Nicholas Pooran is cleanest hitter in the world: Matthew Hayden

Lucknow Super Giants got the better of Chennai Super Kings in their reverse fixture at Chepauk Stadium on April 23. Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis played their parts well with the bat and Mathew Hayden seems pretty impressed with Pooran.

Speaking exclusively to Star Sports Cricket Live, former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden spoke about Lucknow Super Giant’s batting performance last night. “I can say that about Nicholas Pooran as well. 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.

They have 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 stabilizers 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.”

Hayden spoke on how Lucknow Super Giants can utilize Nicholas Pooran. “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 can bat longer. 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.”

Hayden spoke on Chennai Super Kings making a comeback in their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. “No, well, they can have a day out with the bat. We've already seen that a few times, you know, this IPL. I mean, including their last match-up in Delhi, where there was a huge total on a good wicket. They can come here and do exactly the same. I still feel like Chennai has got that knowledge that intimate knowledge of these conditions and it finds a way to win. Today was on the wrong side of the coin. I think we were talking about this in the pre-show as well.

The highs and the lows, they tend to sort of be pretty even, you know. So, they'll get back on the horse quite quickly, knowing the way that Chennai operates. And they'll also revel in the fact that their win percentage across IPL at this venue is 73%, which is the highest of any team at home. And they've lost their first at home, considering they were 100% before tonight. So, they'll enjoy the fact that they're at home. I think they'll have some key learnings there as well. Today's run as well has got a bit more to offer, I think, with the bat. A little less conservative. Knowing that you've got Shivam Dube in such great form, you know, surely can boost the confidence and pump up that middle order.”