Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have reportedly confirmed the signing of Caribbean wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) retention deadline on October 31.

A Cricbuzz report claims that Pooran visited the Kolkata office of the RPSG-owned franchise today (October 29) to meet owner Sanjiv Goenka and sort out the final formalities. It is also understood that Pooran will be LSG’s top retainer with INR 18 crore.

Speaking about the development, an LSG official confirmed the signing and said:

“Pooran is committed to LSG, has a winning mentality, thinks deeply and, above all, adapts to the batting order and any game situation.”

Also, Pooran is likely to be given the role of captain and the franchise will part ways with KL Rahul.

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Nicholas Pooran has been a proven performer at LSG

Nicholas Pooran, who was snapped up by LSG for Rs 16 crore in the IPL 203 auction in Dubai, will now get a raise of Rs 2 crore, a promising deal for a foreign player ahead of a mega auction. Typically, it is Indian players who attract the highest bids in IPL auctions.

Pooran emerged as one of the franchise’s best players in the last IPL season. With close to 500 runs, he scored 499 runs which included three half-centuries and a staggering 35 fours and 36 sixes. Complemented by his reliable goaltending skills, this acquisition appears beneficial for both the player and the team.

LSG will now enter the auction with Rs 69 crore in their purse, having allocated Rs 51 crore of their Rs 120 crore salary cap to retain five players (Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni). These holds cost Rs 18 million, Rs 14 million, Rs 11 million and Rs 4 million each for the two uncapped players respectively.

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