Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch reckons Lucknow Super Giants’ batter Nicholas Pooran is trying too hard amid his woeful form in the ongoing IPL 2026. Pooran could only manage a solitary run off seven balls before he was dismissed by RCB’s pack leader, Josh Hazlewood. 

Pooran has managed only 42 runs in five matches of IPL 2026 at a dismal average of 8.40 and a strike rate of 76.36. The West Indies batter has struggled with his form in the recent past and he hasn’t been able to bring his best to the table.

Aaron Finch said on ESPN Cricinfo, “That sometimes just happens. Sometimes, the harder you try, the worse it gets. You grip the bat tighter. You try and hit the ball. You try and force against everything that is working against you. Sometimes you just take a deep breath. If your arms are relaxed and your hands are nice and loose, it can come back so quick.”

On the other hand, former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu believes Pooran might not be performing up to his potential because of fatigue.

He said, “Someone like Pooran is playing all around the world. He is not really getting enough time to work on himself and his game. Maybe getting a break somewhere and then coming back and having a nice pre-season for a month and a half… Getting back to basics and getting that whole routine going again. There might be some fatigue there. It can happen. Your clarity goes down. Your decision-making is not as good.”

Pooran had scored 152 in nine innings of SA20 while playing for the Mumbai Indians Cape Town at an average of 16.88 and a strike rate of 142.05.

Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Punjab Kings at New Chandigarh on Sunday.