The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 38 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
The Super Giants are coming on the back of four consecutive losses and need two points desperately. Rishabh Pant’s men have not clicked with the bat and their top-heavy approach has come under scrutiny. They were beaten by 40 runs in their last game, failing to chase down 160 at home against Rajasthan Royals.Â
Kolkata Knight Riders come off a week’s break after finally notching up their first win of the season. They will be looking to gather some pace and stack up as many points as possible. They are to be bolstered by the return of Matheesha Pathirana, who is reportedly ready to feature for the three-time champions.
The two teams are meeting for the second time this season. The first outing saw the Super Giants notch up a three-wicket win off the final ball of the innings, chasing down 182. Mukul Choudhary announced himself to the world with a brilliant 27-ball 54, including two sixes in the final over of the innings.
Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Ekana Stadium has been traditionally slow, providing grip for spinners. The Royals seamers extracted movement and bounce off the wicket in the previous game at the venue, showing that there is help for the quicks as well.
The batters have struggled to get going, often having to bide their time and understand the nature of the wicket before displaying their shots. Despite this, the results in the IPL have favoured chasing teams. Batters will have to cash in early in the powerplay due to the abrasiveness of the wicket halting the run flow after the field restrictions are removed.
IPL Stats and Records at Ekana Cricket Stadium
| Matches Played |
25 |
| Matches Won Batting First |
10 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 14 |
| Matches With No Result | 01 |
| Matches Tied | 00 |
| Average First Innings Score | 173 |
| Highest Team Total | 235 |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 206 |
LSG vs RR Strategies and Match-upsÂ
Both teams are in dire need of points to save their seasons. The Lucknow Super Giants’ issues with the bat have been amplified this season, with their top-heavy approach coming under scrutiny. The Knight Riders have yet to find a settled combination with the bat, but Cameron Green finding runs would be a positive for them. Varun Chakravarthy was at his best against the Royals, picking up the player of the match award with a spell of 3/14.
The teams have met seven times in the IPL previously, with the Lucknow Super Giants having a 5-2 lead over the Knight Riders. The Super Giants are still winless at the Ekana Stadium in 2026 in three games played at the venue.
