LUCKNOW, India, CMC – Team mentor Gautam Gambhir defended the decision of Indian Premier League franchise, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to spend nearly U.S. $2 million on former West Indies white-ball captain, Nicholas Pooran.
Gambhir said the decision was made with a view to the future of LSG after the franchise surprised observers when they acquired Pooran, for the 2023 season in the IPL auction on December 23 in Kochi. The base price in the auction for Pooran was about U.S. $250 000, but LSG bagged the wicketkeeper-batsman after a bidding war with Delhi Capitals.
“I don’t look at the last season,” he told JioCinema. “I look at the player’s ability and impact. This tournament is not about scoring 500 to 600 runs.
“That player can win you two to three matches in a season, and he has age on his side. If you can get such a player, you try your best to build your team around him.”
Though Pooran has his moments in the sun in the IPL, his overall stats are unimpressive – he has played 47 matches and scored 912 runs – including four half-centuries – at a strike rate of 151.20, with his highest score so far of 77. Many commentators believe that LSG overpaid for him, but Gambhir defied the critics and insisted Pooran was value for money.
“I’m not only looking for this season, he also provides us longevity,” the former India opener said. “Very few players in that age bracket (27-28) have that ability.
“Pooran will continue to get better as he plays. I always believe that records only make headlines, but impact wins you the tournament.”
Pooran headed the list of five players from the Caribbean that were picked up by franchises in the auction.
The other West Indies players that were among 29 from outside India were: Barbadian all-rounder Jason Holder to Rajasthan Royals for U.S. $701 000 and Trinidadian left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein to Sunrisers Hyderabad for U.S. $121 000, as well as Guyanese all-rounder Romario Shepherd to LSG, and Jamaican pacer Odean Smith to Gujarat Titans, both for U.S. $60 000.
St Lucian batsman Johnson Charles and Guyanese left-hander Sherfane Rutherford were the only two West Indies players that remained unsold after the auction. Meantime, Virender Sehwag, another former India opener, felt that Pooran could be a game-changer when the inaugural edition of the International League T20, which features six teams, opens on January 13 in the United Arab Emirates.
“Nicholas Pooran is a dangerous player,” Sehwag. “While his performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (in November-December in Australia) was not up to the mark, he is a brilliant player.
“In the recent Abu Dhabi T10 innings, he scored 70 to 80 runs in mere 20-25 balls. If he comes in that form, it will definitely benefit MI Emirates.”
The ILT20 is expected to have 34 matches, with each of the six teams playing the others twice before four playoff matches.
