Nicholas Pooran Struggles in T20 Cricket Post-Retirement

Nicholas Pooran, the former West Indies star, is experiencing a significant decline in his T20 performance since retiring from international cricket. His recent outings in the IPL have been disappointing, with low scores and a troubling average. Despite a respectable career average, Pooran's strike rate has dropped, raising concerns about his future in the format. In a recent match against SRH, LSG managed to secure a win, but Pooran's struggles continue to overshadow his contributions. Discover more about his performance and the match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 5, 2026, 21:02 IST

Nicholas Pooran's T20 Struggles Persist

Nicholas Pooran, the former West Indies cricketer and current player for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), appears to be grappling with challenges in T20 cricket following his international retirement. His recent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been disappointing, continuing a trend of decline.

In the opening match against Delhi Capitals, Pooran managed only eight runs before being dismissed by a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi. In his subsequent outing, he was run out for just one run off four balls. This season marks a significant downturn for Pooran, who has recorded his lowest average in T20 cricket, accumulating only 121 runs across nine innings at an average of 13.44, with a strike rate of 117.47 and a top score of 33.

Performance Decline After Retirement

Since stepping away from international cricket last year, Pooran, affectionately known as 'Nicky P', has struggled to replicate his previous explosive form. He has scored 1,214 runs in 46 innings since his retirement. Although his average remains a respectable 32.81, with one century and seven fifties, his strike rate of 130.11 has diminished his impact, especially compared to his career strike rate of 147.82 in T20s. His last fifty came in December against Gulf Giants while playing for MI Emirates in the International T20 League (ILT20) in the UAE.

IPL Match Summary: SRH vs LSG

In their recent match, LSG chose to bowl first and quickly reduced Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to 26/4. However, a strong partnership of 116 runs between Heinrich Klaasen (62 runs off 41 balls, including five fours and two sixes) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (56 runs off 33 balls, with three fours and five sixes) helped SRH reach 156/9 in their 20 overs. Key bowlers for LSG included Shami (2/9), Prince Yadav (2/34), and Avesh Khan (2/36), while Manimaran Siddharth (1/29) maintained an economical rate.

During the chase, LSG lost Mitch Marsh early but recovered thanks to a 40-run partnership between Aiden Markram (45 runs off 27 balls, with six fours and two sixes) and Rishabh Pant. Pant remained until the end, guiding LSG to victory with five wickets and a ball to spare. Harsh Dubey (2/18) was the standout bowler for SRH, while Shami earned the 'Player of the Match' award for his exceptional performance in the powerplay.