Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: The IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders turned out to be a thrilling thriller. Rinku Singh guided Kolkata Knight Riders to a comfortable win 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 to target two. In response, Singh smashed a four off the very first ball to seal the game for KKR.Batting first in the Super Over, LSG faced heavy criticism for sending Nicholas Pooran into bat against KKR at the crucial juncture.Pooran, who has already struggled with the bat this season, was dismissed on the very first ball of the Super Over by Sunil Narine.Former South African pacer Dale Steyn did not hold back and criticized LSG for the decision to send Pooran, which backfired badly for the Rishabh Pant-led side.Steyn called the move “criminal”.“Three Super Overs for Nicholas Pooran in the IPL, three ducks. So yes, absolutely. Would you send someone 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 JioHotstar TV.
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