Nicholas Pooran signs ₹18 Crore deal with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, primed for IPL retention

New Delhi: Nicholas Pooran, the dynamic West Indies batsman, has made history as the first official retention pick for IPL 2025, according to a report from Cricbuzz. He bagged a whopping ₹18 crore deal after a successful meeting with Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka in Kolkata on Tuesday. Initially, it was anticipated that KL Rahul, the team's captain for the last two seasons, would be retained. However, when that plan didn't materialize, Pooran stepped in and showcased his quick decision-making and preparedness, ultimately securing the coveted spot.

According to BCCI retention rules, the top retention player receives a salary of ₹18 crore, marking Pooran’s highest paycheck in IPL history. His previous best came two years ago, ahead of the 2023 season, when Lucknow Super Giants initially acquired him for ₹16 crore after he was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“Pooran is committed to LSG, possesses a winning mindset, thinks deep and above all, he is adaptable to the batting order and any match situation,” the website quoted a source as saying.

And rightly so. Last year, Pooran emerged as one of the top run-scorers for Lucknow Super Giants, amassing 499 runs at an impressive average of 62.38 and a strike rate of 178.21, including three half-centuries. The previous year was solid as well, with Pooran accumulating 358 runs. In 2024, he stands as the leading run-scorer across all formats of T20 cricket, totaling 2,251 runs from 68 matches. Notably, the highest-ranked Indian on the list, Virat Kohli, sits significantly lower at No. 40.

With Indian cricketers anticipated to dominate the upcoming IPL mega-auction next month, KL Rahul, formerly of Lucknow Super Giants, is expected to be a highly sought-after player. Rumors suggest that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are particularly interested in acquiring him, given that their current captain, Faf du Plessis, is 40 and nearing the end of his career. Rahul, who began his IPL journey with RCB in 2014, could be seen as a natural successor to lead the franchise.

With Nicholas Pooran firmly positioned as Lucknow Super Giants’ top retention pick, the remaining four slots are expected to be filled by Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, and Mohsin Khan. The franchise will head into the auction with a budget of ₹69 crore, which they must strategically allocate to fill at least 15 player slots.