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Nicholas Pooran led MI Emirates to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday in ILT20 Season 3. The skipper delivered a match-winning performance, remaining unbeaten on 58 off 37 balls and earning the Player of the Match award.
Chasing 71 runs in the final five overs, Pooran and Romario Shepherd turned the game around, finishing with five balls to spare.Reflecting on the chase, Pooran said, “Yeah, I guess it’s all about faith, belief in yourself as well. I just felt like if we could put a partnership together, stay calm, understand what the guys are trying to do, and just execute our skills, we had a chance. Romario definitely came out, they did the departure end there, and it really helped me as well.”
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Pooran’s explosive finish, scoring 48 runs off his last 15 balls, proved decisive. He admitted his early struggles but was relieved to deliver when it mattered. “I don’t want to see the first couple of balls I faced, but I’m really happy it worked out today. I got two drop catches as well, and I’m happy that it really worked out for us.”
On securing an important win after a tough start to the season, Pooran emphasised the team’s resilience. “Yeah, I mean, we have had an interesting campaign so far, losing some really close games as well. But I just feel like it builds character in the team. For us to get over the line, we need to come closer as a group. And in the last couple of days, we’ve challenged the group, and you see the guys actually coming together and working extremely hard off the field. We’re planning, and we’re just trying to stick together as a group, trying to stay calm. We’re getting there. We’re not the end product yet, but the belief is there.”
He credited his teammates for stepping up in crucial moments, highlighting Tom Banton’s consistency, Wasim’s improvement, and the contributions of Fletcher, Shepherd, and Devon Thomas, who joined the team on the same day and still made an impact. “Once we don’t get complacent, then we have a chance in this tournament, and we’re looking forward to the next game and taking it one game at a time.”
Pooran also praised Tom Banton and Fazalhaq Farooqi for their impressive performances. “I mean, we’re obviously really happy for Tom and Farooqi. Farooqi has been really consistent for us for three years. I’m really happy that these guys are getting a chance to dominate the tournament. But what matters at the end of the day is doing exactly what the team wants. We get into the back end of the tournament, the end goal is obviously to win the championship. Winning a belt, getting most runs, or getting most wickets doesn’t really matter if you don’t win the chip. But at the moment, we’re extremely happy for these guys. We want to continue supporting them in good moments and even in bad moments. And again, most importantly, just do it for the team.”
As MI Emirates build momentum, Pooran stressed the importance of trust and clarity. “Yeah, I mean, again, it’s nothing special. We just need to trust ourselves, trust our teammates, and have clarity,” he concluded.
