It’s that stage within the Indian Premier League 2026 season the place groups both discover momentum or fall behind. With two wins from three matches, the Lucknow Tremendous Giants will look to keep away from an early-season mid-table scramble once they tackle Gujarat Titans of their second house sport on the Ekana Stadium on Sunday, 12 April.
Each groups head into the match on the again of last-over thrillers. Lucknow Tremendous Giants unearthed a possible celebrity in Mukul Choudhary, who smashed seven sixes in a sensational ending act in opposition to Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens final week. Gujarat Titans, in the meantime, arrive in Lucknow after surviving a last-ball thriller in opposition to Delhi Capitals within the capital.
LSG vs GT would be the first match of Sunday’s double-header. The sport will start at 3:30 pm IST. Star Sports activities will telecast the match reside in India, whereas live-streaming shall be out there on JioHotstar.
LSG vs GT: WHAT TO EXPECT
Lucknow Tremendous Giants are on a five-match shedding streak at house. The Ekana Stadium, one of many trickier venues to adapt to, has not supplied house consolation to Rishabh Pant’s aspect for the reason that second half of final season. Of their first house match of IPL 2026, they misplaced to Delhi Capitals after their batting faltered, getting bowled out for 141.
On the street, Lucknow have overwhelmed Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, however they’ll need to flip their house floor right into a fortress.
To take action, LSG will hope their captain Rishabh Pant finds kind. He confirmed flashes of brilliance in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad with a 50-ball 68 in a profitable chase of 160 in Hyderabad. Nonetheless, the wicketkeeper-batsman has struggled for fluency. Pant has been working arduous within the nets, and Saturday afternoon was no exception. The Lucknow trustworthy shall be hoping their captain delivers on the Ekana.
CAN POURAN FIRE?
Nicholas Pooran’s kind is maybe an even bigger concern. The West Indies power-hitter, probably the most pure six-hitters within the league, has managed simply 22 runs throughout three matches this season.
Is Pooran batting out of place? Normally a top-order batter, the left-hander has been slotted in at No. 5, with Pant at No. 3 and younger Ayush Badoni at No. 4. LSG are unlikely to change that order, given Badoni’s kind, but when openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram present a robust begin, they might want to point out flexibility and push Pooran larger up the order.
LSG’s center order has been revitalized by the extremely rated Mukul Choudhary, a 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, who made headlines with a blistering 27-ball 54 in opposition to Kolkata Knight Riders. The house crowd shall be desirous to see extra from the teenager, who has the makings of a crowd-favorite finisher.
Alternatively, Gujarat Titans’ batting unit seemed way more assured in Delhi final week after two tough outings in the beginning of their marketing campaign. Captain Shubman Gill, getting back from a neck spasm, appeared in good contact with a 45-ball 70. Questions had been raised about his strike price after Gujarat posted 210 on a good batting floor, however their victory overshadowed these issues.
Extra importantly, Jos Buttler’s return to kind is a big increase for the Titans. The England wicketkeeper-batsman seemed in harmful contact in Delhi, smashing a 27-ball 52, whereas Washington Sundar eased issues over a misfiring center order with a composed fifty. Gujarat will hope gamers akin to Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan contribute when required.
Gujarat even have the choice of fielding Jason Holder, who was in glorious kind with each bat and ball within the T20 World Cup. Whether or not they choose to incorporate him stays to be seen.
It guarantees to be one other contest between two well-rounded bowling assaults. Mohammed Shami versus Mohammed Siraj will headline the battle, however the supporting solid is equally intriguing. Gujarat have the tempo of Ashok Sharma, who can clock 150 kph, whereas the Tremendous Giants boast Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan, each able to producing critical tempo.
Within the spin division, Rashid Khan, who confirmed glimpses of his classic self in Delhi, will tilt the steadiness in Gujarat’s favour. Nonetheless, LSG may depend on their spin duo of Digvesh Rathi and M Siddharth, who could be efficient on their day.
LUCKNOW PITCH AND CONDITIONS
There is no such thing as a menace of rain in Lucknow on Sunday. Anticipate a scorching afternoon that can take a look at the gamers’ stamina.
As for the pitch, a recent strip comprising a mixture of pink and black soil shall be used. Of their earlier sport in opposition to Delhi Capitals, a pink soil pitch supplied tempo and bounce for the seamers. The house aspect will hope this floor higher fits their batting strengths.
LSG vs GT: Group Information
When will Mayank Yadav return stays a key query. The quickest Indian bowler within the IPL shouldn’t be at the moment injured, however LSG seem like managing the workload of the injury-prone teenager rigorously. Regardless of his absence, they’ve a settled tempo assault.
LSG might hand an instantaneous alternative to George Linde, who changed Wanindu Hasaranga within the squad. Linde, a left-arm spinner and a helpful lower-order batter, may strengthen the batting depth, particularly with Mohammed Shami at the moment at No. 8, the place different groups typically area specialist batters or all-rounders.
Gujarat Titans, in the meantime, are unlikely to tinker with their profitable mixture. Though Jason Holder is a tempting possibility, they might want the tempo and expertise 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.
Influence 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.
Influence Sub: Ashok Sharma.
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