, it was too late by then as the franchise failed to break its losing streak before the clash with GT.
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