Lucknow's Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium is once again hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. In the 38th match of the tournament, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday, April 26.
The Lucknow Super Giants' journey in IPL 2026 has been a roller-coaster ride. Ahead of Sunday's clash, they have already lost four of the matches played so far. If this team, led by Rishabh Pant, is to keep its hopes alive in this tournament and secure a spot in the top four, they must deliver their absolute best performance against KKR.
Kolkata Knight Riders will head into their upcoming match fresh off recording their first win of the season; they have finally snapped a six-match losing streak. If they manage to secure a victory against LSG, it could mark the beginning of a miracle that no one could have ever imagined—a scenario where KKR rises from the ashes to make a spectacular comeback in this tournament.
LSG vs KKR Playing 11
Lucknow Super Giants
Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (c) (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mayank Yadav
Impact Player: Abdul Samad
Kolkata Knight Riders
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Matheesha Pathirana
Impact Player: Kartik Tyagi
LSG vs KKR Player Stats
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Mukul Chaudhary: 155 runs in 7 matches. He was the hero of the previous encounter between LSG and KKR this season, scoring 54 runs off just 27 balls.
- Mitchell Marsh: 210 runs in 7 matches. He continues to serve as the backbone of a struggling middle order.
- Prince Yadav: LSG's standout bowler, having claimed 13 wickets in 7 matches.
- Mohammed Shami: 7 wickets in 7 matches; highly effective with the new ball.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Varun Chakravarthy: Comes into this match on the back of a 'Player of the Match' performance (3/14) against the Rajasthan Royals.
- Sunil Narine: Nearing the milestone of 200 wickets in the IPL. He remains KKR's most economical bowler (boasting an economy rate of 3.25 in the previous match).
- Ajinkya Rahane: He has historically performed well against Shami; he frequently scores runs at a high strike rate without getting dismissed by him.
- Rinku Singh: Having recently found his rhythm, he delivered a match-winning half-century to secure KKR's first victory of the season.
LSG vs KKR Pitch Report
Bowlers have found it quite easy to bowl on the pitch at Lucknow's Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium. The next match will be played on a black-soil wicket, which is expected to behave in a two-paced manner. The team winning the toss should opt to chase first, as the average first-innings score at this venue remains below 160.
LSG vs KKR Probable Best Performers
Cameron Green
Cameron Green came into the IPL 2026 not only with the reputation of being a star all-rounder but also as the most expensive player sold at the mini-auction ahead of the season. Green will be expected to carry the responsibility of the batting unit on his shoulders, especially as someone who bats usually during the middle overs.
Prince Yadav
Prince Yadav has emerged as a rising star for the Lucknow Super Giants this season. His ability to bowl precise yorkers makes him an excellent bowler in the death overs; however, he has achieved most of his success this season while bowling during the powerplay overs. In the match scheduled for Sunday night, this right-arm fast bowler is expected to prove himself as the standout bowler.
