Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has slammed Nicholas Pooran ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ match against Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2026 on Wednesday. Doull said the West Indies batter has done absolutely nothing in the ongoing season.

Pooran has managed only 51 runs in six matches of the edition at an average of 8.50 and a strike rate of 79.68. The left-hander was dismissed for a run-a-ball nine in the last game against Punjab Kings when he was bamboozled by a slower delivery from Marco Jansen.

“They are trying to free Badoni up by making him open. Their biggest issue are the three overseas. You’ve got three overseas batters in your top five. One of them, in Markram, has put in a couple of performances. Marsh hasn’t done a lot, and Pooran has done absolutely nothing,” Simon Doull said on Cricbuzz.

Doull said LSG are not clear regarding their batting order in the ongoing season.

“Pant has won them one game and nothing outside of that. You’ve spent 50 crores on two players (Pant and Pooran), who have won you one game. Almost half your purse for one game. They are just unsure about their batting order. They’ve made the changes early in an attempt to find something.”

On the other hand, the former Kiwi bowler said Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag is in need of some runs. Parag has managed only 61 runs in six matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 12.20 and a strike rate of 122.

“The skipper is the one that needs an innings. He needs an innings of substance just for his own peace of mind. He has captained pretty well, though. But it might just be a 30 or 40 that gets him going. He needs runs not just for the team but for himself. He needs something of substance,” said Doull (via the aforementioned source).

LSG will host RR at Lucknow on Wednesday.