Pooran also confident that KXIP will bounce back strongly in the IPL 13.
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) star wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran wasn’t really surprised with his acrobatic fielding at the boundary rope during KXIP’s last IPL 2020 match against Rajasthan Royals.
Pooran was in brilliant form in the 9th match of the IPL 2020, as the West Indian star first scored 25* runs off 8 balls in the first innings and then grabbed the headlines with his outrageous effort to save a certain six from Sanju Samson on the boundary in the second innings in Dubai.
In the 8th over of RR’s innings, Samson pulled a shorter one from Murugan Ashwin for a six, but Pooran, at deep mid-wicket, showed a brilliant presence of mind and dived full length over the boundary rope and was airborne while pulling the ball from almost six feet inside the rope to save 4 runs for KXIP.
Following his mind-blowing fielding efforts, Pooran has credited KXIP’s fielding coach Jonty Rhodes for stressing on athleticism and improving his fielding at the outfield at the franchise training.
Pooran told Times of India from Dubai: “We have been practicing taking such catches every day during our training sessions. I have taken such catches in our fielding sessions. It was not a surprise for me.”
He further added, “What I have improved significantly in the past couple of weeks. I am a wicketkeeper, so diving and jumping are natural to me, but I have learned from Rhodes is game awareness. I believe in hard work. There is no substitute for it. Hopefully, as the tournament progresses, I will be able to save more runs for my team in the outfield.”
KXIP has lost two close games in the IPL 13 so far but Pooran was confident that the franchise will bounce strongly in the remaining games of the tournament.
He added, “Yes, as a team, we were gutted after yesterday's loss. But there is no panic in the dressing room. As a unit, we are very positive and have learned from our mistakes. There are a lot of things that we are doing right. We have not been able to close the games, but at the same time, we haven't done much wrong. We still have 11 games to go, and I am sure we will bounce back strongly.”
Pooran was also delighted to get some game time before the IPL 2020 in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he has scored his maiden T20 hundred against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
He signed off by saying, “I was lucky to get some match time under my belt before IPL. As a professional cricketer, you want to do well in the IPL, because the standard is equal to international cricket.”