Nicholas Pooran of Lucknow Super Giants (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore) NEW DELHI: The battle for Super Over Batter Nicholas Pooran has come into sharp focus following Lucknow Super Giants’ defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. Pooran’s shootout record makes for grim reading: 0 (5), 0 (1), 0 (1), 1 (2), 0 (1), just one run in 10 balls with three dismissals, raising questions about LSG’s decision to send him in during a moment of high pressure.In Lucknow, where LSG, chasing 156, were pushed into the Super Over after a last six from Mohammed Shami.
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The Ashok Sharma Story: Inside the Village and House That Shaped India’s New Pace SensationLSG opted to bat first and sent Pooran in alongside Aiden Markram, but the move failed immediately. Sunil Narine dismissed Pooran on the first ball and removed Markram soon after, restricting LSG to just one run. KKR chased down the target of two in a single delivery, with Rinku Singh sealing the win.Despite Pooran’s numbers, captain Rishabh Pant resisted the call, emphasizing team support over individual form.“We discussed as a group, we discussed and the name that came up was Nicholas Pooran. He may not have been in the best form of his life but at the same time you trust your player in a tough situation like this,” Pant said.Pant also called for collective responsibility after the loss.“I think we definitely need a break. I think we’re going to freshen up. There’s always pressure and it’s always going to be a pressure game, but at the same time, we’ve got to find the answers inside, not outside. And just keep it simple. We’ve got to take responsibility — every guy. Like, it can’t be about one or two guys. It’s got to be about the whole unit, and a lot of people will definitely take it,” he said.With LSG now at the bottom of the table, the decision to back Pooran, despite his record, is likely to remain up for discussion.
