Nicholas Pooran began this year by becoming the most expensive West Indian ever sold at an Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, and he broke that record on Friday when Lucknow Super Giants spent approximately US$2 million to buy him.
For a while, the fight for Pooran seemed to be a contest between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, but once Super Giants swooped in with a bid nearing US$1 million, it became a two-team race between them and Capitals.
Pooran endured a mixed year as far as his international career is concerned. He was named Kieron Pollard’s successor as West Indies T20I captain but stepped down following a dismal T20 World Cup campaign where West Indies failed to make it out of the first round after losses to Scotland and Ireland.
He did have a decent IPL in 2022, being among the few notable performers in a disappointing season for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He made 306 runs including two fifties at an average of 38.25 and a strike rate of 144.33.
His power-hitting ability was most recently seen in the Abu Dhabi T10, where he was adjudged player of the tournament for his 345 runs, which came at an average of 49.28 and a phenomenal strike rate of 234.69.
Meanwhile, England’s Sam Curran has become the most expensive auction buy in the history of the IPL after being bought by Punjab Kings for approximately US$2.2 million.
Six franchises made a bid for the 24-year-old all-rounder before Punjab were eventually successful.
Curran was named player of the tournament at this year’s T20I World Cup after helping England to become double white-ball world champions.
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