Former Australian cricketing stalwart Matthew Hayden has bestowed high praise upon a star cricketer he considers the epitome of clean hitting, labeling them as the premier hitter in the world. Hayden’s accolades came on the heels of an electrifying performance during the clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Matthew Hayden reveals his pick

Notably, the CSK vs LSG encounter at the iconic Chepauk Stadium witnessed a breathtaking chase, with LSG pulling off a record-breaking victory. Marcus Stoinis was the chief architect behind the epic chase as he played a monumental knock of 124* off just 63 deliveries. However, Nicholas Pooran‘s explosive cameo also played a pivotal role in LSG’s triumph, injecting momentum into the chase.

Pooran’s scintillating performance during the clash left spectators in awe, prompting Hayden to dub him as the ‘cleanest hitter in the world.’ Hayden showered praise upon Pooran, highlighting the crucial juncture of the match when the West Indian batter took center stage. Hayden emphasized Pooran’s ability to dismantle any bowling attack with a wide array of shots, showcasing his exceptional talent as a free-flowing batsman.

Reflecting on Pooran’s impact, Hayden dissected the dynamics of the match, pointing out the pressure-building phase preceding Pooran’s arrival at the crease. The dismissal of Devdutt Padikkal after consuming 19 deliveries provided LSG with a much-needed boost, with Pooran stepping in to accelerate the innings with his explosive stroke play.

“The 19 balls that Padikkal took up before his dismissal, that was putting Marcus Stoinis under enormous pressure. When he was bowled this evening, that was probably the best outcome for LSG because it brought in the accelerator to LSG. Nicholas Pooran is the cleanest hitter in the world, I think, in this IPL. Such a talented free hitter of the ball,” said Hayden said on Star Sports.

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Dynamic batting lineup: A symphony of stabilizers and finishers

Hayden highlighted the versatility and depth within the LSG batting lineup. He praised the balance between stabilizers like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Stoinis, who were setting the foundation for the innings, and the explosive finishers like Shivam Dube and Pooran, who were accelerating the run rate with their aggressive stroke play.

Hayden also commended Deepak Hooda for his resilient batting performance, describing it as a rearguard action. Overall, Hayden emphasized the competitive spirit within the team, with each player contributing to the collective effort in pursuit of victory.

“Got great options against both pace and spin. At that stage, when you’ve got a Ruturaj Gaikwad-like innings forming, as Marcus Stoinis was creating, they were actually going neck to neck as well. It was almost like a competition within the competition as to the stabilisers of the innings and then the finishers, Shivam Dube and Nicholas Pooran, that were just blasting away. And some great re-guard action from Deepak Hooda as well,” added Hayden.

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