The first dose of high drama in the ongoing 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League was witnessed as the fiery clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders went into a thrilling Super Over finish on Sunday in Lucknow. For LSG, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami rose to the occasion, smashing a six off the very last ball to level the scores at 155. His late firepower took the side into the Super Over, stunning KKR, who were cruising to a comfortable victory. 

However, LSG’s decision-making came under intense scrutiny when they sent out Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat in the Super Over against the experienced Sunil Narine. It was quite a surprising decision given Pooran’s poor form in the tournament. Coming into the game, Pooran was carrying scores of 8, 1, 13, 19, 1, 9, and 22. The gamble backfired immediately. 

Pooran, who had already struggled during the innings, lasted just one delivery in the Super Over before being taken out by Narine. The early breakthrough gave KKR an upper hand. The pressure kept mounting, and by the third ball, Markram too was dismissed. Chasing a target of 2 runs, KKR batter Rinku Singh finished the job early, slamming a boundary off the very first ball. Sharing his views on KKR's disappointing form, former South African pacer Dale Steyn hit out at Pant's decision to send Pooran.

“He hasn’t scored more than 30 or 40 runs this season; I don’t know the exact numbers, but to send him in first ball in a Super Over to get you runs is almost a criminal decision. It could have gone either way, but at this stage of the season, when you’re desperate to win, you don’t send in a batter who hasn’t delivered all season. You go with players who’ve been striking the ball well, guys you trust to clear the ropes or at least back to do the job. I don’t even think Nicholas Pooran believes he can do it right now; he’s in such a bad run of form," Steyn said on JioStar. 

“It’s unfortunate because he’s such a wonderful player. But when you’re trying to revive your season, you can’t afford blunders like that, not at this level,” he said.

As of now, LSG are sitting at the bottom of the points table with two wins in eight games. They have endured six losses, having only four points.