₹21 Crore IPL Player Trolled Online Despite Impressive Net Practice
Expensive IPL star struggles in matches despite strong net sessions
Lucknow Super Giants' Rs 21 crore star Nicholas Pooran faced brutal online trolling after the franchise shared a video of him smashing massive sixes in the nets amid his dismal IPL 2026 form. The West Indian wicketkeeper-batter has aggregated just 42 runs across five innings at a strike rate of 76.36 and average of 8.40, with a highest score of 19. Fans mocked the clip with comments like "Only in practice" and "Drop him," amplifying frustration over his high price tag from the 2025 auction.
LSG uploaded the practice footage post their recent defeat, aiming to showcase Pooran's net prowess and signal a potential turnaround. However, supporters saw it as tone-deaf amid consistent failures, including scores of 8(8), 1(4), 13(15), 19(21), and 1(7). Social media erupted with accusations of "scamming LSG," questioning his commitment despite international retirement boosting his T20 focus.
Pooran's slump contrasts sharply with his explosive 2024 IPL season, where he led run-scoring and finished as LSG's top performer. Critics point to mental fragility post-Rishabh Pant's emergence and tactical mismatches in the middle order. The franchise persists with him at No. 4-5, banking on his power-hitting pedigree despite the backlash.
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No official response from Pooran or LSG has emerged, but pressure mounts with playoffs distant and key games ahead. Trolling extends to predictions of career decline, echoing scrutiny on other big buys like Mitchell Starc. His net form offers hope, yet match failure fuels demands for benching amid LSG's uneven campaign.
This episode highlights IPL's unforgiving spotlight on underperformers, where practice clips backfire without results. As fan sentiment sours, Pooran needs a big score to silence critics in the coming fixtures. LSG eyes revival, but retaining faith in their costliest asset tests team management's resolve.
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