🏏IPL 2026: LSG vs GT, 19th Match, Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow🏏

🏏IPL 2026: LSG vs GT, 19th Match, Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on12/04/2026 @3:30PM IST🏏

Which team is in rhythm?

Both Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans meet after finishing on the right side of last-ball thrillers against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively. In a tournament moving at breakneck speed and leaving little time for reflection, those are the nights that can have a positive knock-on effect on the rest of their campaign.

But that same adrenaline can blur the truth. Reality is that both wins were narrow escapes after far-from-perfect outings. Creases still need ironing out. GT's batting - although consistent - remains stuck somewhere between fourth and fifth gear, potentially due to an undercooked middle and lower-middle order while Mohammed Siraj is lacking incisiveness in the powerplay. Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar and Rashid Khan are steadily getting into form although Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna and Siraj haven't had the impact GT would like to see.

For LSG, Rishabh Pant's batting has been a bit of an issue, with short-ball tactics keeping him quiet, although he has displayed enough fight to overcome that and pace chases better. But he is still not at his fluent best, with Nicholas Pooran also struggling in 2026. The batting is not instilling the fear that they had intended to when LSG stacked up their line-up, even as Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary look in fine touch lower down.

That makes this meeting an interesting checkpoint. The adrenaline of last-ball wins can carry a team only so far. This game will show which side is actually in rhythm, and which has just been surviving the margins a little better.

Team watch

Lucknow Super Giants

Injuries/Availability: No reported fitness concerns in the camp.

Tactics & Matchups: LSG's seamers have stuck to good and hard lengths in the Powerplay and it will be interesting to see what GT's top-order comes up with against it. Gill averages over 54 and strikes at over 147 against LSG, and his battle with Mohammed Shami will be the one to watch out for.

Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav

Gujarat Titans

Injuries/Availability: Shubman Gill seems to have recovered well from his neck troubles. There are no reported injury issues in the camp.

Tactics & Matchups: Rashid Khan, who has roared back to form, has a favourable matchup against Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran, getting them both thrice each, and the legspinner will be key.

Probable XII: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (w), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma, Prasidh Krishna

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpaaye Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow: Pitch Report

The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is a pitch that offers quite a balanced game between bat and ball, with either facet of the game getting an equal amount of assistance from the surface. However, batting is supposedly trickier when the match progresses, given the black soil nature of the wickets at the venue.

When: Apr 12, 3:30 PM local

Where: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

What to expect: While the pitches in Lucknow have improved over the years, they are still expected to be sluggish. Like it was on display in the opening match here this season, when the hosts were bowled out for 141 before a Sameer Rizvi special got Delhi Capitals over the line. It's supposed to be a hot and dry afternoon in Lucknow.

Head to head: GT 4 - 3 LSG

LSG vs GT Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler has finally got his touch of old and looks to be back in form with the bat. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter had been having an off time in T20 cricket of late, but IPL 2026 has already witnessed the English wicketkeeper-batter produce a couple of fine knocks. He is expected to outclass the LSG bowling attack on Sunday.

Probable Best Bowler: Prince Yadav

A lot of fans have underestimated the challenge that Prince Yadav possesses. While a lot of credit went to Mukul Choudhary for LSG's win in the previous game, Prince's economic spell actually set to the tone and restricted KKR to a subpar total. As a result, the right-arm pacer will look to bring out yet another memorable spell against the Titans.

Today's Match Prediction: Team batting first to win the match

LSG

First To Bat

Powerplay: 45-55

175-185

GT

First To Bat

Powerplay: 50-60

190-200

Win Probability

LSG 50%

GT 50%

Disclaimer

The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan from GT and Prince Yadav from LSG have a chance to better their bowling figures and get closer to that coveted Purple Cap.

Unfortunately not many contenders for Orange Cap though from either team.

Did you know?

Since 2023, Kagiso Rabada has gone wicketless in eight of his 24 outings.

Ayush Badoni has seven 50-plus scores from No.4 or lower for LSG, a franchise record.

Prasidh Krishna has the most wickets [12] in overs 7-15 in the IPL since 2025.

In the spotlight

Mohammed Siraj was RCB's go-to powerplay bowler, and for GT he is supposed to be that too. But he had two wicketless overs against Punjab Kings - he did not bowl anymore that day - and across the two games against DC and Rajasthan Royals, his only two wickets of the season came in the 17th and 20th overs respectively. He also conceded 100 in eight overs against RR and DC. When will his first powerplay wicket of IPL 2026 arrive?

Runs have been hard to come by for Nicholas Pooran. He has not crossed 17 in 10 of his last 11 T20s, a run extending from the SA20 followed by no cricket in February and March and then across the first three IPL 2026 games. In IPL, he is averaging 7.33 in three games. His dynamic batting makes him tough to drop, but how long a rope will LSG give him?

Stats and trivia

• Rashid is back to his best. In 2025, he averaged 57.1, had an economy of 9.3 and needed 37 balls for every wicket. In his five T20 appearances in 2026, he has an average of 17, economy of 7.1 and takes a wicket every 14 balls.
• Pant vs Rashid has the bowler keeping the batter quiet. In 107 balls, Pant has scored only 120 and has been dismissed three times.
• Rabada has dismissed Pooran three times across 28 deliveries in the IPL. Pooran has also scored only 33.
• Shubman Gill has traditionally struggled to get Avesh Khan away. The match-up reads 71 runs in 54 balls and includes four dismissals.