India, April 16 -- Lucknow Super Giants' defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Wednesday did more than expose another batting failure. It deepened the financial discomfort around one of the franchise's biggest calls ahead of IPL 2026. Nicholas Pooran, retained for Rs.21 crore as one of LSG's most dangerous T20 weapons, lasted just seven balls for 1 in a collapse that left the side with 146 on the board. RCB chased that down in 15.1 overs, and the innings added fresh weight to a season ledger that is now beginning to look ugly.

Pooran's dismissal, dragging Josh Hazlewood back onto his stumps, would have been disappointing in any setting. But for LSG, this was the kind of night when they needed far more from a player carrying elite-rete...