Lucknow Super Giants are under serious pressure after another close defeat and this time, their decision-making has come under the spotlight. Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn openly criticised the team’s choices during the Super Over against Kolkata Knight Riders, a game that LSG narrowly lost at the Ekana Stadium.
The defeat pushed LSG to the bottom of the points table and extended their worrying losing streak. One of the biggest talking points from the match was the decision to send Nicholas Pooran in to bat during the Super Over. Nicholas Pooran has been struggling throughout the season and the numbers reflect that.
In the main innings, the left-handed batter scored just 9 runs. His Super Over outing was even worse, as he got out for a first-ball duck to Sunil Narine. What makes it more concerning is that Nicholas Pooran has now played three Super Overs in the IPL and he has been dismissed for zero in all three. Overall, he has managed only 82 runs this season, with a below-par average.
Dale Steyn questioned why LSG chose Nicholas Pooran over other available players. He pointed out that experienced and in-form options like Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant and Mukul Choudhary were available. His view was simple – in a high-pressure situation like a Super Over, teams should rely on players who are in good form and confident.
He also stressed that confidence plays a huge role in such moments. When a player is going through a poor run, expecting them to deliver under intense pressure becomes risky. According to Dale Steyn, teams should back players who are striking the ball well and look mentally ready to handle the situation.
While he acknowledged that Nicholas Pooran is a talented cricketer, Dale Steyn made it clear that mistakes like this can cost teams dearly, especially when they are trying to turn their season around. For LSG, this loss was not just about execution on the field but also about decisions that may have gone wrong at a crucial moment.
