Nicholas Pooran Sets Eden Gardens on Fire: A Night of Power-Hitting Madness in IPL 2025
Cricket fans, hold your breath—what a crazy night it was at Eden Gardens! The air was electric, the crowd was on their feet, and Nicholas Pooran gave us an innings that people are going to talk about for years. It wasn’t just a knock; it was a full-blown assault. The Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) explosive left-hander went absolutely ballistic, smashing a jaw-dropping 87* off just 36 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday, April 8.
Innings like these are why we love the IPL. Pure entertainment.
Let’s rewind a bit. LSG had already set the stage nicely, thanks to a blistering 99-run opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. The duo went after the KKR bowlers right from the start, with Markram scoring a quickfire 47 off 27 balls. He dominated the powerplay, timing the ball beautifully and sending it racing to the ropes. Marsh, on the other hand, played the perfect anchor role initially, before switching gears and hammering 81 runs off 48 deliveries.
This match was a showcase of how a team can build their innings with a solid start, and then absolutely explode in the second half.
🔥 Pooran’s Arrival – The Turning Point
Pooran walked in to bat in the 11th over, and from the moment he stepped onto the field, something just felt different. The man meant business. No time wasted, no settling in—he just went after the bowlers like a man possessed. You could see he had a point to prove, and boy, did he deliver.
With Marsh at the other end, the two put on a blazing 71-run partnership in just 30 balls. It was raining sixes and boundaries. Pooran, in particular, was merciless—he smashed eight sixes and seven fours, sending the Eden Gardens crowd into a frenzy (even KKR fans couldn’t help but cheer some of those hits).
Despite the carnage, Pooran was calm and composed. It wasn’t slogging; it was calculated destruction. His timing, placement, and power—everything clicked perfectly.
💣 Unstoppable Stats & Records
Let’s talk numbers, because what Pooran is doing this season is nothing short of record-breaking:
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288 runs in just 5 matches.
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Strike rate of 225 – that’s not a typo!
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Already has three fifties to his name.
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He’s now leading the run charts in IPL 2025.
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Pooran hits a six every 8.05 balls – second only to Andre Russell in the all-time list (minimum 50 sixes).
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In the final four overs, he strikes at over 200, regardless of the delivery type—except yorkers. That’s terrifying for bowlers.
Basically, if you're a bowler in the death overs and Pooran’s on strike… good luck!
🏆 Big Price Tag, Bigger Performance
You know how some players feel the weight of big money? Not Nicholas Pooran. In fact, he seems to thrive on it. Retained by LSG for a whopping Rs 21 crore, he’s now the most expensive retained player in IPL history. Many questioned that call at the time, but now it looks like an absolute masterstroke.
Fans were quick to appreciate his form and temperament. Social media lit up with praise, with many calling him the "steal of the season" despite the hefty tag. The best part? This isn't a one-off. Pooran has been super consistent, scoring 358 and 499 runs in the last two seasons respectively.
He’s not just smashing the ball around—he’s leading from the front, setting examples, and anchoring innings with maturity. This season, he looks hungrier than ever.
🌟 Marsh & Markram – The Unsung Heroes
While Pooran will rightly steal the headlines, let’s not forget how important Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram were in laying the foundation.
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Marsh, with his 81 off 48 balls, became the first player to cross 250 runs this season.
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His calm approach early on, followed by big shots in the middle overs, perfectly set the stage for Pooran’s entry.
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Markram’s aggressive start ensured LSG didn’t waste the powerplay. His 27-ball 47 gave the innings early momentum.
These two were like the warm-up act before the main event—and what a build-up it was!
📈 No Pant? No Problem!
Here’s an interesting tactical move—Rishabh Pant, LSG’s captain, decided not to bat at all. It could’ve raised a few eyebrows, but with the kind of form the rest of the batting order showed, there was no need.
Instead, the team gave chances to the likes of Abdul Samad and David Miller to finish things off. It was a show of trust in squad depth and a great example of selfless leadership from Pant.
It also shows how well-balanced and confident the LSG squad is this season. They're not relying on just one or two stars—they’re playing like a unit, everyone stepping up when it matters.
🎯 The Final Over – A Minor Speed Bump
Pooran looked well on course to score his maiden IPL century, but KKR pacer Vaibhav Arora had other plans. Bowling a tight final over, Arora managed to restrict the run flow and deny Pooran those final few runs. But even then, Pooran’s unbeaten 87 off 36 was more than enough to give LSG a massive total of 238/3.
And let’s be honest—century or not, it was a match-winning knock through and through.
📣 Fans React: Pooran the MVP?
Twitter, Instagram, YouTube—everywhere you look, cricket lovers can’t stop talking about this innings. Many are already calling him the MVP of IPL 2025, and we’re only halfway through the season!
From West Indies fans to Indian supporters, everyone seems to be united in one opinion: Nicholas Pooran is pure box-office.
Final Thoughts
The IPL is known for its drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments—and this was one of them. Pooran didn’t just play a great innings—he created a memory. For fans, it was a treat; for opponents, a warning.
If he continues in this form, records are going to tumble, and LSG might just be lifting their first IPL trophy this year.
So next time LSG is playing, make sure you’re watching—because if Pooran’s at the crease, you’re guaranteed fireworks. 🎇
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