NEWS
Follow UsNicholas Pooran, in the aftermath of his blazing 98 against Afghanistan on June 17 (Monday), lavished praise on Chris Gayle for setting the platform for players like him and insisted that he feels honored, privileged and glad to be able to take over the ‘entertainer’ mantle from the Universe Boss.
Against Afghanistan in St Lucia, West Indies made it four wins in four in this T20 World Cup but it was, in particular, a special night for Pooran. He not only smashed his highest ever T20I score but also overtook Gayle to become the most prolific six-hitter for the Windies in the shortest format.
READ: A record-filled night for Pooran and West Indies
In the aftermath of the contest, a ‘proud’ Pooran reflected on what he’s been able to achieve in Windies colours so far.
“It's a proud feeling. I've worked hard throughout my career. When you work hard in your career and then you're getting the results, it's a really proud feeling,” Pooran said, after going past Gayle to become Windies’ highest six hitter in T20Is.
“I've sacrificed a lot, so I want to be the best version of myself. What has happened now is only because of my hard work and belief in myself. I'm just really happy that I can continue what he left. He obviously set the platform for us.
“As I said in my last interview, he's the definition of batting in T20 cricket. And I'm just really happy that I can continue to entertain people and take over where he has left.”
The left-hander admitted that he was disappointed to miss out on a well-deserved ton, but insisted that the three-figure score will ‘come at the right time’ for both him and the side.
“Obviously, a bit disappointed that I did not get that 100 today. But I believe that everything happens at the right time. Today wasn't the day for me to score that century and I'm just really thankful that I could be out there, batting for my team. It will come at the right time.”
The clash against Afghanistan was an outlier, in many ways, for it was a high-scoring contest in a World Cup that’s proven to be the lowest scoring T20WC edition of all time.
West Indies, batting first, got to 218, and Pooran was pleased that his side were able to cash in on a great batting surface.
“Coming here to this venue here, we know that the conditions are good and we as batsmen, we needed to obviously cash in. We can't say we have bad wickets in the Caribbean, and then when we get good wickets, we can't bat on it. So, tonight was an opportunity for us to spend some time in the middle and get something respectable,” the 28-year-old said.
This is the first time the Windies have won four on the bounce in a T20 World Cup. They did not even manage this feat in 2012 and 2016, where they ended up as champions. Is there something special brewing?
“I think it's a really good opportunity for us not only for myself, but everyone is in their prime of their career and everyone is doing well And, hopefully in the next two weeks we will be smiling,” Pooran said, when asked about the prospect of winning a World Cup on home soil.
The hosts will begin the Super 8s stage with a clash against England in St Lucia on June 19 (Wednesday). It was only six months ago that West Indies triumphed over the Three Lions in a bilateral series at home, but Pooran insisted that it will be important for his side to ‘leave the ego behind’ and play the conditions against England, and not fall for their own hype.
“We've played England every year for the last three years in T20 cricket. We've played them in the Caribbean. They know the conditions as well. They know how we'd like to play the games as well. So, they have some insight into how we want to play cricket as well but again.
“England is a tough team. They obviously have championships behind their back and Wednesday's a different opportunity for us and we just need to continue to leave the ego home. Respect the game and then take it ball by ball, over by over on Wednesday.”
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