Before the match between LSG and DC in IPL 2026, both the teams have suffered setbacks. Hasaranga and Starke are not available. There are questions over Pant's batting position and DC's top order, while Delhi leads 4-0 in the head-to-head.
IPL 2026 Today LSG vs DC Match Schedule: The fifth match of IPL 2026 will be played today (Wednesday, April 1) between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. This match will be held at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The toss of the match will take place at 7:00 pm, while the first ball will be bowled at 7:30 pm. Both the teams have reached the venue for this important match.
IPL 2026: Preparation of both teams before LSG vs DC match
In the Indian Premier League 2026, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) were left out of the playoffs last season. However, this time both the teams have made some changes and tried to improve themselves.
Shock to LSG: Wanindu Hasaranga not available
LSG has suffered a big setback before its first match. The team's star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has not reached India yet. He has to pass a fitness test by Sri Lanka Cricket, due to which he will not be able to play in the opening match.
DC's troubles: Mitchell Starc out due to injury
The situation is not easy for Delhi Capitals also. Team's fast bowler Mitchell Starc will not be able to play in the initial matches of the season. He is recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries.
LSG's strategy: less dependence on foreign players
LSG can include Anrich Nortje in the team in place of Hasaranga, especially considering the red clay pitch of Lucknow. However, the team does not want to depend only on its foreign batsmen Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran. Last season, all three had scored 400+ runs, while the total contribution of Indian batsmen was only 835 runs.
Question on Rishabh Pant's batting order
The biggest question for LSG is at which number Rishabh Pant will bat. In 2025, he played an unbeaten inning of 118 runs while playing at number 3. Whereas in the last season, Puran played 12 out of 14 innings at number 3. After IPL 2025, Puran has played 20 innings at number 3 in different leagues, while Pant has not played any T20 match.
DC's top order: Search for new opening pair
Delhi Capitals needs improvement in their top order. Pathum Nissanka has been seen opening with KL Rahul. Nitish Rana, who performed brilliantly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, can bat at No. 3
Head-to-head record: DC has the upper hand
Delhi Capitals' record against LSG has been excellent. DC leads 4-0 against LSG so far, with the two matches played in Lucknow. This time LSG will try to change this record on its home ground.
LSG Probable Playing XI
Michelle Marsh
aiden markram
nicholas puran
Rishabh Pant (Captain, Wicketkeeper)
Ayush Badoni
Abdul Samad
Akshat Raghuvanshi / Himmat Singh
Shahbaz Ahmed
Mohammed Shami
Mayank Yadav
Digvesh Rathi
Enrique Nortje
DC Probable Playing XI
KL Rahul (wicketkeeper)
Pathum Nissanka
Nitish Rana
Tristan Stubbs
Akshar Patel (captain)
david miller
Ashutosh Sharma
Vipraj Nigam
Auqib Nabi
Dushmantha Chameera
Kuldeep Yadav
T Natarajan
-
Up to 1-hour wait time near petrol stations as UAE residents rush to refuel
-
Shroud of Turin shock as scientists find new DNA on Jesus 'burial cloth'
-
Scott Mills' concerned friends issue 4-word statement after shock BBC axing
-
Malayalam Filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan Arrested Over Sexual Assault Allegations
-
Hundreds of UK plants and animals facing extinction due to 'spiralling decline'
