Nicholas Pooran Shines with Record-Breaking Performance in IPL 2026
Nicholas Pooran's Remarkable Comeback
Nicholas Pooran made headlines as he turned around his disappointing form during the Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) match against the Mumbai Indians in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at Wankhede Stadium on May 4. The West Indies cricketer, who had struggled with just 82 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 81.8 and an average of 10.25, showcased his prowess as one of the top players in T20 cricket.
Returning to the number three batting position, where he had previously excelled in the 2025 season, Pooran delivered a stunning performance. He had primarily batted at number five this season, with captain Rishabh Pant taking the one-drop role after a challenging previous year. However, back in his preferred spot, Pooran scored a rapid half-century off just 16 balls, helping LSG reach a total of 228. He was eventually dismissed by Corbin Bosch after scoring 63 runs from 21 balls, boasting an impressive strike rate of 300, which included one four and eight sixes.
Historic Achievements by Pooran
Nicholas Pooran Creates History
With this performance, Pooran became the first player in IPL history to record two innings of over 50 runs at a strike rate of 300 or higher. He previously achieved this feat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2023 season, scoring 62 runs off 19 balls at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Non-Openers to Score 50+ Runs at 300+ SR in IPL History| Player | Runs (Balls) | SR | Team | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| Yusuf Pathan | 72* (22) | 327.27 | KKR | SRH | Hyderabad | 2014 |
| Suresh Raina | 87 (25) | 348 | CSK | KXIP | Mumbai (Wankhede) | 2014 |
| Kieron Pollard | 51* (17) | 300 | MI | KKR | Mumbai (Wankhede) | 2016 |
| Pat Cummins | 56* (15) | 373.33 | KKR | MI | Pune | 2022 |
| Nicholas Pooran | 62 (19) | 326.31 | LSG | RCB | Bengaluru | 2023 |
| Jaker Fraser-McGurk | 65 (18) | 361.11 | DC | SRH | Delhi | 2024 |
| Romario Shepherd | 53 (16) | 378.57 | RCB | CSK | Bengaluru | 2025 |
| Nicholas Pooran | 63 (21) | 300 | LSG | MI | Mumbai (Wankhede) | 2026 |
Additionally, Pooran is now the third player in IPL history to achieve multiple half-centuries with a strike rate exceeding 300, joining Jake Fraser-McGurk and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in this exclusive club.
Pooran's Record-Breaking Feats
Nicholas Pooran Emulates Abhishek Sharma
This match marked Pooran's fifth fifty in IPL history scored in fewer than 20 balls, placing him just behind Abhishek Sharma, who has accomplished this six times. Notably, Pooran is the first non-opener to achieve this milestone five times, while all of Sharma's instances occurred while opening the batting. Among non-openers, Kieron Pollard is the only player with two fifties in 19 balls or less, having achieved this remarkable feat twice in his career.