IPL 2026 RCB vs LSG preview with pitch report, points table, playing XI, weather forecast, key players and match prediction
Lucknow: Lucknow Super Giants will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 50 of IPL 2026 today, May 7, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The match will start at 7:30 PM IST and is very important for both teams at this stage of the tournament.
RCB are trying to strengthen their position in the top four and move closer to a top-two finish before the playoffs. Meanwhile, LSG are fighting to stay alive in the tournament after a poor run this season.
IPL 2026 Points Table Situation
The IPL 2026 points table is getting tighter as the playoff race becomes more competitive. Sunrisers Hyderabad are currently at the top of the table with 14 points from 11 matches and a net run rate of +0.737.
Punjab Kings are in second place with 13 points from 10 matches and a net run rate of +0.571.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are currently in third place with 12 points from nine matches and an impressive net run rate of +1.420. A win today could push them closer to the top two.
Rajasthan Royals are in fourth place with 12 points from 10 matches, while Gujarat Titans are fifth with the same number of points.
Chennai Super Kings are sixth with 10 points from 10 games. Delhi Capitals are seventh with eight points.
Kolkata Knight Riders are eighth with seven points, while Mumbai Indians are ninth with six points.
Lucknow Super Giants are currently at the bottom of the table with only four points from nine matches and a net run rate of -1.076. The team has won only two matches this season and has lost seven games so far. Another defeat today could officially end LSG’s playoff hopes.
LSG vs RCB Head-to-Head Record
RCB have dominated LSG in IPL history so far. Both teams have faced each other seven times, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won five matches while Lucknow Super Giants have won only two.
Earlier this season, RCB defeated LSG by five wickets while chasing a target of 146 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Also Read: IPL PBKS vs SRH: Can Punjab hold Top Spot or will SRH Overtake?
Head-to-Head Stats
Matches Played: 7
RCB Wins: 5
LSG Wins: 2
Predicted Playing XI
Lucknow Super Giants Predicted XI
- Rishabh Pant (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Josh Inglis
- Mitchell Marsh
- Aiden Markram
- Nicholas Pooran
- Akshat Raghuwanshi
- Himmat Singh
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohsin Khan
- Avesh Khan
- Prince Yadav
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted XI
- Rajat Patidar (Captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Jacob Bethell
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)
- Tim David
- Romario Shepherd
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Suyash Sharma
- Josh Hazlewood
Ekana Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has mostly helped bowlers this season. Matches played here have usually been balanced and slightly low-scoring compared to other IPL venues.
Fast bowlers and spinners who use slower balls and variations have done well on this surface. The average first innings score at the stadium this season has been around 155 to 165 runs.
The large boundaries also make it difficult for batters to hit big sixes regularly. However, dew in the second innings could help teams while chasing. Because of this, the captain winning the toss may choose to bowl first.
Lucknow Weather Forecast
The weather in Lucknow is expected to remain mostly clear during the match. The temperature is likely to stay between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius during the evening.
There are very low chances of rain, so fans are expected to enjoy a full match without interruptions.
Key Players to Watch
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has once again been RCB’s most dependable batter this season. He has scored 379 runs in nine matches at an average above 54 and a strike rate above 153. His battle against Mohammed Shami with the new ball could decide the early momentum of the match.
Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran remains one of LSG’s biggest match-winners despite the team’s poor form. He played a brilliant innings of 63 runs from just 21 balls in the last match against Mumbai Indians and will again be important in the middle order.
Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar has impressed with both his captaincy and aggressive batting this season. His ability to attack spin bowling could become very important on the Lucknow pitch.
Mitchell Marsh
Mitchell Marsh has provided quick starts for LSG this season and has already scored 256 runs. His attacking batting during the powerplay overs will be important against RCB’s bowling attack.
Important Match Stats
- Virat Kohli has scored 379 runs in IPL 2026 so far.
- Devdutt Padikkal has scored 282 runs this season at a strike rate of 188.
- Lucknow Super Giants have lost six consecutive matches this season.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won five out of seven matches against LSG in IPL history.
- Ekana Stadium’s average first innings score this season is around 155-165 runs.
- Teams chasing targets have performed better at this venue.
Where to Watch LSG vs RCB Live
Fans can watch the LSG vs RCB IPL 2026 match live on the Star Sports Network in India. Live streaming of the game will also be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
Match Prediction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the match as favourites because of their strong form and balanced squad. Their batting lineup has looked more consistent, and their bowling attack has handled pressure situations well this season.
Lucknow Super Giants still have dangerous players like Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, and Mitchell Marsh, but the team’s poor bowling performances and losing streak remain major concerns.
If LSG want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they will need a strong all-round performance against an in-form RCB side tonight.
