Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), already eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race, host a wounded Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 68 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Friday, May 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM IST. This is an afternoon match, so expect heat and no dew to play a role.
PBKS sit 5th with 13 points from 13 matches and desperately need this win to stay in the playoff conversation after six consecutive defeats. LSG, bottom of the table with 8 points from 13 games, play purely for pride.
In the reverse fixture (Match 29, April 19), PBKS demolished LSG by 54 runs at New Chandigarh, powered by Priyansh Arya’s 93 off 37 and Cooper Connolly’s 87. LSG’s most recent outing saw Mitchell Marsh smash 96 off 57 against RR, but the team still lost by 7 wickets to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 93 off 38.
LSG Predicted Playing XI vs PBKS
Rishabh Pant is unlikely to tinker much with the combination that posted 220/5 against RR. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis open, with Pant himself at No. 3. Nicholas Pooran provides the middle-order firepower.
The bowling attack relies on Mohammed Shami and Mohsin Khan with the new ball, while Prince Yadav and M Siddharth handle the spin duties on this slow Ekana surface.
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Marsh | Opener / All-rounder |
| 2 | Josh Inglis (wk) | Opener / Wicketkeeper |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant (c) | No. 3 / Captain |
| 4 | Aiden Markram | Middle Order |
| 5 | Nicholas Pooran | Middle Order / Finisher |
| 6 | Mukul Choudhary | Lower Middle Order |
| 7 | Abdul Samad | Finisher |
| 8 | Mohammed Shami | Pace Bowler |
| 9 | Prince Yadav | Pace Bowler |
| 10 | M Siddharth | Left-arm Spinner |
| 11 | Mohsin Khan | Pace Bowler |
Impact Player Options: Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Arshin Kulkarni
Marsh leads LSG’s run charts this season with 563 runs in 13 matches, including that blistering 96 off 57 against RR in Match 64. He became the first LSG batter to score 500+ runs in consecutive IPL seasons (627 in IPL 2025).
PBKS Predicted Playing XI vs LSG
Punjab Kings are in freefall. Six straight losses have turned table-toppers into playoff fringe candidates. Captain Shreyas Iyer needs his top order of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh to rediscover their early-season form.
PBKS have chopped and changed their bowling XI in recent losses. Arshdeep Singh remains the spearhead, while Yuzvendra Chahal is the primary spin threat. The big question is whether Marcus Stoinis returns to the starting XI or features as impact player, and whether Lockie Ferguson or Xavier Bartlett gets the nod alongside Marco Jansen.
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | Opener / Wicketkeeper |
| 2 | Priyansh Arya | Opener |
| 3 | Shreyas Iyer (c) | No. 3 / Captain |
| 4 | Nehal Wadhera | Middle Order |
| 5 | Shashank Singh | Finisher / All-rounder |
| 6 | Marcus Stoinis | All-rounder |
| 7 | Marco Jansen | Pace All-rounder |
| 8 | Harpreet Brar | Left-arm Spinner |
| 9 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Leg-spinner |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Pace Bowler |
| 11 | Vijaykumar Vyshak | Pace Bowler |
Impact Player Options: Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Vishnu Vinod, Azmatullah Omarzai, Suryansh Shedge
PBKS’s collapse has been dramatic. They started IPL 2026 with 6 wins and a washout in their first 7 games. Since then, they’ve lost 6 straight. The first-10-balls strike rate of their top seven dropped from 236.20 during the wins to 191 in the losses, per ESPNcricinfo.
Key Changes and Team News
LSG are eliminated from the playoffs. With nothing left to play for, expect Pant to potentially experiment with the batting order or give fringe players a run.
Mayank Yadav, who was dropped for the RR game, could return on the spin-friendly Ekana surface where pace has traditionally found assistance with the new ball. However, his recent economy rates have been a concern.
Wanindu Hasaranga remains an unused asset in the squad. On a slow Ekana track, the Sri Lankan leg-spinner could finally get a game.
PBKS need to win this match to keep their playoff hopes alive. After six straight defeats, every selection decision is under the microscope.
The big call is around the overseas combination. Cooper Connolly (87 in the reverse fixture against LSG) was dropped for Mitchell Owen in recent games. Given this is a must-win, Iyer might recall Connolly for his proven ability against LSG’s bowlers.
Azmatullah Omarzai replaced Marcus Stoinis against RCB and scored 38 off 17 with 2 wickets. That performance makes the Stoinis vs Omarzai debate a genuine selection headache for Ponting and Iyer.
LSG vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record in IPL
This is one of the IPL’s newer rivalries, dating back to LSG’s entry in 2022. Across 7 completed matches, PBKS lead 4-3 after winning both encounters in IPL 2025 and the reverse fixture this season.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total IPL Meetings | 7 |
| PBKS Wins | 4 |
| LSG Wins | 3 |
| Reverse Fixture (M29, Apr 19) | PBKS won by 54 runs (Arya 93, Connolly 87) |
| Highest Total | 257/5 by LSG (Mohali, 2023) |
| Lowest Total | 133 by PBKS (2022) |
The momentum firmly sits with PBKS in this rivalry. They’ve won 3 of the last 4 meetings, including a comprehensive 54-run demolition in Match 29 this season where Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly shared a 182-run second-wicket stand in just 13.2 overs.
However, LSG have a decent home record at Ekana in this fixture. The ground’s slower surface tends to neutralise PBKS’s power-hitting strengths, making this an interesting tactical contest.
Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Surface Type | Black soil; slow and low; grip for spinners |
| Par Score (IPL 2026) | 165-175 (anything above 185 is tough to chase) |
| Highest Total at Venue | 235/6 by KKR vs LSG (IPL 2024) |
| Spin Factor | High; surface grips and slows as match progresses |
| Afternoon Conditions | Extreme heat (40-42 degrees C); no dew expected |
| Toss Preference | Teams batting second won 14 of 26 matches at Ekana |
The Ekana surface is among the most bowler-friendly venues in IPL 2026. Most matches here this season have been low-scoring affairs, with an average first-innings total around 172.
The afternoon start time changes the equation significantly. No dew means the pitch won’t deteriorate for bowlers in the second innings. Spinners will be critical on this surface, which is why Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) and M Siddharth (LSG) become pivotal figures.
The heat (40+ degrees during the day) will test the fitness and concentration of players. Expect the toss-winning captain to bowl first, given the chasing advantage at Ekana and the lack of dew in an afternoon game.
Key Player Battles to Watch
Here are Key Player Battles to watch out for:
Marsh vs Arshdeep: 563 Runs vs IPL’s Premier Death Bowler
Mitchell Marsh has been LSG’s sole batting bright spot with 563 runs in 13 matches, including a 96 off 57 in the last game. Arshdeep Singh, though, troubled Marsh early in the reverse fixture. Arshdeep’s late inswing and wide yorkers have been lethal at the death this season.
If Arshdeep can get Marsh out inside the powerplay, LSG’s batting depth is exposed. That first spell from Arshdeep will likely define the shape of LSG’s innings.
Priyansh Arya vs Mohammed Shami: The Rematch
Priyansh Arya hammered 93 off 37 in the reverse fixture, smashing 9 sixes in the process. Mohammed Shami went for runs in that match as Arya took the LSG bowling apart. This rematch at Ekana, on a slower surface, is a completely different proposition.
Shami’s ability to extract bounce from even sluggish decks makes him a genuine threat. Arya, though, has shown this season that he backs himself to take on any bowler from ball one.
Chahal vs LSG’s Middle Order: Spin on a Turning Track
Yuzvendra Chahal is perfectly suited for Ekana’s slow surface. On a track that grips and turns, his googlies and leg-spinners become significantly more dangerous.
LSG’s middle order of Markram, Pooran, and Samad will need to negotiate Chahal through overs 7-15, the phase where Ekana’s surface typically becomes trickiest for stroke-play.
IPL 2026 Standings Context
PBKS (5th, 13 pts from 13 matches): Punjab’s fall from grace has been one of IPL 2026’s most dramatic storylines. Unbeaten in their first 7 games (6 wins, 1 NR), they’ve since lost 6 in a row and slipped from 1st to 5th. A win here is non-negotiable for their playoff hopes.
LSG (10th, 8 pts from 13 matches): Bottom of the table and eliminated. Rishabh Pant’s first season as LSG captain has been a struggle. Mitchell Marsh’s 563 runs have been the only consistent positive, while the bowling has lacked a match-winning edge.
For PBKS, the equation is straightforward: win this final league game and hope other results go their way. For LSG, this is about ending a miserable season with some dignity and giving fringe players a platform.
Final Verdict
Punjab Kings should be favourites despite their six-game losing streak. The desperation factor alone gives them an edge over an eliminated LSG side. However, PBKS’s dramatic form collapse raises legitimate concerns about their confidence.
Ekana’s slow surface could either help or hurt PBKS. Chahal and Harpreet Brar thrive on slow decks. But PBKS’s batters, who’ve seen their strike rates plummet during the losing run, may struggle on a pitch that doesn’t offer easy boundaries.
Toss Prediction: Winning captain will bowl first. No dew in this afternoon game, but batting second at Ekana has historically been more comfortable.
