LSG vs DC IPL 2026 preview: Rishabh Pant faces DC, KL Rahul meets LSG, who will shine in Lucknow on a tricky Ekana pitch?
LSG vs DC IPL 2026: The IPL 2026 season continues with an important match as Lucknow Super Giants take on Delhi Capitals in Match 5 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. Both teams want to start their season with a win after not performing well last year.
LSG, led by Rishabh Pant, come into this match with a refreshed squad and a stronger bowling attack. On the other hand, DC, captained by Axar Patel, look balanced and confident after missing the playoffs by a small margin in the previous season.
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Emotional Clashes for Player
This match also has an emotional angle. Rishabh Pant will play against his former team Delhi Capitals, while KL Rahul will face his old team Lucknow Super Giants. These moments are expected to make the match more exciting.
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Head to Head Record
The two teams have played 7 matches so far. Delhi Capitals have won 4 matches, while Lucknow Super Giants have won 3.
LSG won the first three matches between the two sides. However, DC made a strong comeback and won the next four matches in a row. At the Ekana Stadium, DC have also performed well, winning two out of three matches.
Teams Seek Comeback
Both teams will look to improve their performance this season. In IPL 2025, LSG finished 7th with six wins. DC finished 5th and missed the playoffs by just one point.
To improve their squad, LSG have added experienced bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje. Young fast bowler Mayank Yadav has also returned from injury, which strengthens their bowling unit.
DC will depend on their strong batting lineup, which includes KL Rahul, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs. Their spin attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav, adds balance to the team.
Pitch Favors Bowlers
The pitch at Ekana Stadium usually helps bowlers, especially spinners. The average first innings score here is between 150 and 175, which shows that batting is not very easy.
The ground has long boundaries of around 80–82 meters, so hitting big shots is difficult. As the match goes on, the pitch becomes slower, which makes chasing targets harder.
Because of these conditions, teams winning the toss may choose to bat first.
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Probable Playing XI
Lucknow Super Giants
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (captain and wicketkeeper), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Rathi, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav
Delhi Capitals
KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (captain), Ashutosh Sharma, David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar
Key Players
Rishabh Pant will have an important role as captain and batter in the middle order. His attacking style can change the game quickly.
KL Rahul is a strong contender to score the most runs in this match. He has scored more than 5,200 runs in the IPL with an average above 46.
Nicholas Pooran can be very useful in the final overs because of his power hitting. Kuldeep Yadav can play a key role with the ball, especially on a spin-friendly pitch.
Mayank Yadav adds pace to LSG’s bowling attack and will be a player to watch after his return from injury.
Important Match Stats
- Delhi Capitals have won the last four matches against Lucknow Super Giants
- The average score at Ekana Stadium is around 160
- Teams batting first have a better chance of winning
- KL Rahul has more than 5,200 IPL runs with an average above 46
Match Prediction
Both teams look strong, so this match is expected to be very close. LSG may have a slight advantage because they are playing at home and have a strong bowling attack with Shami, Nortje, and Mayank Yadav.
However, DC have done well in recent matches against LSG and have a strong batting lineup.
Final Match Outlook
The match between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals is expected to be exciting and competitive. With players facing their former teams and pitch conditions helping bowlers, the game could be a low to medium scoring contest.
In the end, one good batting performance, most likely from KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant, could decide the result of this closely fought match.
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