Kolkata (West Bengal) [India]: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) power-hitter Nicholas Pooran added another milestone to his growing IPL legacy, becoming the second-fastest batter to reach 2,000 runs in the Indian Premier League during a sensational innings against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.
Pooran smashed an unbeaten 87 off just 36 balls*, peppered with seven fours and eight sixes, helping LSG post a mammoth total of 238/3. A standout moment of the innings came in the 18th over, when he hammered Andre Russell for 24 runs, including two sixes and three fours.
With this performance, the Caribbean southpaw took his IPL tally to 2,057 runs in 78 innings across 81 matches, boasting an average of 34.86 and a blistering strike rate of 168.88. He has hit 12 half-centuries, with his top score now being *87.
Pooran reached the 2,000-run mark in 1,198 balls, making him the second-fastest in IPL history to do so, only behind Andre Russell, who achieved the feat in 1,120 balls. Among Indian players, Virender Sehwag is the quickest to reach the milestone, taking 1,211 balls.
In the ongoing IPL 2025 season, Pooran is in red-hot form. He currently holds the Orange Cap with 288 runs in five matches at a stunning average of 72.00 and strike rate of 225.00, including three fifties. He leads the tournament with 24 sixes.
Pooran previously played for Punjab Kings (2019–2021), scoring 606 runs in 31 innings at an average of 22.44 and strike rate of 154+. In 2022, he moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he managed 306 runs in 13 innings at an average of 38.25 with a strike rate of 144+. Since joining LSG, he has flourished, becoming their second-highest run-scorer, with 1,145 runs in 34 matches at an average of 47.70 and a strike rate of over 186, including eight fifties.
Match Summary:
After being put to bat first by KKR, LSG got off to a strong start with a 99-run partnership between Aiden Markram (47 off 28) and Mitchell Marsh. Marsh continued his form, scoring 81 off 48 with six fours and five sixes. The real carnage came from Pooran in the death overs, propelling LSG to 238/3.
KKR Bowling:
- Harshit Rana: 2/51
- Andre Russell: 2/32 in 2 overs
- Spencer Johnson: 0/46 in 3 overs
- Sunil Narine: 0/38 in 3 overs
- Varun Chakravarthy: 0/31 in 4 overs
KKR’s bowlers were largely ineffective, with the spin duo failing to make any breakthroughs.