Nicholas Pooran Reflects on LSG's Batting Struggles After Loss to RCB in IPL 2026

Pooran Acknowledges Batting Challenges for LSG

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India] - On April 15, Nicholas Pooran, the stand-in captain for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), recognized that his team fell short in their batting performance following a five-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during IPL 2026.

Taking charge in place of the injured Rishabh Pant, Pooran noted the need for greater consistency. He reflected on LSG's batting difficulties this season, suggesting that a score of around 175 runs would have made for a competitive match against the reigning champions, RCB.

“It’s been a challenging season for us; we didn’t perform well. A total of 175 would have been competitive. We’ve been struggling with our batting… T20 cricket is tough, and maintaining consistency is hard. The players are putting in the effort; it’s just a matter of time before we seize our opportunities,” Pooran stated during the post-match interview.

Despite the defeat, Pooran expressed confidence in his own performance, mentioning that he felt good striking the ball but had yet to convert his starts into significant scores.

The LSG captain stressed the importance of patience and finding their rhythm as they continue in IPL 2026.

“I’m feeling great and hitting the ball well, but luck hasn’t been on my side. I’ve faced similar situations before, and I believe I can turn it around,” he added.

RCB, the defending champions, achieved a convincing five-wicket victory over LSG, successfully chasing down a target of 147 runs with 29 balls remaining.

Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in the chase, scoring a solid 49 runs, while Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma made quick contributions to secure the win and elevate RCB to the top of the points table.

Earlier in the match, LSG faced a significant batting collapse after being put to bat first, ending their innings at 146 runs. Mitchell Marsh fought valiantly with a score of 40, but regular wickets and a lack of momentum hindered their progress. Rasikh Salam Dar shone with a four-wicket haul, supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood.

LSG also faced challenges, including Rishabh Pant briefly retiring hurt and later getting out cheaply, as RCB's disciplined bowling kept them under constant pressure.

RCB's all-around performance not only secured a convincing victory but also solidified their position in the tournament standings.

With this win, RCB has ascended to the top of the table with eight points from five matches, while LSG finds themselves in seventh place with four points from four matches.