"He told me I could only go up from here" - Nicholas Pooran reveals advice from MI legend during rough patch in the IPL

Star Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Nicholas Pooran revealed the advice he received from Mumbai Indians (MI) legend Kieron Pollard during his rough patch in the IPL. Pooran has been retained by LSG ahead of the 2026 season.

On the 'Beard Before Wicket' podcast, Nicholas Pooran revealed how he had a poor year in IPL 2021. He scored just 85 runs in 11 innings with four ducks for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and was released. The left-hander recalled how Pollard gave him a positive talk. He also added that Dwayne Bravo, along with Pollard, told him that things would happen when they had to.

"I spoke to Polly and he told me I could only go up from here. Punjab released me. I was playing international cricket and doing well in ODIs. I was fighting and figuring it out. We had the World Cup in Dubai in 2021 and I was doubting whether I would get a good pick. Bravo and Polly told that everything happens in its own time. I stopped thinking about it and understood how difficult the IPL was. I got a buy from SunRisers. I wasn't expecting it. Maybe I did not deserve it, but the question was what I would do with it. I told myself to focus on scoring runs. I stuck to that and put myself in a position to win games. I did well but then got a phone call that they would not retain me. It was a good season but I was back in the auction," he said.

He scored 306 runs in the 2022 season for the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Nicholas Pooran was released again and picked by LSG in 2023. He scored 358 runs in his first year for them and expressed how Gautam Gambhir, who was their mentor in 2023, backed his abilities. The star batter was retained for the next two years and has been a consistent performer, receiving backing and freedom from the management.

"LSG then picked me for more money and I thought at least there are people watching and know your worth. I took all the experience of the last few years and now I have spent three seasons at LSG. I have understood the culture now and I fit in nicely. I have realised that if you perform they will love you else they are going to smash you. Credit to Gambhir, he saw my talent there and he continues to inspire me. He trusted me and my skillset and you need that freedom. They gave me that backing and I was consistent from that year. I scored 499 the next year and then they gave me more freedom the next year to bat at three. I scored 500-something runs. I took all the lessons and finally put it together."

Nicholas Pooran scored 499 runs from 14 games in 2024 at an average of 62.37 and a strike rate of 178.21. In 2025, he scored 524 runs from 14 matches at an average of 43.66 and a strike rate of 196.25.

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Nicholas Pooran on how struggles in the IPL shaped him

Nicholas Pooran was first picked by MI in the IPL in 2017. However, he did not play a single game and only made his debut in 2019 with PBKS. Pooran revealed how he trained a lot during his time at MI despite knowing he would not play.

He added how moving from one franchise to another, failing to score, being released, helped him eventually learning how to be consistent and deliver despite having the pressure of a hefty price tag and the expectations as an overseas player.

"I now know how to take the pressure, as an overseas player, the price tag, and perform. Now I understand how to be consistent. I felt like I went through that struggle of consistency, understanding franchise cricket, and that is why I did not take it for granted. The moment I do not perform, they are going to take their shoulder off me, and that is the reality, and I have to accept it," he said.

Overall in the IPL, Nicholas Pooran has played 90 matches so far. He has scored 2293 runs at an average of 34.22 and a strike rate of 168.97 with 14 half-centuries.

Edited by Rishab Vm