Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Lucknow Super Giants management should give Nicholas Pooran freedom to express himself in IPL 2023. LSG had a decent run in their debut IPL season and made it to the playoffs before losing out to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator.
Ahead of IPL 2023, the West Indies wicketkeeper was picked up by the Lucknow-based franchise for a huge sum of Rs 16 crores. Pooran will be an automatic pick in the playing XI and someone in the middle order will have to make way for him. Speaking to star sports, Kaif feels Pooran should get a free hand to perform for the franchise.
“I feel Gautam Gambhir and KL Rahul should give Pooran a free hand to play because a player like this cannot be pushed beyond a limit. You also cannot expect them to win you every match,” said Kaif.
Lucknow Super Giants outbid Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) to pick up Pooran to strengthen their middle order. Pooran has managed to score 306 runs in 14 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022. The 27-year-old Trinidadian cricketer has been inconsistent in IPL so far.
“You can set proper expectations with him, like if he is here to play 14-15 league matches, and if he makes Lucknow win 4-5 games, it’s sufficient. Every time a player like Pooran loses his wicket, we think he didn’t do well. But a power-hitter like Pooran requires mentoring, be supportive with gestures like an arm around the shoulder and motivate them to bring their natural game to the next match,” Mohammad Kaif added.
The Super Giants desperately needed a left-hander who could take on both pace and spin in their middle order and turned to the West Indian. Nicholas Pooran would important player for Lucknow along with Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya in that middle order.
Nicholas Pooran Has That Ability – Lucknow Super Giants Mentor Gautam Gambhir
Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir wants Nicholas Pooran to create an impact for LSG rather than scoring a hefty amount of runs and added that the West Indies batter can bat anywhere in the top 7.
“Nicholas Pooran is 26-27 and probably he is going to start peaking from here on. It’s not about how many runs you score, it’s about the impact, if he can win 3-4 games, he has that ability. How many players can play in the top 4 and as well at 6-7? Nicholas has that ability,” Gambhir told Jio Cinema.
Lucknow Super Giants has started their Preseason at Lucknow. Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Ravi Bishnoi, and Avesh Khan were among the players in the camp. The team is practising in Lucknow under the guidance of their coach Andy Flower and LSG’s Mentor Gautam Gambhir. Lucknow Super Giants will begin their 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with a home fixture at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow against the Delhi Capitals.