Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden praised Nicholas Pooran, calling him the “cleanest hitter of cricket ball in IPL 2024” after the southpaw’s explosive cameo against the Chennai Super Kings. Pooran’s knock of 34 off just 15 balls was instrumental in LSG’s record chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Analyzing the game on Star Sports, Hayden remarked that LSG were in a tricky position when Pooran arrived at the crease, but his aggressive batting provided the momentum shift that channeled their successful chase.

Pooran’s key support helped Marcus Stoinis to score brilliant 124 runs off 63 balls, powering LSG’s chase of 211 at Chepauk. Hayden praised Pooran for his versatility, noting he had every shot in his arsenal against all bowling styles.

“Devdutt Padikkal faced 19 deliveries before being sent back, which pressured Marcus Stoinis. But then, the big-hitting Nicholas Pooran comes out. Pooran is arguably the cleanest striker in this IPL. He is a remarkably gifted batter who bats freely,” he said on Star Sports.

“There were batters who struck well against pacers and spinners. Marcus Stoinis shaped the LSG batting like Ruturaj Gaikwad. They both played fiercely. Then the big hitters, Shivam Dube and Nicholas Pooran, blasted away at the end. Deepak Hooda also contributed with some innovative strokes,” Hayden added.

Hayden expressed concerns that LSG would struggle to determine the ideal batting position for Pooran, having already discussed the matter with LSG coach Justin Langer. Ultimately, Hayden predicted LSG would rely on Pooran’s batting abilities in high-pressure situations when wickets fall and the required run rate climbs.

“I recently discussed with Justin Langer about where to best utilize Nicholas Pooran. There are two schools of thought: Some believe LSG need a strong finisher who can close out games, a role Pooran excels in. However, others note that Devdutt Padikkal has underperformed this tournament and suggest moving Pooran up the order to bat with Stoinis, potentially at #4, to maximize his impact for more overs.

“He has been successful finisher for LSG and West Indies as well. The team is still quite comfortable with him batting down the order. However, as the tournament progresses and scoreboard pressure increases, there may be room for an experienced international player step up and guide the innings,” he concluded.

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