VISAKHAPATNAM: In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Lucknow Super Giants’ Nicholas Pooran unleashed a devastating assault on Delhi Capitals’ bowlers, headlined by a remarkable 28-run over, during their IPL 2025 season opener at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Monday evening.
The Caribbean dynamo smashed an explosive 75 off just 30 deliveries, featuring seven towering sixes and six boundaries at a staggering strike rate of 250. His innings provided the perfect launching pad for LSG’s imposing total of 209/8 after being asked to bat first by DC captain Axar Patel.
The highlight of Pooran’s pyrotechnics came in the 13th over when part-time spinner Tristan Stubbs was introduced into the attack. After playing out a dot ball, Pooran switched into demolition mode, hammering four consecutive sixes that sailed deep into the stands, followed by a cracking boundary to conclude the carnage.
The over progression read: 0, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4 – a sequence that left Stubbs visibly shattered and the Delhi Capitals dugout in stunned silence. The ball-by-ball destruction showcased Pooran’s exceptional timing, power, and range of shots as he targeted various sections of the ground with remarkable precision.
“I was just trying to keep a clear mind and watch the ball closely,” Pooran said at the mid-innings break. “When you’re in that zone, everything seems to come off the middle of the bat. The wicket was playing true, and once I got my timing right, I backed myself to clear the ropes consistently.”
Pooran’s onslaught wasn’t a solo act. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh provided the perfect foil at the top of the order, hammering 72 off 36 balls with six maximums and an equal number of boundaries. Together, Pooran and Marsh forged a blistering 87-run partnership for the second wicket in just 42 deliveries, leaving the DC bowling attack in disarray.
Delhi’s bowling plans unraveled as the LSG batters targeted both spinners and pacers with equal disdain. The experienced Mitchell Starc eventually provided some respite by dismissing Pooran with a beautifully executed reverse-swinging yorker that crashed into the stumps, but by then, the Trinidad-born left-hander had already inflicted significant damage.
For Delhi Capitals, this baptism by fire has exposed critical vulnerabilities in their bowling attack, particularly in the middle overs. Captain Axar Patel will need to reassess his bowling combinations and strategies as the tournament progresses.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants couldn’t have asked for a better start to their campaign, with their middle-order showing ominous form. If Pooran maintains this destructive momentum throughout the tournament, LSG will undoubtedly emerge as serious contenders for the IPL 2025 title.
As the Capitals began their chase of 210, the shadow of Pooran’s explosive innings loomed large over the contest, setting up what promised to be an enthralling second half at Visakhapatnam.