In a rare moment of comedy, Nicholas Pooran’s brain failure had the cricketing world laughing during the thrilling final T20I of the series between West Indies and Bangladesh, It was filled with tension and left fans on the edge of their seats. A misjudged hit by West Indies in the sixth over gave Bangladesh the crucial breakthrough, but it was Pooran’s shocked reaction to his dismissal that stole the show.
— Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskar_theman) December 20, 2024
Hilarious moment: Poulan’s unexpected stance
Nicholas Pooran, one of West Indies’ most experienced and destructive batsmen, was tasked with stabilizing the innings in a tight final game. Moving into the fourth position, Pooran’s role will be crucial as the home team looks to build a solid base. However, his time at the crease was brief. After a good start, Pooran managed just 15 runs but was sent back to the pavilion by Mahdi Hasan in the sixth over.
The Bengal captain’s decision to involve Mahdi in the attack proved to be a brilliant one. From around the wicket, the bowler bowled a short delivery and Pooran tried to pull it into the mid-wicket stand. However, surprisingly, Pooran missed the ball completely and the ball then hit the stumps. The look on his face was priceless – Poulan stood still, motionless and in disbelief, unable to fully comprehend his rejection of this seemingly innocuous delivery.
His prolonged stand at the crease after being bowled became a viral moment, with fans and pundits alike taking to social media to share their enjoyment of his “brain fade” moment. The image of Pooran standing confused even though he knew he had been bowled soon went viral, leaving the cricketing world chuckling at the rare sight.
Mahdi’s smart strategy breaks West Indies resistance
Pooran’s wicket was not only a personal setback but also a major blow to the West Indies chase. The score was 31/1 and Pooran’s departure left the home team in trouble at 31/2 just when they were settling down. Mahdi has already shown his skills in the series and once again proved that he is a bowler capable of turning the tide. His dismissal of Pooran was the result of a smart strategy, knowing that West Indies’ middle order was under pressure.
Pooran’s exit, while unfortunate, seemed to set the tone for the rest of the innings as West Indies soon found themselves in deep trouble. Roffman Powell and Roston Chase were also dismissed soon after, and the home team was soon in trouble at 45/4.
The determined resistance of Romario Sheppard and Gurdakshi Moti
Despite the mounting pressure, West Indies were not ready to give up. Romario Shepherd, known for his explosive batting, was at the crease along with West Indian bowler Gudakesh Motie. The duo worked to steady the ship, taking turns batting and keeping Bangladesh’s bowlers at bay. Shepard, in particular, showed resilience under pressure and refused to let an increasing run rate stop him.
At the time of writing, West Indies are 90/6 after 13 overs, still needing a daunting 100 off the last 42 balls. While the situation looked grim, the clinical partnership of Sheppard and Moty at least kept West Indies in the game and their hopes of an unlikely win remained alive.
An unforgettable series with an unexpected twist
The game might have been a no-win game in terms of the outcome of the series, but moments like Pooran’s brain failure and Shepard and Morty’s ongoing battle reminded everyone of the impossibility of cricket. Predictive. While Bangladesh were clearly the dominant team throughout the series, this encounter, filled with highs and lows, provided a fitting conclusion to an interesting T20I series.
Ultimately, whether West Indies complete a thrilling chase or not, the lasting image of the match will undoubtedly be Pooran’s bewildered stance at the crease, a reminder of the unpredictable and farcical nature of cricket.