NEW DELHI — In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Nicholas Pooran ignited Eden Gardens with a milestone knock, steering the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a nerve-wracking four-run victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the thrilling IPL 2025 encounter.
The LSG southpaw was unstoppable, smashing an unbeaten 87 off just 36 deliveries. His knock propelled LSG to a formidable total of 238/3, which proved just beyond the reach of the defending champions, KKR.
Pooran’s fiery innings etched his name into the IPL record books as he became the second-fastest player to reach 2,000 IPL runs, achieving the milestone in a mere 1,198 balls. Only Andre Russell, with 1,120 balls, has been quicker to this landmark.
With this performance, Pooran not only joined the elite list but also reclaimed the Orange Cap, leading the run charts with 288 runs across five matches at an astonishing strike rate of 225.
The foundation for LSG’s total was laid by a solid 99-run opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. Markram scored a brisk 47 off 28 balls, while Marsh contributed a solid 81 off 48 balls. However, it was Pooran’s late onslaught, alongside a crucial 71-run partnership with Marsh, that truly turned the tide in LSG’s favor, propelling them towards their second-highest total in IPL history.
KKR’s bowling attack struggled throughout the match. Their spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, were wicketless and expensive, while Harshit Rana and Spencer Johnson faced the brunt of LSG’s aggressive batting line-up.
Despite a valiant effort from KKR’s captain, Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 61, and a late flurry from Rinku Singh (38 not out), KKR could only muster 234/7, falling short of the daunting target set by Pooran’s ‘milestone mayhem.’ This high-octane clash in IPL 2025 will be remembered for Pooran’s exceptional performance, which was instrumental in securing a crucial win for LSG.