IPL 2026, Match 5: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals Match Preview

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) open their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 5 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, April 1. 

Both sides missed out on a playoff berth last time around, with DC coming closest, finishing fifth and just a point shy of the top four. 

LSG come into the new season having made very few changes to their squad for last season. The Lucknow-based franchise still pmatcossesses one of the strongest top orders in the IPL, having the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran, along with captain Rishabh Pant. They strengthened their bowling in the off-season, securing the services of Mohammad Shami on a trade from Sunrisers Hyderabad and picking Anrich Nortje in the mini auction for INR 2 crore. 

DC have also kept the core of their squad intact whilst strengthening a few aspects of their side from 2025. The 2020 finalists spent big on Jammu & Kashmir star Auqib Nabi Dar, whilst also picking overseas talents like Pathum Nissanka, David Miller, and Lungi Ngidi. The Axar Patel-led side are set to continue using KL Rahul as their opening batter following his success last time around. 

LSG have little to no injury concerns heading into the 2026 IPL season. However, they will be without Wanindu Hasaranga, who has still not been given clearance from Sri Lanka’s governing body. Josh Inglis, on the other hand, is expected to get married and will miss a large portion of this year’s tournament. 

DC, meanwhile, will be without their talismanic bowler Mitchell Starc for the opening stages of the tournament as he continues to nurse a shoulder and elbow injury. England’s Ben Duckett, however, has pulled out of the entire tournament to focus on his international career. 

LSG vs DC: Match Details

LSG vs DC: Head-to-Head record

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

If a team wins the toss, they generally tend to bat first at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The pitch in Lucknow offers excellent batting conditions for the side batting first, but the bowlers do tend to come into the game as the match progresses. 

The pitch can also offer assistance to the spinners during the latter stages of the game and can always be a wicket-taking threat if they maintain their line and length. 

LSG vs DC: Predicted Playing XI

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): 

Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C, WK), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Anrich Nortje, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.
 
Impact Player: Shahbaz Ahmed

Delhi Capitals (DC): 

Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi
 
Impact Player: T. Natarajan