The IPL 2025 season has got off to a remarkable start and has one name ringing through the cricketing world — Nicholas Pooran Taking On Adam Zampa. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter produced a stunning performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 27, 2025.
His belligerent 70 from 26, including a brutal attack on spinner Adam Zampa, drew blockbuster praise from an IPL champ. Not only did this performance earn LSG a five-wicket victory, it also proved Pooran as the master against top-quality spin bowling. Let’s get into this electrifying moment, discuss what it means for Pooran’s IPL journey and break down why his clash with Zampa has everybody buzzing.
A High-octane entity that illuminated Hyderabad
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium erupted into fireworks when Pooran walked out to bat. Needing 191, Aiden Markram went early, and LSG needed a spark. Enter Pooran, who with Mitchell Marsh stitched a game-turning 116-run stand.
The pick of which came against SRH’s wily leg-spinner Adam Zampa. Pooran Taking On Adam Zampa hit 19 from Zampa’s first over with a belly-lifting six that underlined his intent. He brought up a fifty with a 18-balls blitz before six fours and six sixes paved the way for Pat Cummins and diminished Darius’s rampage.
For context, SRH managed 190/9, due in large part to Travis Head’s 47 and Aniket Verma’s late 36. Pooran, however, made sure their efforts went in vain. His strike rate of 269.23 highlighted his superiority, reducing a tricky chase into a 16.1-over stroll. This wasn’t a knock; this was a statement.
And it attracted the attention of former IPL winner Robin Uthappa, who seemed to be in awe of it.
Uthappa’s Blockbuster Praise
When Pooran’s brilliance was being addressed, former IPL champion with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, Robin Uthappa, poured praise on the West Indian. Speaking after the match, he said, “When you’re taking on someone like Adam Zampa in his first over and hitting him for 19, you’re sending a message, ‘I’m the man, I’m unstoppable. ”
Uthappa emphasized the benefit of Pooran’s taking On Adam Zampa fearlessness, how he plays “the merit of the ball without a second thought. Reconciling himself to that knowledge against spinners — particularly caliber opposition like Zampa — Pooran sets to pounce. It is that tactical clarity, Uthappa contended, which makes him different.
Further, Pooran’s numbers support this. He averages 79 with a strike rate of 187 against top-10 ranked T20I spinners, and it’s the stat that has been doing the rounds online. But Pooran spun Zampa, a world-class leggie, out of the picture.
Uthappa’s words ring true because they capture what fans watched: a batter utterly in command, trundling what had been a difficult chase into a show.
The Zampa Challenge: A Major Moment
Adam Zampa is not just any bowler in international cricket. His variations, and tight lines, make him a potent weapon for SRH. Confronting him early in the chase was a nerve test, particularly on a pitch that was showing some grip. Pooran, however, didn’t blink.
He started Taking On Adam Zampa with a boundary and then hit him for a big six into the stands. By the end of the over, 19 runs had been plundered and Zampa’s confidence was dented. This was not just about runs — it was a psychological hammer blow to SRH’s bowling attack.
Ironically, Pooran’s approach is reminiscent of his past heroics. He hit a 15-ball fifty against RCB during IPL 2023, which is the joint second-fastest in IPL history. Now, 2025, Zampa has joined that list of conquests.
For LSG, this moment swung the momentum sharply in one direction, showcasing again how well Pooran performs under pressure.
Pooran’s IPL 2025 Hot Streak
This wasn’t a one-off. From the get-go, Pooran’s IPL 2025 campaign has been dynamite. He smashed 75 off 30 balls against Delhi Capitals in LSG’s opener, 28 runs in an over of Tristan Stubbs. However, Pooran’s form was inarguable despite LSG losing that match.
He took it a step further against SRH, when he bagged the Orange Cap in just the second match of the season as the highest run-scorer. He already has 145 runs — preparing the way for a blockbuster campaign.
Even better, he has been consistent. Pooran has been a T20 powerhouse since 2022, with few dips in form. He easily got under the skin of bowlers, getting on top of both spinners and seamers. For LSG, who re-signed him for ₹21 crore, he is proving worth every rupee.
Pooran’s knock, in addition to Marsh’s 52 off 31, ensured their chase didn’t lose steam.
Shardul Thakur Sets the Stage
If Pooran stole the batting headlines, Shardul Thakur is to be given credit as well. Bowling a match-defining spell, the LSG all-rounder was drafted into the squad as a late replacement in the auction after remaining unsold.
His 4/34, which included the scalps of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in quick succession, set SRH back early. Travis Head, dropped twice, succumbed to a scorching yorker from Thakur, who marked his 100 IPL wickets in style.
Uthappa lauded Thakur’s grit and determination saying. “He took it on the chin, came back to first-class cricket and did extremely well.” The explosive combo was Thakur’s breakthroughs and Pooran’s fireworks. LSG’s victory was as much about bowling grit as it was about batting flair.
Why Pooran’s Approach Works
So why is Pooran so effective? First, his mindset. He doesn’t think and then take shots — he reacts to line and length. Against Zampa, he sat back then pounced on loose deliveries. Second, his positioning. Pooran’s stance and footwork opened up room to access all parts of the ground, particularly when facing spin. Finally, his confidence.
Tonking a bowler of Zampa’s quality early sends a signal to the opposition: no one’s safe.
Moreover, he can lean on people around him. The 116-run partnership with Marsh kept LSG in front of the asking rate and took the pressure off the middle order. David Miller’s finishing touch took care of the rest, but Pooran’s blitz set the stage. That flexibility — explosive but measured — is the hallmark of his game.
Fan and Expert Reactions
Pooran’s knock sent fans in a frenzy on social media. On a baseball tab in 2003, one called him “a joke” for his unreal hitting, while another labeled him as “the most gifted batter from the West Indies.”
Experts echoed this. Nicholas Pooran is a joke,” wondered former RCB all-rounder Wayne Parnell on Twitter in amazement of the Trinidadian’s chasing power. The buzz was all around him when it came to his Zampa takedown, clips of that six making waves on social media.
Uthappa’s analysis, in the meantime, gave depth. He pointed to Pooran’s penchant for attacking matchups, a specialty forged through years of playing T20 leagues around the world. For LSG supporters, it’s a omen that their ₹21-crore man would land them in IPL 2025 glory.
Pooran and LSG’s Road Ahead
This win is not only helps LSG’s net run rate but also boosts its confidence. They’ve proved under Rishabh Pant’s captaincy that they are capable of chasing down big totals. Pant himself was battling his way to 15 off 15, but Pooran’s showing covers for that for the time being.
With Marsh, Miller and Thakur all in the firing line, LSG has a balanced squad. Their next challenge? Punjab Kings here on April 1 at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. Again Pooran’s bat is the key.
For pooran, Orange Cap is a bonus. After the match, he said, “It’s a bit big but it feels good. I’m not here to hit sixes — I just time the ball.” His modesty radiates, but his gift hollers. If he keeps this form up, the IPL trophy will finally make it to Lucknow.
A Clash for the Ages
Yet, Pooran’s demolition of Zampa was not merely match-defining — it was a moment to savour T20 batting at its finest. Uthappa’s blockbuster commendation says it well: when Pooran’s in the zone, he’s unstoppable.
This has raised the high ball for IPL 2025. Can he keep ruling bowlers? Will LSG follow his trail to the trophy? One thing’s for sure, every time he comes up against a spinner like Zampa, fans will be holding their breath. Do you think Pooran is magic, or am I? The IPL tale is unfolding—keep an eye!”