IPL 2019: Nicolas Pooran calls MS Dhoni the best in the business and claims to be his biggest fan

MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to a victory in the first match of the Indian Premier League 2019 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on March 23, Saturday. Royal Challengers were routed for just 70 runs batting first as CSK spin trio of Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja picked 8 wickets amongst them on a rank turner of a pitch, which spits venom from the first ball. CSK weathered the storm in the chase and Ambati Rayudu’s 28 helped the home team win the match by 7 wickets.

Dhoni’s quick thinking and a cheeky review entertained the fans a lot during the match and this has made him a favourite of many across the globe and his fans include cricketers as well. One such fan is West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran, who will turn up for Kings XI Punjab in the 12th season of IPL.

Pooran a self-confessed MS Dhoni fan

The left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman was bought for Rs 4.2 crore in the auction by KXIP and will play alongside Chris Gayle in the team. The 23-year-old, who overcame a serious car accident in 2015 and came to notice for a 25-ball 53, came against India in a T20 International at Chennai five months ago.

“Being a keeper myself, I am a big Dhoni fan as he is the best in the business. I feel I am getting better and better (even when it comes to work behind the stumps),” Pooran was quoted as saying by India Today.

Pooran talks about KXIP coach Hesson comparing him with Gayle

KXIP coach Mike Hesson applauded the young Pooran and even called him a ‘young Gayle’. Pooran however, only wants to be “the best he can be”. “There is no pressure as yet. Any tournament is an opportunity. I am in a new team and just want to give my best. And to be honest, I am just trying to be the best I can be,” Pooran said.

“It has been wonderful so far. Everyone is gelling well. It is also wonderful to have someone (Gayle) from back home as your teammate. I have picked his brains in the past and looking forward to do the same during the course of this tournament,” he said.

The youngster also named Brian Lara, AB de Villiers, and Virat Kohli as his favorite batsmen to follow. “I do look at a lot of cricketers. Virat and AB are some of the players I like to watch and learn from. I like the way how they adapt to different surfaces, different match situations. Even Chris for that matter. Amongst the other left-handed batsmen, Brian Lara is another obvious name,” Pooran was quoted saying.

Here is the KXIP squad for IPL 2019:

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