Nicholas Pooran joins elite club as second player to cross 1000 runs for Lucknow Super Giants

Nicholas Pooran made history on Thursday, becoming only the second player to surpass the 1000-run milestone for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The explosive batsman achieved this feat with a dazzling 70 off just 26 balls during his side's dominant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pooran's swashbuckling knock dismantled Sunrisers' 190-run defense and left the crowd at their home ground stunned. His blistering innings was key to breaking the back of Hyderabad’s total, as he unleashed a series of powerful strokes before eventually being dismissed by SRH captain Pat Cummins.

By the time Pooran made his way back to the dressing room, he had accumulated 1002 runs in just 31 matches for LSG, positioning him as the second-highest run-scorer in the franchise's history. His impressive tally places him just behind former captain KL Rahul, who holds the record with 1410 runs in 38 matches. Pooran's remarkable achievement comes at an average of 45.54 and a strike rate of 184.53.


Known for his effortless power-hitting, Pooran has become synonymous with fast-paced innings in the IPL. He has crossed the fifty-run mark in fewer than 20 deliveries on four occasions, setting a record for the fastest half-century by any player in the competition.

Australia’s Travis Head and Jake Fraser-McGurk are tied for second, having achieved the same feat three times each. Notably, Pooran reached his fifty in just 18 balls during this game, marking the second-fastest fifty for LSG, only behind his own 15-ball effort against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2023.

During the chase of a challenging 191-run target, Pooran formed a critical partnership with Mitchell Marsh, putting together a 116-run stand that eased the pressure on LSG.

This partnership became the highest for LSG in the second wicket or lower category, surpassing the 111-run stand by KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda against Rajasthan Royals in 2023.

The game had already shifted heavily in LSG's favor by the time Cummins dismissed Pooran, with LSG needing just a few more runs to close out the game. Abdul Samad added a quickfire 22 from eight balls, setting the stage for David Miller to finish the job in style with a boundary, sealing a five-wicket victory for Lucknow with more than three overs to spare.

Pooran’s explosive knock, combined with solid partnerships and clinical finishes, ensured that LSG continued their strong run in the IPL, while Pooran etched his name as one of the key pillars of the franchise’s batting lineup.

(With inputs from PTI)