Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the first Super Over of IPL 2026 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday (April 26).

Both teams finished on 155 runs and then KKR outplayed the hosts in the one-over eliminator. Sunil Narine delivered a masterclass in the Super Over, conceding just 1 run while taking the wickets of Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram in only three balls.

KKR chased the target of 2 runs on the very first ball, with Rinku Singh smashing a boundary off Prince Yadav, leaving LSG at the bottom of the points table.

After the game, the LSG team management faced heavy criticism for sending struggling Pooran out to bat in the Super Over.

Pooran has been in awful form this season, with scores of 8, 1, 13, 19, 1, 9 and 22 before Sunday's clash. He was dismissed for 9 in regulation time, and yet LSG think tank showed faith in him. The move backfired as the southpaw was bowled on the very first delivery by Narine.

As soon as Pooran got out, legendary South African pacer Dale Steyn took to X and wrote: “Couldn’t hit water if he fell out a boat. Tough times”, referring to the batter’s recent poor form.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Steyn minced no words as he called it a “criminal” move to send Pooran against Narine.

“Three Super Overs for Nicholas Pooran in the IPL, three ducks. So, yes, absolutely. Would you send someone else? Of course. You’ve got players like Mitch Marsh, Rishabh Pant, and Mukul Choudhary. Given Pooran’s recent form, there were other options," Steyn said.

"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,” he added.

When Pooran and Narine had squared off in a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Super Over in 2014, the batter failed to connect with the first four deliveries before being caught at long-off on the fifth.

“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.

“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 remarked.

Having lost 6 of their 8 matches, LSG are currently languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table. The Rishabh Pant-led side will next face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on May 4.