'He hasn't scored a single run' - Aakash Chopra left baffled by Lucknow Super Giants' Super Over tactics

Aakash Chopra has raised serious questions about the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) decision to send Nicholas Pooran out to bat in the Super Over during their defeat at the hands of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday, April 27.

Pooran has been a shadow of his previous self in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The former West Indies batter has scored just 82 runs from eight matches at an average of 10.25 and a strike-rate of 81.18.

He scored just nine runs from 12 balls against KKR before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy. Despite his shortcomings this season, LSG sent him out to face the first ball of the Super Over against Sunil Narine, where he got out off the first ball.

Chopra points out Pooran’s poor record in Super Overs over the course of his IPL career. Adding that to his underwhelming IPL season is what made the former India opener baffle about LSG’s decision. 

"Lucknow Super Giants, please tell me what you were thinking. We knew Sunil Narine would come. If Sunil Narine was going to come, who was the best player you had who could have hit the most sixes and sent spin into the stands, and who has form? Nicholas Pooran's name doesn't come in any of those things," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"They sent Nicholas Pooran and put him on strike as well. Nicholas Pooran has played three Super Overs in the IPL and has scored zero in all three. He hasn't scored a single run. He got out for zero here as well," he added.

LSG pulled the game back really well to take it into a Super Over. Rishabh Pant’s side, however, were completely outplayed in the end, bundling out for just one run in the Super Over, which KKR chased down easily.

Following their defeat to the Knight Riders, LSG have now slipped to the foot of the standings, having picked up just four points from eight games and are currently in the midst of a five-match losing streak.