The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clash in the IPL 2026 at the Ekana earlier this week turned into a talking point off the field after an on-pitch exchange between Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran. The incident unfolded when Pooran, coming in as the left-handed batter, faced a short ball from Krunal that came up as a bouncer. On the very next delivery, Pooran managed a single, and viewers noticed both players trading words as Pooran moved towards the non-striker’s end. For a moment, it looked like the matter had fizzled out without any lasting impact.
Fresh clip reignites attention after the match
Two days later, a new video circulated online, offering a different angle on the situation. In the footage, Pandya and Pooran are seen talking after the game, with Pooran making animated hand gestures before grabbing Pandya by the collar. Justin Langer, Lucknow’s head coach, appears in the frame as well, walking in to join the discussion. Rather than any confrontation escalating, the clip shows both players soon smiling and having what looks like a friendly, calm conversation.
Pandya and Pooran move to kill the “tension” narrative
While the earlier altercation led some fans to speculate about a rift, Pandya quickly moved to shut down those rumours. He said there was nothing amiss between himself and Pooran and that everything was fine. The LSG/RCB all-rounder then took to Instagram to underline the friendly tone, posting a photo with Pooran and writing that there was no “lafda (dispute).”
- Pandya captioned the post by saying there was “no lafda (no trouble), only love,” alongside emojis.
- He congratulated Pooran on completing 100 IPL matches, adding that he was proud of him and hoping for “many more to come.”
- He also asked Pooran, “Btw, how was the bouncer?”
Pooran, who stepped away from international cricket last year, echoed the same message in the comment section. He clarified that nothing was wrong between the two and that the exchange was simply banter in good spirits. “Only love here, guys. One of my best Mates,” Pooran wrote.
Context from IPL 2026: LSG vs RCB result and key moments
The on-field incident came on the back of a match where RCB’s chase ultimately fell short. The Rishabh Pant-led side came out on top by 9 runs under the DLS method earlier this week. After winning the contest, LSG posted 209 runs in 19 overs, powered by Mitchell Marsh’s blistering 111 off 56 balls. With that total set, the target for RCB was revised to 213.
RCB could not reach the revised figure, ending nine runs short despite contributions from Rajat Patidar, Tim David and Pandya’s determined efforts. The most significant moment in the chase arrived in the second over when Prince Yadav struck, dismissing Virat Kohli for a duck—an early blow that shaped the pressure for the remainder of the innings.
In the points table, RCB sit third, while LSG are positioned at the bottom.
