Image Credits: CricTracker
Nicholas Pooran unleashed a devastating assault on the Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack, smashing a whirlwind 70 off just 27 balls, as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) raced past 160 in 13 overs in their IPL 2025 opener at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
A brutal onslaught in the 13th over
Pooran’s carnage peaked in the 13th over, bowled by Tristan Stubbs, where he hammered 28 runs, including four sixes and a boundary. The over started with a dot ball, but what followed was sheer destruction. Pooran dispatched a tossed-up delivery for a sweeping six over square leg, brought up his half-century in style with another towering six over long-on, and continued his assault with two more maximums and a four to cap off a game-changing over.
Over timeline (13th over – Tristan Stubbs to Nicholas Pooran)
- 12.1 – Dot ball, Pooran squeezes it to the pitch.
- 12.2 – SIX! Swept over deep backward square leg.
- 12.3 – SIX! Brings up his fifty, launched over long-on.
- 12.4 – SIX! Floated ball punished over long-on again.
- 12.5 – SIX! Even bigger, lofted over covers.
- 12.6 – FOUR! Driven to long-off to finish the over.
Making DC pay for their mistake
Earlier in the innings, Pooran was handed a lifeline when Rizvi dropped a catch—a mistake that proved costly. The West Indian batter took full advantage, punishing the Delhi bowlers with aggressive stroke play and clearing the ropes with ease. His ability to target the spinners and dominate on a batting-friendly pitch made life difficult for DC’s bowling unit.
Stubbs under pressure
Tristan Stubbs, given the responsibility of bowling his first over, bore the brunt of Pooran’s hitting. His over ended with figures of 1-0-28-0, as the Capitals struggled to contain LSG’s scoring rate.
With Pooran in this kind of form, LSG has set the perfect platform for a massive total. His innings was a statement of intent, reminding everyone of his destructive capabilities in the IPL.
