It is that stage in the Indian Premier League 2026 season where teams either find momentum or fall behind. With two wins from three matches, the Lucknow Super Giants will look to avoid an early-season mid-table scramble when they take on Gujarat Titans in their second home game at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday, 12 April.
Both teams head into the match on the back of last-over thrillers. Lucknow Super Giants unearthed a potential superstar in Mukul Choudhary, who smashed seven sixes in a sensational finishing act against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens last week. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, arrive in Lucknow after surviving a last-ball thriller against Delhi Capitals in the capital.
LSG vs GT will be the first match of Sunday’s double-header. The game will begin at 3:30 pm 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. The Ekana Stadium, one of the trickier venues to adapt to, has not offered home comfort to Rishabh Pant’s side since the second half of last season. In their first home match of IPL 2026, they lost to Delhi Capitals after their batting faltered, getting bowled out for 141.
On the road, Lucknow have beaten Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, but they will want to turn their home ground into a fortress.
To do so, LSG will hope their captain 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 wicketkeeper-batter has 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 at the Ekana.
CAN POORAN FIRE?
Nicholas Pooran’s form is perhaps a bigger concern. The West Indies power-hitter, one of the most natural six-hitters in the league, has managed just 22 runs across three matches this season.
Is Pooran batting out of position? Usually a top-order batter, the left-hander has been slotted in at No. 5, with Pant at No. 3 and young Ayush Badoni at No. 4. LSG are unlikely to alter that order, given Badoni’s form, but if openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram provide a strong start, they may need to show flexibility and push Pooran higher up the order.
LSG’s middle order has been revitalised by the highly rated Mukul Choudhary, a 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, who made headlines with a blistering 27-ball 54 against Kolkata Knight Riders. The home crowd will be eager to see more from the youngster, who has the makings of a crowd-favourite finisher.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans’ batting unit looked far more assured in Delhi last week after two difficult outings at the start of their campaign. Captain Shubman Gill, returning from a neck spasm, appeared in good touch with a 45-ball 70. Questions were raised about his strike rate after Gujarat posted 210 on a favourable batting surface, but their victory overshadowed those concerns.
More importantly, Jos Buttler’s return to form is a significant boost for the Titans. The England wicketkeeper-batter looked in dangerous touch in Delhi, smashing a 27-ball 52, while Washington Sundar eased concerns over a misfiring middle order with a composed fifty. Gujarat will hope players such as Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan contribute when required.
Gujarat also have the option of fielding Jason Holder, who was in excellent form with both bat and ball in the T20 World Cup. Whether they opt to include him remains to be seen.
It promises to be another contest between two well-rounded bowling attacks. Mohammed Shami versus Mohammed Siraj will headline the battle, but the supporting cast is equally intriguing. Gujarat have the pace of Ashok Sharma, who can clock 150 kph, while the Super Giants boast Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan, both capable of generating serious pace.
In the spin department, Rashid Khan, who showed glimpses of his vintage self in Delhi, will tilt the balance in Gujarat’s favour. 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 threat of rain in Lucknow on Sunday. Expect a hot afternoon that will test the players’ stamina.
As for the pitch, a fresh strip comprising a mix of red and black soil will be used. In their previous game against Delhi Capitals, a red soil pitch offered pace and bounce for the seamers. The home side will hope this surface better suits their batting strengths.
LSG vs GT: Team News
When will Mayank Yadav return remains a key question. The fastest Indian bowler in the IPL is not currently injured, but LSG appear to be managing the workload of the injury-prone youngster carefully. Despite his absence, they have a settled pace attack.
LSG may hand an immediate opportunity to George Linde, who replaced Wanindu Hasaranga in the squad. Linde, a left-arm spinner and a useful lower-order batter, could strengthen the batting depth, especially with Mohammed Shami currently at No. 8, where other teams often field specialist batters or all-rounders.
Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, are unlikely to tinker with 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 (wk 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 (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Impact Sub: Ashok Sharma.
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