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All eyes will be on one man when Lucknow Super Giants take on Rajasthan Royals today in Indian Premier League 2026 -Nicholas Pooran. The explosive hitter was retained for an eye-watering 21 crore, but his figures so far have led to stern questions being asked.

So far in IPL 2026 Pooran has represented his team in six matches and scored a paltry 51 runs. The 21 crore man's highest score is just 19 and his strike rate has stood at a shocking 79.68. These figures are far from what is expected from a player who has the potential to win matches with the bat.

Pooran's last six scores read - 9, 1, 19, 13, 1, 8. It's evident from these scores that the left-handed batter has found it hard to make an impact even after coming out to bat in every game.

Put his 21 crore price tag against his current performance and the figures look even more astounding.

• Total salary - INR 21 crore
• Total runs in first six matches - 51

Cost per run = 21 crore/51 = approximately 41.18 lakh per run

This means that so far, each run scored by Pooran this season has cost more than 40 lakh. It is concerning from Lucknow's perspective to have such a player in their batting lineup when it comes to performing under pressure in the middle order.

For comparison in IPL 2025, Pooran has had a much better season. He has scored 524 runs in 14 matches at a respectable average of 43.66 and an excellent strike rate of 196.25. This performance included five fifties which meant that his 21 crore fee made a lot more sense then than it does right now.

Also Read | Nicholas Pooran IPL 2026 Slump Explained: What’s Going Wrong for LSG Star

Pooran will need to come good with LSG up against Rajasthan Royals today. His contribution in the middle order, the domain he belongs in, is of utmost importance.

LSG may have backed him through a poor phase, but time is of the essence and with IPL matches carrying a huge load, big price tag players can no longer afford not to deliver on a consistent basis.

Today could be an important day and a match-winning performance can go a long way to change the conversation. An abysmal performance today may just raise further questions about his form and price. For now, it seems the numbers have already made their judgement.