Nicholas Pooran explains why Lucknow Super Giants retained him for INR 21 crore [Exclusive]

West Indian cricketer Nicholas Pooran shared his reaction after being retained by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 21 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. He expressed his excitement for the opportunity and praised the environment of the franchise, mentioning that the management and leadership create a calm and supportive atmosphere for the players.

Pooran also reflected on his career in franchise cricket in an exclusive interaction with CricTracker, stating that his century in the 2023 Major League Cricket (MLC) final remains his most memorable innings and one of the best performances of his franchise career.

Watch excerpts from the exclusive interview:

What was your initial reaction after being retained by LSG for INR 21 Crore ahead of the mega auction IPL 2025?

I feel like sometimes you get what you deserve. To be honest, I had two wonderful years at LSG. Hit number 5, 4. They also put their feet in me. They trusted me. They believed in my skills. They chose me.

The first year they did everything they could to get me too. I am really grateful to them for that. I’m just happy that I could go there in the IPL and perform for them. Put a smile on their face. Prove to them that they made the right decision. I’m just glad I could have done that too. Also play with a price tag like that.

I felt like I was still in a safe space. At LSG I feel like the environment is so controlled and so safe. Even Vinay (Vinay Chopra, director) is also so easy-going. He makes the environment safe. I felt like everyone would have a different opinion. Even the boss too. He makes the environment so peaceful for us. I find it easy to go out, express myself and be the best I can be.

What are the most memorable innings you have played in franchise cricket and why?

I think the one that will be the most special will be the century I scored in the MLC 2023 in the final. Just the way I went about it. From a team perspective we finished fourth in the group. We had to go from the eliminator all the way to the finals and come from behind. And then chasing 184 in the final. I think these will be the most special innings. I have to do my very best for that. I also have some memorable innings in the IPL and also around the world. But I think this one will be the best.

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