🏏IPL 2026: LSG vs KKR, 38th Match, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow🏏

🏏IPL 2026: KKR vs LSG, 38th Match, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow on 26/04/2026 at 7:30PM IST🏏

Pathirana boost for KKR against LSG as No. 10 meets No. 9

LSG have lost four matches in a row, while KKR registered their first win of the season only in their previous outing

The battle of bottom-dwellers

It has been a tough season for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). They are the two bottom teams in IPL 2026 and will try to get their season back on track when they meet at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. LSG started well, winning two of their first three matches but have since had a steep fall, losing four in a row. KKR didn't manage a single win in their first six games (one was a washout) before beating Rajasthan Royals.

KKR, who had to contend with a depleted fast bowling attack, will welcome the addition of Matheesha Pathirana, who is fit and available for the LSG game. Who he replaces becomes the key question. One option could be replacing Rovman Powell, but Powell has been in decent form. That could mean Pathirana comes in for Tim Seifert, and Sunil Narine opens the batting with Ajinkya Rahane.

KKR have the worst economy rate in the powerplay so far in the tournament and have picked up the second-fewest wickets in that phase. They will hope Pathirana's inclusion helps to improve those numbers.

LSG's headaches lie more with their batters, as their bowlers have been flying. With most first-choice players available, they are one of the few teams to have an all-Indian bowling attack, and their effectiveness shows in the numbers. They have the best economy rate (7.59) in the powerplay and have taken the second-most wickets in the phase (14). Leading the pack are Prince Yadav and Mohammed Shami, while Mohsin Khan has also been consistent.

LSG's batting, however, has failed to click. They have the worst scoring rate in the powerplay (8.19) and middle overs (7.75), and the second-worst at the death (9.18). Nicholas Pooran is having a forgettable season, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram are yet to hit top gear and Rishabh Pant has blown hot and cold. They need a batting rethink and quickly.

LSG will be buoyed by the fact that their last win in IPL 2026 came against KKR, when Mukul Choudhary announced himself with an unbeaten 54, taking his team over the line in a last-ball thriller.

Team Watch

Lucknow Super Giants

Injuries/Unavailabilities: Josh Inglis, married a few days ago, could join the squad at some point next week. Mayank Yadav, termed "fit and firing" by Aiden Markram, finally earned a spot last game, only to conceded 56 runs. With Avesh Khan also having been expensive, it remains to be seen if they retain him.

LSG skipped training two days before the game, and had a low-key session the night before, with only a select few batters turning up. Rishabh Pant, who usually spends plenty of time reading the pitch, wasn't around to train.

Tactics and matchups: Unlike their batting woes, LSG's bowling attack has been the best of the lot in Powerplays (14 wickets at 23.6, economy 7.85). LSG's dot ball-percentage of 49.6 is the best among all sides in the Powerplay. That's a strong advantage on paper over KKR's openers (144 runs at 20.6), who have the worst aggregate among all teams. Watch out for Mohammed Shami vs Ajinkya Rahane: the batter has played nearly ten overs of him without being dismissed, striking at 168.

Probable XII:Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav

Kolkata Knight Riders

After weeks of anticipation, Matheesha Pathirana has finally linked up with the squad, and is up for selection. The evening before, he was seen bowling inch-perfect yorkers to Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. It remains to be seen how he fits into the XI: KKR could potentially switch out Tim Seifert or Rovman Powell and consider dropping an Indian seamer for an additional middle-order batter like Manish Pandey.

Tactics & matchups:

A fully fit and back-in-form Varun Chakaravarthy would be a crucial boost for KKR, especially to tie down Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran. In all T20s, Pant averages 10.3 against Chakaravarthy, striking at 103.3. Oh, and he's also dismissed Aiden Markram six times.

Crucially, Varun did not bowl in their Eden thriller when Mukul Choudhary went berserk. Mukul's pace versus spin strike-rate so far is (157.14 vs 128.57). They might want to keep an extra over of spin if he's in earlier.

Probable XII:Ajinkya Rahane, Tim Seifert/Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cam Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi, Matheesha Pathirana/Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy

BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow: Pitch Report

The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has offered a pitch where bowlers have found rare ease of delivering the goods. The upcoming clash will be played on the black soil wicket, and the nature of the wicket is expected to be two-paced. The team winning the toss should look to chase first, given the average first innings score here being less than 160.

CSK vs GT IPL Match: Chennai Weather Update

The weather in Chennai for today's match (26 April 2026) will be hot and extremely humid, with no threat of rain to interrupt play. Since this is an afternoon fixture starting at 3:30 PM IST, players and fans will face the peak summer heat typical of late April in Tamil Nadu. Expected to hover around 34°C to 36°C during the first innings. Due to high humidity, it will feel much hotter, with a temperature of approximately 38°C to 40°C.

LSG vs KKR: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: 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.

Probable Best Bowler: Prince Yadav

Prince Yadav has been the breakout star for Lucknow Super Giants this season. His ability to nail the yorkers makes him an exceptional bowler at the death, but he has found the majority of his success this season while bowling during the powerplay overs. The right-arm pacer is expected to be the best bowler on Sunday night for the upcoming clash.

Today's Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match

Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders

LSG

Second To Bat

Powerplay: 50-60

175-185

KKR

Second To Bat

Powerplay: 60-70

170-180

Win Probability

LSG 65%

KKR 35%

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.

What to expect: The previous game was played on a red-soil pitch which Langer likened to the WACA. This game, though, will be played on a black-soil pitch, which could see more runs and assistance for spinners, unlike the surface the other day, where new-ball quicks found sharp bounce.

LSG vs KKR: Head-to-Head record

Matches Played 07

Won by LSG 05

Won by KKR 02

Tie/NR 00

First-ever fixture May 07, 2022 (LSG Won)

Most recent fixture April 09, 2026 (LSG Won)

Stats and trivia

• Narine needs just two wickets to become just the third bowler to complete 200 wickets in the IPL
• Varun has dismissed Markram six times in 13 T20 innings.
• Rahane has a solid record against Shami, having never fallen to the fast bowler while scoring 99 runs at a strike rate of 168.
• Pathirana has an excellent record against Pant in T20s, having dismissed him three times in four games.
• Pooran's strike rate of 82.02 is the lowest so far in IPL 2026 (minimum 50 balls faced).

Quotes

"Everyone knows that our batting at the moment isn't where it needs to be and no much more than the batters themselves, but I can assure you the kind if converstaions, guys working hard, we feel we are one match away from smashing it and be where we need to be."

LSG spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe feels the LSG batters are one match away from regaining form

"I am very confident and feel very nice as well that I am ready to play and the preparation is also similar in advance."

Anukul Roy on getting consistent chances