NEW DELHI: Nicholas Pooran is continuing to stretch the boundaries of power-hitting in the IPL, and his latest landmark has pushed him beyond Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in one of the tournament’s most electrifying stat categories. On Monday at the Wankhede Stadium, the Lucknow Super Giants batter produced a blistering fifty off just 16 balls against Mumbai Indians, further cementing his reputation as one of the quickest men to reach major milestones in T20 cricket.
Pooran’s record run: fifties under 20 balls
With that innings, Pooran now owns five IPL half-centuries struck in fewer than 20 deliveries. That tally ranks as the second-highest of all time in the competition, with only Abhishek Sharma ahead on six. The elite list reads:
- 6 — Abhishek Sharma
- 5 — Nicholas Pooran
- 4 — Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Pooran’s latest barrage was not just another quick score—it carried the feel of a clear message. Batting at No. 3 for Lucknow for the first time this season, the left-handed batter looked completely at ease as soon as he came to the crease, immediately turning the tempo of the contest in his team’s favour.
Fastest fifties for LSG (by balls)
- 15 — Nicholas Pooran vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2023
- 16 — Nicholas Pooran vs MI, Wankhede, 2026
- 16 — Nicholas Pooran vs SRH, Hyderabad, 2025
- 19 — Nicholas Pooran vs MI, Wankhede, 2024
- 20 — Kyle Mayers vs PBKS, Mohali, 2023
- 20 — Nicholas Pooran vs DC, Delhi, 2024
How the innings unfolded at Wankhede
- Pooran launched into the chase with ruthless efficiency, racing to 63 off just 21 balls.
- He struck at a strike rate of 300, finding the boundary once in the form of a four and clearing the ropes for eight sixes.
- The decisive acceleration arrived in the 8th over, when he pulled a short delivery from Deepak Chahar to fine leg for six.
- That shot completed his fifty in only 16 balls, a milestone reached with fearless shot-making and clean execution.
- After reaching the landmark, he blew a kiss and raised his bat towards the crowd, a gesture that underlined how much he enjoyed the role.
Even though Jasprit Bumrah struggled to find full control at the venue on the same night, Pooran turned the Wankhede into his own launchpad. If this knock is any indication, his move to No. 3 could end up being one of the most significant tactical shifts in IPL 2026, adding another layer of danger to Lucknow’s batting structure.
