Josh Inglis versus Nicholas Pooran at Lucknow Super Giants
LSG vs KKR: The latest IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 26 at the Ekana Stadium ended in a heartbreaking Super Over defeat for the hosts. During this pressure encounter, Nicholas Pooran fell for a golden duck in the Super Over, while Josh Inglis remained away from the team following his recent wedding.
Current reports confirm that Josh Inglis is set to replace Nicholas Pooran in the starting eleven once he joins the squad around May 4, just in time for the match against Mumbai Indians. Nicholas Pooran has struggled all season, scraping together just 51 runs across six innings with a poor strike rate of 79.68, making it almost impossible to keep him in the side.
Dramatics at the Ekana Stadium and Narine’s brilliance
The match on April 26 saw a spectacular bowling performance from Mohsin Khan, who tore through the KKR top order with a five-wicket haul, leaving them stranded at 93 for 7. However, Rinku Singh saved the day with an unbeaten 83 off 51 balls to pull the visitors to a decent total of 155.
Sunil Narine was the difference-maker in the middle overs, giving away just 23 runs and taking a key wicket to stifle the LSG chase. When the game went to a Super Over, Narine showed total composure, bowling the deciding over and sending Nicholas Pooran back on the very first ball. This masterclass from Narine meant LSG only set a two-run target, which Rinku Singh knocked off easily to bag two points for Kolkata.
Assessing the form of Nicholas Pooran
The Lucknow Super Giants management has a tough call to make about their middle order after another collapse from their star Caribbean batter. Nicholas Pooran came into the 2026 season with massive expectations after two great years, but his current slump is a huge headache for captain Rishabh Pant.
The numbers show that Nicholas Pooran is in the middle of his worst professional run yet, failing to even hit the 30-run mark in any recent game. With the team stuck near the bottom of the table, they desperately need an aggressive batter who can actually steady the ship and then accelerate.
The arrival of Josh Inglis to bolster the squad
Even though Josh Inglis isn’t with the team yet, his return to India after his April 18 wedding is expected to shift the team’s momentum. The Australian star cost the franchise 8.6 crore rupees at the auction, and the coaching staff wants to see him hit the 162.57 strike rate he produced last season.
As Josh Inglis gets ready to join the squad for the final six league games, his arrival will almost certainly mean Nicholas Pooran drops to the bench to make room for a more reliable overseas threat. Fans are counting on Josh Inglis to bring the firepower that’s been missing, while Nicholas Pooran is likely out of time unless he turns things around before May.
