Data Shorts: Pooran aces the spin matchup, again

Nicholas Pooran was Lucknow's most priced retention ahead of the 2025 mega auction at 21 crores - same as Virat Kohli and only behind Heinrich Klaasen (23 crores). He has been on a roll in T20 cricket in the last 15 months and scored more runs and cleared the ropes more than anyone else in a single calendar year in 2024.

Pooran's high price was justified by the fact he is amongst the elite hitters of spin in the world. There are certain kind of spin that you cannot bowl to him irrespective of the state of the game or at what stage of the innings he is in. In the most recent meeting between the same two sides in Delhi last year, Pooran came out to bat in the fourth over after Axar Patel dismissed Marcus Stoinis off the first ball of his spell and