Team News & Key Concerns
LSG will be without Wanindu Hasaranga for their opener, as the Sri Lankan allrounder is yet to clear a fitness test. They could bring in Anrich Nortje as a like-for-like overseas replacement, especially considering the red-soil surface in Lucknow that may assist pace. However, LSG will also be wary of overdependence on their overseas batters—Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran who carried much of the scoring burden last season.
A key question for LSG remains Rishabh Pant’s batting position. Pant impressed at No. 3 with a century in 2025, but Pooran has also thrived in that role across T20 leagues. Balancing their batting order will be crucial.
Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, will miss Mitchell Starc early in the season due to injury. They are likely to replace him with another left-arm pacer in T Natarajan, while one of Lungi Ngidi or Dushmantha Chameera could feature as the overseas quick. DC also appear to be experimenting with their top order, with Pathum Nissanka likely to open alongside KL Rahul, and Nitish Rana expected to slot in at No. 3 after impressive domestic form.
Players in Focus
Mayank Yadav is one to watch for LSG after a long injury layoff. Known for his raw pace, he finally returns fit and will look to make a big impact this season.
For DC, Nitish Rana could be key. After a quiet IPL stint last year, he comes into this tournament in strong domestic form and has the opportunity to anchor the innings at No. 3.
Key Stats & Matchups
Kuldeep Yadav has historically troubled Rishabh Pant in T20s, dismissing him three times while conceding just 23 runs off 25 balls. This contest could play a crucial role in the middle overs.
Pitch & Conditions
The match will be played on pitch No. 4 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The surface has gradually become more batting-friendly over the years, with the run rate increasing each season. Last IPL, the average first-innings score at this venue was around 187. Conditions are expected to be clear, with temperatures hovering around 28°C and no rain forecast.
What to Expect
With both teams evenly matched and looking to reset their campaigns, this promises to be a closely contested game. While LSG will rely on their overseas firepower and home advantage, DC’s balanced lineup and strong middle order could make this a tight battle.
Squads:
Lucknow Super Giants Squad: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Mohammed Shami, Matthew Breetzke, Josh Inglis, Himmat Singh, Mukul Choudhary, Arshin Kulkarni, Naman Tiwari, Arjun Sachin Tendulkar, Manimaran Siddharth, Mayank Prabhu Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh
Delhi Capitals Squad: KL Rahul(w), Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera, Kyle Jamieson, T Natarajan, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Rana, Karun Nair, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Sameer Rizvi, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Nabi Dar, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Jadav Mandal
