Need To Refocus And Work Hard For T20 World Cup, IPL Is Done For Me: Nicholas Pooran

West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran said that he will be aiming to refocus on his game ahead of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Pooran had a terrible time with the bat in IPL 2021 for Punjab Kings as the destructive batter could add only 85 runs from 12 matches.

I felt like I rushed the results a lot, and I paid the price: Nicholas Pooran on his IPL 2021 performance

Pooran had a great season in the Caribbean Premier League 2021, where he scored 263 runs at the strike rate of 163.35.

The 26-year-old player wants to move on from his IPL performances and backs his process and confidence to execute his game plan for West Indies.

“The IPL is gone. It’s done for me. I just have to refocus and go again. I know personally [that] I’ve let myself down in terms of not sticking with my process long enough. I felt like I rushed the results a lot and I paid the price. You could see that in my scores. It’s just for me to refocus now, hit the nets, work hard and plan again – simple as that,” Pooran was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

“I’m not concerned at all. My cricket is based on confidence and my intent. I left the first half of the season scoring what, 20 runs in five, six, seven games [28 runs in six innings]. I came and did decent in the last three series for West Indies and in CPL.

“It’s about my process, continuing to believe in my process, having faith in my process, and my confidence is very high. I have no doubts in my mind that I can execute my gameplan and do good for the team,” he added.

Our focus is not too much on singles: Nicholas Pooran

Pooran, who is also the vice-captain of West Indies in white-ball formats, led them to 4-1 win against Australia in regular skipper Kieron Pollard’s absence in the five-match T20I series at home.

West Indies lost 0-1 and 2-3 to Pakistan and South Africa respectively in their last T20I series they played at home before the CPL 2021.

Pooran said that the West Indies players are not much focused on taking singles and rather aim for big shots.

The West Indies wicketkeeper cited the example of how they won two T20 World Cups with the intent of power-hitting shots.

“For the last couple of months, in the three series in the Caribbean, everything was about ‘singles, singles, singles. We spoke about it and chatted about it. We have players that play certain roles but as a batting group we want to get better, we want to improve. Yes, singles are a part of the game, but our focus is not too much on singles,” Pooran said.

“We won two World Cups with the same problem, to be honest: not getting singles, but yet still we won two World Cups. It’s more about intent – intent and playing smart cricket, that’s it,” he added.

West Indies are paired with England, Australia, South Africa and two more teams yet to qualify in the Group 1 of the Super 12 stage.

Kieron Pollard and his men start their title defending campaign against 2016 fellow finalists England on October 23.

Also Read: You Don’t Win A World Cup By One Or Two Persons Performing: Nicholas Pooran