NEW DELHI: The IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders turned out to be a gripping thriller. Rinku Singh led Kolkata Knight Riders to a comfortable victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday in the first Super Over of IPL 2026. LSG managed just one run in the Super Over, leaving KKR with a target of two. In reply, Singh hit a four off the first ball to seal the game for KKR.
LSG, who batted first in the Super Over, faced heavy criticism for sending Nicholas Pooran to bat against KKR at that crucial juncture.
Pooran, who was already struggling with the bat this season, was dismissed on the first ball of the Super Over by Sunil Narine.
Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn did not hold back and criticized LSG for the decision to send Pooran, which backfired for the Rishabh Pant-led team.
Steyn called the move “criminal.”
“Three Super Overs for Nicholas Pooran in the IPL, three ducks. So, yes, absolutely. Would you send anyone else? Of course. You have players like Mitch Marsh, Rishabh Pant and Mukul Choudhary. Given Pooran’s recent form, there were other options,” Steyn told broadcaster JioHotstar.
“He hasn’t scored more than 30 or 40 runs this season, I don’t know the exact numbers, but sending him on the first ball in a Super Over to get runs is almost a criminal decision,” he added.
“It could have gone either way, but at this stage of the season, when you’re desperate to win, you don’t send out a batsman who hasn’t delivered all season. You go with players who have been hitting the ball well, guys you trust to clear the ropes, or at least get the job done again. I don’t even think Nicholas Pooran thinks he can do it at the moment; he’s in such bad form,” Steyn said.
“It’s unfortunate because he’s a wonderful player. But when you’re trying to revive your season, you can’t afford mistakes like that, not at this level,” he added.
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Shortly after Pooran’s dismissal, Steyn also took to social media, writing: “He wouldn’t be able to get to the water if he fell off a boat. Tough times.”
With the loss to KKR on Sunday, LSG fell to the bottom of the points table with just four points from eight matches.