Justin Langer has come out firmly in support of Lucknow Super Giants’ decision to send Nicholas Pooran in for the Super Over against Kolkata Knight Riders, despite the batter’s underwhelming form in IPL 2026. The move ultimately backfired, but Langer made it clear that the call was rooted in logic, not desperation.

The high-stakes decision didn’t go LSG’s way, as Pooran was bowled on the very first ball by Sunil Narine. That early blow left LSG with just 1/2 in the Super Over—the lowest total in IPL history—before KKR wrapped up the chase in a single delivery, sealing a dramatic win. Speaking after the match, Langer explained the thought process behind backing Pooran in such a pressure situation.

“Good question. We knew that Sunil Narine would bowl it, and if you look at Nicky’s record, he’s seen Sunil Narine more than anyone in world cricket. So we felt that he was still the best option,” Justin Langer said.

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He acknowledged Pooran’s dip in form but stood by the decision to trust a proven match-winner. “I know he hasn’t hit his form yet, and Nicky will be the first to admit that, but we thought if anyone can handle a Super Over, it’s Nicky Pooran. You back your best players,” he added.

Justin Langer also emphasised the role of confidence in T20 cricket, particularly for explosive players like Pooran.

“There’s probably no greater T20 player currently in the world over the last few years. It just goes to show he’s human, and you can’t fake confidence. You can look confident, but confidence comes from getting your processes right,” he explained.

Reflecting on the broader performance, Langer admitted LSG failed to adapt to the conditions on offer. The black-soil pitch played slower and offered more turn compared to the red-soil surface used in the previous game.

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“It’s frustrating… we didn’t adapt today to the black soil, which was slower and lower and spun a little bit,” he said. He also pointed to the costly final overs, where LSG conceded 43 runs, allowing KKR back into the contest. With quality spinners like Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy in the opposition ranks, Langer admitted the momentum shift proved decisive in the end.