Nicholas Pooran has become the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) first retention ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) retention deadline day (October 31). As Insidesport reported earlier, LSG are set to move on from skipper KL Rahul, who is all but certain to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction. According to Cricbuzz, the West Indian keeper met with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka on Tuesday at the RPSG group’s Kolkata office to sign the contract.
Nicholas Pooran to captain LSG after KL Rahul?
The development comes amid reports that LSG has decided to part ways with their captain KL Rahul, marking a bold new direction for the franchise. Pooran’s retention deal is worth Rs 18 crore, marking a Rs 2 crore increase from his previous auction price of Rs 16 crore. While Pooran could earn more than Rs 18 crore, the rumours are currently that LSG are implying for Pooran to settle at the minimum retention slab of Rs 18 crore as set by BCCI.
The 29-year-old’s retention hardly comes as a surprise given his stellar performance in the previous IPL season. Pooran fell just one run short of the coveted 500-run mark, smashing 499 runs with three half-centuries. His explosive batting style was evident in his tally of 35 fours and 36 sixes through the season. “Pooran is committed to LSG, possesses a winning mindset, thinks deep and above all he is adaptable to the batting order and any match situation,” an LSG official confirmed Pooran’s decision to stay at LSG.
LSG retentions confirmed? ft. Pooran, Mayank Yadav
The franchise’s retention strategy is coming together, with four players confirmed to remain: spinner Ravi Bishnoi, fast bowler Mayank Yadav, and uncapped talents Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan. This gives LSG a solid budget of ₹69 crore for the auction, having spent ₹51 crore on their retained players. Looking ahead, LSG will need to bring in at least 15 more players to round out their squad. With their substantial remaining budget, they seem well-equipped to build a competitive team around their talisman, Pooran.
By keeping Pooran at the highest retention price for an overseas player before a major auction, LSG is clearly showing their confidence in his skills. His ability to play as both a wicketkeeper and batter adds crucial versatility to the team’s setup, making this deal advantageous for both sides as LSG embarks on its next chapter.
Nicholas Pooran IPL stats since 2022
| Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Avg | SR | HS | 50 | 100 | 4s | 6s |
| 42 | 1,163 | 699 | 28 | 41.5 | 166.4 | 75 | 7 | 0 | 77 | 83 |
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