Nicholas Pooran is setting the IPL alight with sheer power—and he’s doing it without even trying to hit sixes.

The Lucknow Super Giants star smashed a jaw-dropping 70 off just 26 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, sending six deliveries soaring over the boundary rope. That brought his tally to a remarkable 13 sixes in just two innings in IPL 2025. But for Pooran, it’s not about brute strength or planning the big shots—just clean timing.

“I just try my best to get in good positions and if it’s there, just time the ball nicely,” he said after his latest display of fireworks. “I’ve never worked on my bat speed. I’m just blessed with incredible talent.”

That talent was on full display as Pooran walked out early in LSG’s innings and dismantled the SRH attack with a mix of flair and fury. He was off the mark with a boundary off his second ball, then took apart Simarjeet Singh in the third over, launching two monster sixes.

By the end of the powerplay, Pooran had blitzed his way to 44 off just 16 balls, with four sixes already in the bank. His half-century came in just 18 deliveries—his third-fastest in the IPL—cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous hitters in the game today.

“In the last nine years, I’ve been working on my craft,” he said. “It’s really important to cash in when the wicket is nice and obviously when the match-up is there, you try your best to execute your skills.”

Pooran’s explosive stroke play is being put to maximum use this season, thanks in part to a strategic shift in the Lucknow lineup. With Rishabh Pant, the newly appointed captain, dropping down the order, Pooran has been given a license to thrill at No. 3—and he’s grabbed it with both hands.

“Mostly the thought was to give freedom to him,” Pant explained. “We know what damage he can do down the order… you’ve got to give someone that charge to go and express themselves. The way he’s been batting is phenomenal for us.”

Pooran formed a devastating 116-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh, who also posted a half-century in his second outing this season. Marsh, now playing strictly as a batter, provided the ideal support as Pooran lit up the Hyderabad sky.

“It’s a really long tournament and it’s nice to see Marsh at the top of the order,” Pooran said. “We’re playing cricketing shots and not losing wickets. Our left-right combination is really important.”

Marsh was equally impressed, describing Pooran’s performance in one word: “Fascinating.”

“I’ve played against Nicky for a long time and you’re often on the other end of that,” Marsh added. “To be on his team now, I feel like I really connect with him… Pooran was unstoppable tonight.”

Whether it’s planned or not, Pooran’s six-hitting rampage is becoming one of the most thrilling sights of this IPL season—and it’s only just begun.