KOLKATA: Nicholas Pooran has taken some giant strides as a batter in the past couple of years. Quite a bit of the Trinidadian’s success has come in the IPL, as a key member of Lucknow Super Giants. So, when LSG marked the former West Indies captain as their number one retention before the mega auction, it did not come as a surprise. In fact, co-owner Shashwat Goenka emphasises that Pooran’s retention was never in doubt. “He is among the world’s best batters and it was a no-brainer for us,” Goenka said.
Speaking to TOI, Pooran expressed his happiness at staying at ‘home’ and indicated he was available to be the captain if asked. Excerpts from an interview.
How does it feel to be Lucknow Super Giants’ top retention?
I feel honoured. I came to LSG in 2023, with back against the wall. They took a chance with me. For some reason, I have fallen in love with this franchise and everything has clicked for me, especially as a batter. I just feel like LSG has helped me grow as a batter and achieve a lot of things over the past two years. Hopefully I will be one of those fellows who can lead them to a title in the next few years.
LSG will need a captain this time. Are you putting your hand up?
Yes, we will obviously be looking for a captain and whatever decision the management will take, we’ll see…all hands on deck. If that question is put to me then I am available, but it all comes down to trust. If the management believes in me, having seen me for a couple of years…I am all hands on deck. But at the moment my focus is to score runs, win as many games as possible and try to create a winning atmosphere.
You relinquished West Indies captaincy. Was there any pressure on you as a batter?
Yeah, of course, I was quite young and West Indies were in a transition period. I was trying to be the best version of myself, trying to be the best batter in the world and I had a lot of young players around me, who were also trying to figure out their game. We know how frustrating that can be. The search for perfection is really difficult and that’s what I wanted when I was the captain, but it takes time. I relinquished captaincy for different reasons and I thought it was the best decision I made because I had started to struggle as a batter. As I see it 3-4 years down the line, captaincy has actually helped me grow as a human being and cricketer.
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Now do you think you are mature enough to handle batting and captaincy together?
It is my opinion (laughs), but I have captained one game in the IPL and also in other leagues, and I have done good. But I believe if captaincy has to come in my direction again, it will come at the right time. At this moment, it’s all about one thing: Be the best version of Nicholas Pooran and continue to entertain people.
In the last season, LSG did not have a very good tournament. Anything that you would want to do differently this time?
I obviously want us to win games. But winning is difficult and we have to understand how to win, particularly in home conditions and it is all about building that team. It is all about getting players who actually want to play and win for this franchise.
