March 28, 2025: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has hailed Nicholas Pooran as the best T20 player in the current era, following the explosive performances of the West Indies cricketer in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Pooran’s incredible hitting has taken the tournament by storm, especially with his sensational 70 runs off 26 balls, which led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Pooran’s blistering knock was the backbone of LSG’s successful chase of SRH’s 191-run target. Impressed by Pooran’s consistency and dominance in the shortest format of the game, Harbhajan Singh took to social media, declaring, “Currently Nicholas Pooran is the best player of T20 format. Period!”
The 29-year-old Caribbean batter has been in phenomenal form this season. He began his IPL campaign with a fiery 75 off just 30 balls against Delhi Capitals, despite his team’s narrow defeat. His recent performances, including his match-winning efforts, have propelled him to the top of the Orange Cap leaderboard in IPL 2025, with 145 runs from just two matches at a stunning average of 72.50 and an eye-popping strike rate of 258.92.
Pooran also became the second player after former LSG captain KL Rahul to cross the 1000-run mark for the franchise. He reached this milestone in just 31 matches, boasting a remarkable average of 45.54 and a strike rate of 184.53. Pooran’s aggressive batting style, particularly his ability to race to a fifty in fewer than 20 balls, has made him one of the most destructive players in the tournament. He holds the record for the most sub-20-ball fifties, having reached the milestone four times, a feat unmatched by any other player in IPL history.
Harbhajan’s endorsement of Pooran comes as no surprise, given the latter’s ability to turn games with his batting prowess. As IPL 2025 continues, all eyes will be on Pooran to see how far his explosive form can take Lucknow Super Giants in the tournament.