Photo: SportzPics

Kings XI Punjab ended on the wrong side of a high scoring thriller at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Rajasthan Royals yesterday night at the Dream11 Indian Premier League. Despite the result going against them, there were plenty of positives to take for KL Rahul and the rest of the team, as KXIP put in an almighty fight against the Royals.

Among those positives would undoubtedly be the fielding plaudits of a certain Nicholas Pooran, who produced what many are calling the best bit of fielding in the history of the IPL. In the eighth over of the Rajasthan innings, Sanju Samson freed his arms to try and hit Murugan Ashwin for a maximum on the leg side. 

It was almost destined to be a six, but KXIP’s boundary rider Nicholas Pooran leaped like a salmon to catch the ball, and in a split second decision threw it back inside the field before his feet touched the ground. That gravity-defying fielding attempt by the Caribbean prodigy saved his side four runs, as Rajasthan picked up only two runs for what looked like a definite six. 

Nicholas Pooran’s acrobatic heroics earned the plaudits of most in the cricketing fraternity, including KXIP coach Jonty Rhodes, who gave him a standing ovation. Kevin Pietersen who was on live commentary at that time called it ‘the best (save) he has ever seen.’

Apart from Pietersen and Rhodes, many stalwarts of the game like Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne and Virender Sehwag all took to social media to praise the heroic fielding efforts of Nicholas Pooran. 

Kings XI Punjab fans would hope that the level of fielding remains constant for the rest of the tournament as their team now prepare for a clash against Mumbai Indians next.