It is the phase of the Indian Premier League 2026 season where teams either find momentum or fall behind. With two wins from three matches, Lucknow Super Giants will look to avoid mid-table struggles at the start of the season when they take on Gujarat Titans in their second home match at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday, April 12.
Both teams go into the match on the back of recent thrillers. Lucknow Super Giants revealed a potential superstar in Mukul Choudhary, who smashed seven sixes in a sensational finish against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens last week. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans will arrive in Lucknow after that surviving the last thriller against Delhi Capitals in the capital.
LSG vs GT will be the first match of Sunday’s doubleheader. The match will start at 15:30 IST. Star Sports will telecast the match live in India while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
LSG vs GT: WHAT TO EXPECT
Lucknow Super Giants are on a five-match losing streak at home. One of the trickier venues to adapt to, the Ekana Stadium has not offered the home comforts of Rishabh Pant’s side since the second half of last season. They lost to Delhi Capitals in their first home match of IPL 2026 after their batting faltered and were bowled out for 141.
On the way, Lucknow beat Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, but they will be looking to turn their home ground into a fortress. Can Mukul Chaudhary handle the GT bowling attack? (PTI photo)
To do so, LSG will be hoping that their skipper Rishabh Pant finds form. He showed flashes of brilliance against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a 50-ball 68 in a successful chase of 160 in Hyderabad. However, the keeper-batsman struggled for fluency. Pant has been working hard in the nets and Saturday afternoon was no exception. The Lucknow faithful will be hoping their captain delivers on Ekan.
CAN POURAN FIRE?
The bigger concern is perhaps the form of Nicholas Pooran. One of the most natural six-hitters in the league, the West Indian power-hitter has managed just 22 runs in three matches this season.
Is Pooran batting out of position? Usually a top-order batsman, the left-hander has been slotted at No.5, Pant at No.3 and youngster Ayush Badoni at No.4. LSG are unlikely to change that order given Badoni’s form, but if openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram provide strong starts, they may have to show flexibility and move up the order. Pooran. LSG fans will be hoping that their big guns – Pant and Pooran hit form. (PTI, Photo by Reuters)
LSG’s middle order has been revitalized by highly rated Mukul Choudhary, The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-palter from Rajasthan grabbed the headlines with a 27-ball 54 against Kolkata Knight Riders. The home crowd will want to see more from the youngster, who has the makings of a popular finisher.
On the other hand, the Gujarat Titans batting unit looked much more confident in Delhi last week after two difficult outings at the start of their campaign. Captain Shubman Gill, returning from a neck spasm, looked in good touch with a 45-ball 70. Questions were raised about his strike rate after Gujarat posted 210 on a favorable batting surface, but their victory overshadowed those concerns.
More importantly, Jose Buttler’s return to form is a significant boost for the Titans. The England wicketkeeper-batsman looked in dangerous touch in Delhi, smashing a 27-ball 52, while Washington Sundar allayed fears of an errant middle-order with a level fifty. Gujarat will hope players like Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan to contribute when required.
Gujarat also have the option of fielding Jason Holder, who has been in excellent form with both bat and ball in the T20 World Cup. Whether they decide to include him remains to be seen.
It promises to be another match between two well-rounded bowling attacks. The main character of the battle will be Mohammed Shami versus Mohammed Siraj, but the supporting actors are equally interesting. Gujarat have pacer Ashok Sharma who can reach 150 kmph, while the Super Giants boast Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan, both capable of generating serious pace.
In the spin department, Rashid Khan, who showed flashes of his old self in Delhi, will tip the balance in favor of Gujarat. However, LSG could rely on their spin duo of Digvesh Rathi and M Siddharth who can be effective on their day.
LUCKNOW PITCH AND CONDITIONS
There is no chance of rain in Lucknow on Sunday. Expect a hot afternoon that will test the stamina of the players.
As for the pitch, a fresh strip containing a mixture of red and black soil will be used. In their previous game against Delhi Capitals, the red clay pitch offered pace and bounce for the seamers. The home side will be hoping that this surface suits their batting better.
LSG vs GT: Team News
The key question remains when Mayank Yadav will return. India’s fastest bowler in the IPL is currently injury-free, but LSG seem to be handling the injury-prone youngster’s workload with caution. Despite his absence, they have a steady pace of attack.
LSG can give an immediate opportunity to George Linde, who has replaced Waninda Hasaranga in the lineup. A left-arm batsman and a useful lower-order batsman, Linde could bolster the batting depth, especially with Mohammed Shami currently at No.8, where other teams often field specialist batsmen or all-rounders.
Gujarat Titans are unlikely to play in their winning combination. Although Jason Holder is a tempting option, they may prefer the pace and experience of Kagiso Rabada in Lucknow.
LSG PREDICTED XI: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (week and captain), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Prince Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi.
Impact Sub: George Linde.
GT PREDICTED XI: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (week), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Impact Sub: Ashok Sharma.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
12 Apr 2026 08:09 IST
