Match Details
- Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders
- Match Number: 38th Match, Indian Premier League
- Date: 26 April 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
Live Streaming and Live Telecast
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (expected)
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website (expected)
Match Preview
LSG enters this contest looking stronger on paper, especially with their power-packed middle order and pace attack. KKR have shown flashes of brilliance, but inconsistency in both batting and death bowling has hurt them.
Ekana generally rewards disciplined bowling, so teams that control middle overs could dominate. LSG may hold a slight edge because of home conditions and a more settled core.
Pitch Report
The Ekana surface has usually been balanced to slightly slow.
- New ball could offer seam movement early.
- Spinners likely to come into play in middle overs.
- Batting tends to get harder as innings progresses.
- A score around 165–180 could be competitive.
Toss could be important; chasing may still be preferred due to dew factor.
Weather Report
Lucknow forecast suggests:
- Temperature: 29–33°C at start, cooling later
- Humidity: Moderate
- Rain threat: Very low
- Dew likely in second innings
Good conditions expected for a full match.
Head-to-Head Record
Overall meetings:
- LSG Wins: 5
- KKR Wins: 2
LSG have historically dominated this rivalry.
Probable Playing XI
Lucknow Super Giants
- Mitchell Marsh
- Aiden Markram
- Rishabh Pant (C/WK)
- Nicholas Pooran
- Ayush Badoni
- Abdul Samad
- Mukul Chaudhary
- Avesh Khan
- Mohammed Shami
- Digvesh Rathi
- M Siddharth
Impact Sub: Prince Yadav
Kolkata Knight Riders
- Finn Allen
- Ajinkya Rahane (C)
- Cameron Green
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Rovman Povell
- Rinku Singh
- Ramandeep Singh
- Sunil Narine
- Anukul Roy
- Vaibhav Arora
- Varun Chakravarthy
Impact Sub: Blessing Muzarabani
Key Players to Watch
Rishabh Pant
Aggressive left-hander and match-winner in pressure chases.
Nicholas Pooran
Can destroy spin-heavy attacks at Ekana.
Mohammed Shami
Early breakthroughs could define the match.
Sunil Narine
His all-round impact remains massive for KKR.
Rinku Singh
Key finisher if KKR chase.
Dream11 Fantasy Prediction
Suggested Fantasy XI
- WK: Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran
- Batters: Aiden Markram, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh
- All-rounders: Sunil Narine (C), Mitchell Marsh (VC)
- Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Avesh Khan, Harshit Rana
Captain Choices
- Sunil Narine
- Mitchell Marsh
- Nicholas Pooran
Vice-Captain Choices
- Rishabh Pant
- Mohammed Shami
- Aiden Markram
Final Prediction
Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants to win
Why:
- Home advantage at Ekana
- Better recent balance in batting + bowling
- Stronger head-to-head record
- KKR still look vulnerable in powerplay batting
Winning Probability:
- LSG: 58%
- KKR: 42%
Predicted Scenario: If LSG bowl first, they could restrict KKR under 170 and chase it down. If batting first, 175+ may be enough for LSG to defend.