- By Vishal Pushkar
- Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IPL Retentions: West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran has expressed gratitude to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for retaining him, emphasizing his commitment to helping the team lift their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in the upcoming season. Pooran, a 29-year-old Trinidadian, was retained by LSG for an impressive ₹21 crore, placing him as the joint second-highest retention of the season alongside Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
LSG finalized their retention list after the IPL deadline on Thursday, opting to keep a total of five players. Alongside Pooran, the franchise retained Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav, each at ₹11 crore, while left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan and emerging all-rounder Ayush Badoni were retained at ₹4 crore apiece.
Pooran's solid white-ball performances and his experience in various T20 leagues worldwide have made him a vital asset for LSG.
"I'm just thankful and grateful for another year, another opportunity. I'm really thankful that LSG has given me requiredan opportunity to represent them again," Pooran said in a video released by the franchise on its social media handles.
"In 2023, they took a risk on me, and they took a chance, and I'm just really happy that I could contribute to the franchise becoming better. Obviously, we're still searching (for) that title.
"Two years after, I'm really happy that they retained me, and they've shown so much trust in me. It really means a lot to me. I want to do everything possible to win. That's basically it."
Pooran joined the side last season, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer for the team after KL Rahul (520), scoring 499 runs in 14 outings at a strike rate of 178.21, including three fifties.
Besides thanking the LSG fans for their support, he admitted that he also tries to help the team by imparting his knowledge of the sport as and when required.
"Our fans really came out and supported us last year, and that was really special. I'm looking forward to more support from our fans because they're the 12th man, and we just want to entertain them and make them happy.
"Whatever influence I do have, I try to impart my knowledge as well, especially when it comes to the game. The end result is all about winning, and it's all about coming up with the best decision for LSG and becoming successful in 2025 and just moving on from there," said Pooran.
With the five retentions, LSG possesses a purse of Rs 69 crore heading into the IPL Mega Auction, potentially happening this month.
The franchise also holds the option to retain another capped player via the Right To Match (RTM) card, with the likes of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Quinton de Kock, and Krunal Pandya set to go under the hammer.