Lucknow Super Giants‘Dramatic super over damage to Kolkata Knight Riders In ipl 2026 Former South African fast bowler has been heavily criticized dale steyn Are openly questioning the team management’s decision to send nicholas puran Came to bat first in the tie-breaker.
LSG suffered another painful defeat at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday, April 26, as KKR kept their composure in a tense situation to cause further trouble to Lucknow. The defeat is LSG’s fifth consecutive defeat of the season and dropped them to the bottom of the points table, putting serious pressure on captain Rishabh Pant and his team.
Nicholas Pooran’s struggle continues in IPL 2026
Pooran’s tough IPL 2026 campaign continued on the night. The left-handed batsman could only score nine runs during the main innings before being dismissed by the mystery spinner Varun Chakraborty. When the match went into the Super Over, LSG once again relied on Pooran under pressure, but the result was even more disappointing.
experienced spinner Sunil Narine He was dismissed for zero on the very first ball, due to which Lucknow immediately went on the backfoot. It was a familiar story for Pooran, who now has a worrying record in IPL Super Overs. In the three Super Over matches in the league, he has been out for a duck each time.
His overall figures this season have also not been convincing, with only 82 runs at an average of 10.25, making the decision to send him in early at such a high-pressure moment all the more surprising.
Dale Steyn has called it a big strategic mistake
Speaking after the match, Steyn did not back down from his assessment. He felt that LSG had far better options available and described the move as a serious tactical error at a crucial stage of the tournament.
According to Steyn, players like Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pantor even Mukul Chaudhary Given the current form and confidence levels, this would have been a strong option.
He pointed out that Pooran did not look comfortable throughout the season and asking him to deliver quick deliveries in the Super Over was a gamble that made no sense. Steyn even suggested that the batsman might lack the confidence required for such a moment at the moment.
“Three Super Overs, three zeros for Nicholas Pooran in the IPL. So yes, absolutely, would you send anyone else? Absolutely. You have players like Mitch Marsh, Rishabh Pant and Mukul Choudhary. Looking at Pooran’s recent form, there were other options too. He hasn’t scored more than 30 or 40 this season, I don’t know the exact numbers, but sending him on the first ball in a Super Over to get you runs is almost a criminal decision.” Steyn said on Star Sports.
The former fast bowler stressed that teams struggling to survive in the tournament cannot take emotional or risky decisions. Instead, they should rely on players who are timing the ball well and showing confidence in pressure situations.
“It’s something that could have gone either way, but at this stage of the season, when you’re desperate to win, you don’t send in a batsman who hasn’t performed well all season. You go with players who are hitting the ball well, guys you trust to clear the ropes, or at least get back to work,” Added Stan.
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LSG’s season hangs in the balance
Steyn also said that Pooran is a world-class player, but form matters a lot in T20 cricket, especially when it becomes necessary to win every game.
Lucknow’s repeated mistakes are now weighing heavily on them. Five consecutive defeats have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy and the pressure inside the camp is increasing rapidly.
The franchise will now turn its attention to the big match against Mumbai Indians on May 4 at the Wankhede Stadium. With time running out, LSG must find quick answers if they hope to salvage their IPL 2026 campaign before it is completely over.
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