Nicholas Pooran’s explosive innings of 75 runs off just 29 balls led Lucknow Super Giants to an impressive 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians in their final Indian Premier League (IPL) fixture of the season at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
Despite being out of the playoffs race, Mumbai Indians chose to bowl first on a pitch that was not easy for batting. Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul started slowly with a half-century, but a top-order collapse put the team in trouble until Pooran took charge and guided them to a challenging total of 214 for six.
In response, Mumbai Indians got off to a quick start before rain interrupted play. However, Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis kept the chase on track, reaching 78 for no loss after eight overs. Rohit’s aggressive batting was a treat to watch as he hit boundaries at will, but his dismissal by Ravi Bishnoi turned the tide in favor of Lucknow Super Giants.
Despite a late cameo from Naman Dhir, Mumbai Indians fell short of the target as Pooran’s heroics with the bat proved to be the difference between the two teams. Pooran’s innings was filled with powerful hitting, including smashing sixes off Anshul Kamboj and Hardik Pandya.
Overall, it was a thrilling encounter that showcased the talent and entertainment value of T20 cricket, with Pooran emerging as the star of the show with his breathtaking display of power-hitting.