Aakash Chopra praised Nicholas Pooran’s abilities to lead his squad before Saturday, April 19, when the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) play the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
In the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), Lucknow has been among the most formidable batting teams. Their openers, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, have scored runs. Important contributions have also been made by David Miller and Ayush Badoni. A tough half-century against the Chennai Super Kings in the most recent game might be the cure-all for captain Rishabh Pant, who hasn’t been playing at his best.
Pooran, the former captain of the West Indies T20 team, has been the team’s top batter. With a strike rate of 208.77 and an average of 59.50, the southpaw has amassed 357 runs from seven games. According to Chopra’s analysis of LSG’s batting performance in the 2025 Indian Premier League, Pooran’s incredible form has eclipsed his small flaws.
“As openers, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram are performing admirably. Finally, in the final game, Rishabh Pant scored runs. So yet, Miller (David) has not been able to fire. You recall (Ayush) Badoni’s one innings. Chopra stated in a video posted to his YouTube account, “It was a very risky innings in the last match.”
But because Nicholas Pooran bats in the centre at No. 3, they can still manage. Akela banda sab pe bhaari hai, which means that one man is too much for everyone. He is a really strong player. Fire is to blame because he was sent off in the most recent game, which doesn’t happen often. He went on, “The game will get interesting if he hits.”
They definitely have a few worries when bowling: Aakash Chopra,
Regarding LSG’s bowling unit, Chopra predicted that leg-spinners Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi will get along well at Sawai Mansingh Stadium against the Royals.
“They definitely have a few bowling-related worries. This is where Ravi Bishnoi resides. He knows the Sawai Mansingh extremely well because he is from Rajasthan. In this game, I think Digvesh Rathi will bowl well. The ball will strike the bottom of the bat, making it a little harder to hit the spinners,” Chopra stated.
If Mayank Yadav, who has been sidelined due to back and toe issues, plays against the Royals, the former India hitter believes it will make the game more exciting.
Will we see Mayank Yadav in action? It is a significant story. Mayank Yadav’s pace adds a little extra excitement when he plays. He is recovering from his wounds. “If they play him, the guy has the might,” the cricketer-turned-expert said. “Ideally, you want to put him in right away.”
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