'Pooran is the catalyst': Dale Steyn's blunt take on LSG's instable 'middle-order'
Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has voiced concerns over Lucknow Super Giants' team selection and Nicholas Pooran's batting form. LSG has faced three consecutive home defeats. Steyn believes Pooran's struggles impact the batting order, forcing changes.
Coach Justin Langer, however, views the Ekana pitch as good and points to adaptation issues.
Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn delivered a blunt assessment of Lucknow Super Giants’ ongoing struggles at home, highlighting concerns around team selection and the dip in form of key batter Nicholas Pooran. His remarks came after LSG slumped to a 40-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals, marking their third consecutive loss at the Ekana Stadium. Steyn pointed to the nature of the surface as well as inconsistent team combinations as contributing factors behind LSG’s poor run.
He also underlined the importance of Pooran’s role in the middle order, suggesting that his lack of form has had a ripple effect on the team’s batting stability. Head coach Justin Langer, however, offered a slightly different perspective. While acknowledging the defeat, he described the Ekana pitch as a “brilliant cricket wicket” and insisted that the issue lay in the team’s inability to adapt to local conditions rather than the surface itself.
LSG’s batting order has been in constant flux this season, reflecting their search for the right combination. In the latest match, Mitchell Marsh was promoted to open alongside Ayush Badoni, while Aiden Markram, who had previously opened was pushed down to No. 4, slotting in after captain Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran.