Is Pooran the Best in the World? Better Than Gayle? The Numbers Say Yes

Pooran became the leading run-scorer at this year's IPL on Tuesday and also has the tournament's second-best strike-rate

Pooran Best in the World? Better Than Gayle? It Might Not Be a Question Anymore

If you’ve spent any time watching the 2024 IPL—or frankly, any white-ball cricket in the last 18 months—you’ve probably found yourself asking the question: is Nicholas Pooran the best in the world right now? And—whisper it—is he actually better than Chris Gayle?

Those are big claims. Monumental, even. Gayle is a walking legend, a six-hitting phenomenon, and arguably the most destructive batter T20 cricket has ever seen. But as we tick into mid-2025, Pooran’s numbers are not just impressive—they’re rewriting the rules of what’s possible in the format.

Let’s take a look at the evidence.

The Cheat Code: Pooran’s Numbers Defy Logic

You know a player is in rare form when their stats start to resemble video game numbers.

In his last 10 innings, Pooran is averaging a jaw-dropping 57.7 while striking at a blistering 199. Yes, that’s not a typo—nearly two runs per ball, over a sustained period. That’s not just good form. That’s cricketing witchcraft.

Since the start of 2024, the Trinidadian has smoked 211 sixes. The next closest? Heinrich Klaasen with 124. That gap—nearly 90 sixes—is the kind of statistical dominance we associate with the likes of Don Bradman or Serena Williams.

Pooran also shattered Gayle’s record for the most sixes in a calendar year in 2023, belting 139 to Gayle’s 135 set in 2015. And in the current IPL season, he’s averaging 4.8 sixes per match. That’s a record. Even peak-Gayle didn’t quite get there—his highest seasonal average was 3.9.

The Style Behind the Slaughter

Pooran’s strength lies not just in the numbers but in how he gets them.

He’s not a brute-force batter like Gayle. There’s an elegance to Pooran’s game—a balance of technique and power that makes him a nightmare for bowlers across formats. His stance is clean and slightly open, his hands incredibly quick, and his footwork silky smooth. He rarely looks rushed. In fact, he often looks like he’s playing a different game to everyone else.

And his own words? They reflect that clarity of thought.

“I don’t plan to hit sixes,” Pooran said casually earlier in the season. “I just try to get into good positions and if it’s there, I time the ball.”

Therein lies the secret. Timing over muscle. Precision over brute force.

Pooran vs Spin: The True Test of a Modern Great

Pooran’s domination against spin is perhaps the most frightening part of his arsenal.

In the last two IPL seasons, he’s taken slow bowlers to the cleaners, scoring 448 runs at an average of 89.6 and a strike-rate of 184.4. That’s not just aggressive—it’s efficient. He hits, but he doesn’t get out.

His slog sweep? Strikes at 344.7 per hundred balls. Hook shots? 266.7. Pull shots? 234.7. In other words, there are no safe options.

He’s not all flair and flow either—there’s hours of sweat behind the elegance. Former teammate Samit Patel recently revealed:

“No one sees how hard he works. The amount of training he does to hit sixes is phenomenal. His mindset is elite. No half swings. All full commitment.”

The All-Phase Assassin

One of the most compelling arguments for Pooran being the best in the world right now is his versatility. He doesn’t just dominate one phase of the game—he’s lethal in all three.

Since being promoted to No. 3 by both Lucknow Super Giants and the West Indies, Pooran has flourished in the powerplay, remained destructive through the middle, and become near-unstoppable at the death.

CricViz’s ‘batting impact’ model backs this up. Pooran is the only batter in the world since 2023 to average above +4 impact in all three phases.

Translation? No matter when he comes in, he’s influencing the match. Dramatically.

Are There Any Weaknesses?

Every superhero has their kryptonite—and Pooran does have his.

Left-arm wrist spin has been something of a thorn. He averages just 31.5 and strikes at a modest (for him) 108.6. And there’s a minor vulnerability to bouncers just outside off stump—aim it too straight or too wide though, and you’re cooked.

Stray into the pads or into the slot, and he’ll send it to the moon.

“He hits 360 degrees. From a spinner’s point of view, we try to make him cut, hit behind the wicket. If he’s hitting fours, we can live with that. If he’s hitting sixes—it’s game over,” said Patel.

Better Than Gayle?

This is the million-dollar question. Gayle was the original T20 titan. His 175*, his charisma, the towering sixes—he defined an era.

But Pooran? He might be defining the next one.

Gayle was raw power. Pooran blends touch with timing, aggression with awareness. His six-hitting numbers are better. His impact across formats is consistent. And he’s doing it while maintaining an aura of control rarely seen in such explosive batters.

At 29, Pooran might not just be in the conversation—he might be leading it.