IPL 2026 | Why Nicholas Pooran? Rishabh Pant reveals 'group discussion' behind Super Over move

NEW DELHI: Mohammed Shami’s late six, which helped take the IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders into a Super Over at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, ultimately went in vain. KKR sealed the win comfortably in the Super Over. Batting first, LSG lost two wickets for just one run as Sunil Narine dismissed Nicholas Pooran and then Aiden Markram. Chasing a target of two, KKR wrapped up the contest on the very first ball, with Rinku Singh smashing a boundary.

The dejection and frustration of letting a win slip away were clearly visible on LSG captain Rishabh Pant’s face during the post-match presentation.

Pant emphasised the need for collective accountability after the defeat against KKR.

Chasing 156, LSG finished on 155, with Mohammed Shami smashing a six off the final ball of the innings, but his effort proved insufficient.

Speaking after the loss, Pant said the team needs a short break to reset and manage pressure better.

"I think we definitely need a break. I think we're gonna refresh. There is always pressure, and it's gonna be a pressure game always, but at the same time, we have to look for answers inside, not outside. And just keep it simple. We need to take accountability - every guy. Like, it can't be about one or two guys. It has to be about the whole unit, and a lot of people will take accountability for that for sure," Pant said.

Lucknow Super Giants opted to send Nicholas Pooran out to bat in the Super Over despite his poor run of form.

The left-hander has struggled in IPL 2026 so far, with his highest score in seven matches being just 22 off 25 balls.

"We discussed as a group, we had a discussion, and the name that came up was Nicholas Pooran. He might not go through the best form of his life, but at the same time, you will trust your player in a hard situation like this," Pant said.

Pant admitted there were no excuses for the result.

"No excuses there. Just looking at the positive, there might not be enough positive right now, but I think after the break, there will be a lot of enough positive for sure," he said.

With this thrilling win, KKR moved to eighth place with five points from eight matches, while LSG slipped to the bottom of the IPL 2026 standings.

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