Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden has lauded Nicholas Pooran as the cleanest hitter in the world. Hayden’s praise comes after an incredible cameo from Pooran in the CSK vs LSG game where the visiting side pulled off a record chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. While analysing the game on Star Sports, Hayden said that LSG were in a difficult spot when Pooran walked into bat and it was his short blitz that gave LSG the momentum in the chase.
Pooran aided Marcus Stoinis’ incredible 124* off 63 balls which helped LSG gun down a 211-run target in Chepauk. Hayden explained the reason behind lauding Pooran and said that the batter had every shot in the book against any type of bowling.
“The 19 balls that Padikkal took up before his dismissal, that was putting Marcus Stoinis under enormous pressure. When he was bowled this evening, that was probably the best outcome for LSG because it brought in the accelerator to LSG. Nicholas Pooran is the cleanest hitter in the world, I think, in this IPL. Such a talented free hitter of the ball,” Matthew Hayden said on Star Sports.
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“Got great options against both pace and spin. At that stage, when you’ve got a Ruturaj Gaikwad-like innings forming, as Marcus Stoinis was creating, they were actually going neck to neck as well. It was almost like a competition within the competition as to the stabilisers of the innings and then the finishers, Shivam Dube and Nicholas Pooran, that were just blasting away. And some great re-guard action from Deepak Hooda as well,” he further added.
Hayden argued that LSG would find it tricky to balance Pooran’s batting position in the tournament. Hayden said that he had spoken to LSG coach Justin Langer about the ideal position to bring Pooran into the crease. Hayden concluded by saying that LSG would look towards Pooran in big games when the scoreboard pressure piles up.
“Well, I’ve had this discussion with my mate, Justin Langer, around where they utilize him. And there’s two schools of thought. There’s a school of thought that says, we need someone batting in that 5 and 6 position that can bring a game home. And Nicholas Pooran can do exactly that. But then you look at, you know, someone like Devdutt Padikkal, that hasn’t had the tournament that you’d expect him to have. And you’ve got a world-class player in Nicky P that can come up the order with the Stoinis and in combination at 4 and can bat longer,” Hayden said.
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“And that’s what he’s been doing in international cricket as well. You know, so, obviously, they’re still really comfortable in playing his role for LSG down the order. But there’s still, I think, room as the tournament gets a little tighter and scoreboard pressure becomes an option. You want an experienced international player there to take it forward for the team,” concluded the legendary batter.