IPL 2025: How Nicholas Pooran Overcame A Near-Fatal Accident To Dominate IPL

By
Unnati Madan
Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to...
6 Min Read

IPL 2025 – How Nicholas Pooran Overcame A Near-Fatal Accident To Dominate IPL: Two years ago, when Rishabh Pant was recovering in the hospital after a near-fatal car accident, he was not only dealing with physical pain but also battling mental struggles. During this tough time, Nicholas Pooran, who is now his teammate at Lucknow Super Giants, would often send him supportive messages.

Struggles, Surgeries, and a Six-Month Wheelchair Journey of Nicholas Pooran

Back then, Pooran wasn’t playing alongside Pant, but he understood what Pant was going through. “It’s very challenging. It’s one where no one understands. You go into a place where you’re very depressed, and frustrated,” Pooran had said, expressing his empathy for Pant’s situation.

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He managed to steer the car back onto the road, but before he could react, another vehicle hit him. “I woke up with the car smashed. Then the ambulance came. I was in so much pain, I just wanted them to knock me out,” he recalled in an interview with the Daily Mail years later.

When he regained consciousness, he was in the hospital. He tried to move his legs but couldn’t, they were wrapped in heavy casts. “They were numb. I couldn’t feel them at all. I was on painkillers throughout the 12 days I was in hospital,” he said.

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One day, he gathered the courage to ask the doctor if he could play cricket again. The answer was written on the doctor’s grim face. He then asked if he would be able to run again. “Maybe,” came the uncertain reply. His heart sank as he asked one last question, would he be able to walk? “Yes,” the doctor said, “but without being able to bend the left leg fully.”

Pooran knew that bending was essential in cricket, especially for a wicketkeeper like him, who had modeled his game on his idol MS Dhoni. At that moment, his world fell apart.

As his recovery neared its end, Pooran learned to be self-reliant. One morning, the cricket board suddenly stopped funding his treatment, though they still provided a physiotherapist. Then, like an “angel,” Kieron Pollard entered his life. The all-rounder was also recovering from a knee injury, and the two bonded over rehab.

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Once they could stand, they began taking long walks, gradually progressing to running and gym sessions. Pollard later introduced Pooran to top sports agent Eddie Tolchard at Insignia Sports. A year after the accident, Pooran was playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, though the cricket board handed him a six-month ban. But his belief never wavered. “You have to believe in your talents and keep working,” he reminded himself.

IPL 2025: How Nicholas Pooran Overcame A Near-Fatal Accident To Dominate IPL

A Natural Six-Hitter in Franchise Cricket

That confidence borders on arrogance at times. The night he demolished SRH with a 26-ball 70, he credited his “lightning bat speed” purely to “incredible talent,” insisting it was a natural gift rather than something developed. While his words may have lacked finesse, his bat speed is undoubtedly special.

Fast hands have been a hallmark of Caribbean greats like Brian Lara and Viv Richards. Pooran mirrors that legacy, blending grace and power. His cover drive, with its subtle wrist work and perfect timing, pays homage to Carl Hooper. Yet, in the next moment, he can channel Pollard, clearing his front leg and launching a brutal swipe through cow corner.

Despite his short, slender frame, he generates immense power, getting under the ball for massive sixes. He seamlessly moves between classical and modern Caribbean batting, wielding his bat as both a shovel and a paintbrush.

Like the greats before him, Nicholas Pooran is a natural six-hitter, making him one of the most sought-after players in franchise cricket. This season, he leads in sixes (15) and hits them more frequently than anyone else (every 5.5 balls). He has also smashed 17 fours, finding the boundary once every 2.65 balls. Last year, he was the top six-hitter in T20s with 170 in 74 innings, far ahead of Heinrich Klaassen (105 in 54). His secret? “I just try my best to get in good positions and if it’s there, just time the ball nicely.”

With Rishabh Pant as captain, he has the freedom to play his natural game. “The thought was to give freedom to him,” Pant said. “We know what damage he can do down the order.” That freedom is mutual, Pooran was also there for Pant during his recovery, supporting him through the toughest phase of his life.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: SRH’s Kamindu Mendis Uses Both Arms In Same Over Against KKR

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.