Nicholas Pooran speaks on Windies' chances in World Cup and his IPL experience

West Indies and Kings XI Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran has played just one ODI and 11 T20Is for his international team but has a life story that is an inspiration for others. His style of playing has already gotten KXIP coach Mike Hesson calling him ‘young Gayle’. His potential and abilities have led the Windies selectors to choose him in the West Indies’ 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019.

Four years ago, Pooran was involved in a car crash in which he had injured his ankle really bad and at one point in time, he felt that his career in cricket is as good as over. But with determination and hard work, Trinidad-born Pooran has fought the odds and broken into the West Indies side and now look to play in his first World Cup.

Cricket is like religion in India, says Pooran

Nicholas Pooran finds the level of cricket really high in the Indian Premier League when he compares it to his experiences of playing in other T20 leagues in Pakistan and back home, the CPL. “The level of the game here is extremely high. Cricket is like a religion in India, so everyone is engrossed in the game. I know it is ultimately about the game. It’s a two-month long dynamic tournament and the following is very high in India,” the 23-year-old Pooran was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

He rated Chris Gayle, his West Indies, and KXIP teammate as a great batsman and said that he keeps learning from the big Jamaican every time the two play together.

West Indies needs to realize the conditions in England and get ready for the tourney

Talking about West Indies’ chances in the upcoming World Cup, Pooran mentioned, “West Indies has a lot of talented players like it has always had. Obviously, things are shaping well for the World Cup and we are looking forward to it. Hope I do a great job. The conditions in England will obviously be colder. The one thing would be to (understand) the conditions and then adjusting (accordingly) to the longer format of the game. This is our job, and this is what we do day in and out, so we have to (realize) the situation and get ready for the World Cup.”

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