Nicholas Pooran is a hard player to read in 2026: a record six-hitter, a retired international and a franchise star who had a rough IPL season. We checked his recent numbers, his career milestones and the data most profiles skip. The picture is more mixed than the headlines suggest.
Key Takeaways
- Pooran retired from international cricket in June 2025 at the age of 29.
- His IPL 2026 season brought 234 runs in 14 innings, far below 2025.
- In his last five CPL innings, he made 196 runs with a best of 60 not out.
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Where does Nicholas Pooran stand in 2026?
Pooran was born on 2 October 1995, so he turned 31 last month. He was retained by the Lucknow Super Giants for ₹21 crore ahead of the 2026 IPL season. He now plays as a full-time franchise batter.
Why did he retire from international cricket?
Pooran announced his retirement from international cricket on 10 June 2025, after representing West Indies 167 times. He had last played for West Indies in December 2024, and he had never played a Test. Our analysis suggests the move was about workload and freedom, since he now chooses his leagues.
What are his international numbers?
These are the figures he left behind. The numbers show a T20I specialist.
| Format | Key stat |
|---|---|
| T20Is | 106 matches, 2,275 runs, leading West Indies scorer |
| T20I sixes | 149, fifth overall |
| T20I fifties | 13 |
| ODIs | 1,983 runs at 39.66, strike rate 99.15 |
| Tests | Never played |
How did IPL 2026 go for Pooran?
Pooran scored 234 runs in 14 innings at an average of 15.6, with one half-century and 19 sixes. His powerplay strike rate was 128.9. That is a big fall from his previous seasons. It was his weakest IPL year in some time.
How do his IPL seasons compare?
These are his last four IPL seasons. The trend is clear from the table.
| Season | Runs | Strike rate / average | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 358 | SR 172.95 | Joined LSG |
| 2024 | 499 | SR 178.21 | Three half-centuries |
| 2025 | 524 | SR 196.25 | 40 sixes, leader |
| 2026 | 234 | Average 15.6 | 19 sixes, one fifty |
How big was the drop?
Here is a rare data point.
His run total fell by 290 from 2025 to 2026 (524 to 234), and his sixes dropped from 40 to 19. LSG had retained him for ₹21 crore. By our calculation, that works out to about ₹9 lakh per run this season, which shows how costly a poor year can be.
What went wrong in IPL 2026?
Lungi Ngidi bowled him with a slower ball in the season opener against Delhi Capitals. Krunal Pandya then greeted him with a bouncer in the match against RCB, which led to a heated exchange. If you have followed T20 closely, you know bowlers adapt quickly to a hitter’s plans.
Were there any bright spots?
His best innings by impact was 38 against RCB on May 7, when his team scored 209. He also shared an 89-run second-wicket stand with Mitchell Marsh against Mumbai Indians on May 4. Those were small but useful signs.
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How has CPL 2026 gone?
In the Caribbean Premier League, Pooran has played for the Trinbago Knight Riders. His last five innings show a clear return to form.
| Date | Match | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 | TKR vs BT | 12 | Port of Spain |
| Aug 29 | TKR vs JKM | 60* | Port of Spain |
| Aug 31 | TKR vs GAW | 43 | Port of Spain |
| Sep 2 | TKR vs ABF | 22 | Port of Spain |
| Sep 6 | BT vs TKR | 59 | Bridgetown |
What do those five innings show?
By our calculation, Pooran scored 196 runs in the five innings, and he was dismissed only four times, so his average was 49.0. That is far better than his IPL average of 15.6. Home conditions and familiar bowlers clearly helped.
How good has he been in MLC?
Pooran was the highest run-scorer of the 2023 MLC season with 388 runs, and he made 137 not out in the final. In 2025, he scored 108 not out off 60 balls in a loss to Seattle Orcas, who made the highest successful chase in MLC history. MI New York lifted the trophy in 2025.
What are the key MLC numbers?
These are the big-match numbers most fans miss.
- 388 runs in the 2023 season, the most that year.
- 137 not out in the final.
- 108 not out off 60 balls against Seattle Orcas.
- His team scored 237, and still lost.
What did he do at the Under-19 World Cup?
At the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, Pooran scored 303 runs in six matches, including 143 against Australia. His 136-run ninth-wicket stand with Jerome Jones was a record for all Under-19 matches. That was an early sign of his talent.
What was his big World Cup moment?
He announced himself on the global stage with a brilliant 118 against Sri Lanka at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. He scored his first T20 century in the CPL on 30 August 2020. Our analysis suggests these two innings shaped his reputation as a big-match player.
What about his captaincy?
Pooran took over from Kieron Pollard as West Indies white-ball captain in 2022. He resigned the captaincy after West Indies went out in the first round of the T20 World Cup. He now captains MI New York in MLC.
Which milestones define his career?
This table shows the key moments in order.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 303 runs at the U19 World Cup |
| 2016 | International debut |
| 2019 | 118 against Sri Lanka at the World Cup |
| 2022 | Named West Indies white-ball captain |
| 2025 | 524 IPL runs; retires from international cricket |
| 2026 | 234 IPL runs; CPL recovery |
Did Gayle see this coming?
In 2021, Chris Gayle called Pooran a possible heir apparent, saying he was a beautiful striker who was learning to build an innings. That prediction proved partly right. He became a T20 star, though not a Test player.
What comes next for Pooran?
Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran headlined the Canada Super60 signings ahead of the draft in July. His next big test is the IPL 2027 retention window, where LSG must decide whether to keep him. We will be watching his strike rate against spin and slower balls closely.
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What should fans watch for?
First, watch whether LSG keep Pooran at a high price. Second, watch how he performs in the final CPL games. Third, track his numbers in the MLC and Super60. For more cricket updates and player analysis, visit Cricket Team Match. Nicholas Pooran remains one of the most watched hitters in T20 cricket.
