Match 5 of the 2026 Indian Premier League will see Lucknow SuperGiants square off against Delhi Capitals at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The two teams failed to secure play-off berths last year. While DC finished fifth on the points table, LSG were seventh. When LSG takes the field, the spotlight will fall on their captain Rishabh Pant.
The wicketkeeper-batter was appointed as the team's captain ahead of the 2025 season. However, he failed to deliver with the bat as he accumulated only 269 runs from 13 innings at an average of 24.45. Pant is the league's most expensive player, having been signed by LSG for Rs 27 crore.
The 28-year-old will need a standout season with the bat and guide the team to the playoffs to justify that massive price tag. However, he has the cushion of having a fiery top order in Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nichollas Pooran. Each of them got over 400 runs in the last IPL. The three batters are known for their explosive batting and also bring in plenty of T20 experience.
The team also boasts of an array of Indian pacers. Of all those pacers, there will be excitement around Mayank Yadav. The 23-year-old holds the record of delivering the quickest delivery in the history of the IPL. Two years ago, he burst onto the scene as a bowler with the capacity to bowl at extreme pace. However recurring injuries have disrupted his IPL career so far. But before the team's season's opener he has been declared fit. LSG will hope that he remains fit for the majority of the season as he will act as the team's X-factor.
Unlike LSG, DC doesn't boast of a powerful top-order. KL Rahul is sure to open the innings. There was an uptick in Rahul's strike rate last year. If Rahul can continue improving his strike rate and score at his usual average, it will make Delhi a dangerous side. However, there is uncertainty around his opening partner. Delhi bought Pathum Nissanka, Ben Duckett and Prithvi Shaw at the last auction. Duckett has already pulled out of the tournament and there is always ambiguity around Shaw's form. So that leaves Delhi with Nissanka as the only option to partner Rahul at the top of the order.
The team will have to deal with the absence of speed gun Mitchell Starc. The Aussie pacer is recovering from a shoulder and elbow injury. Starc's place will go to Lungi Ngidi. Ngidi was terrific at the T20 World Cup and Delhi will hope that he carries that form in the league as well. The team will also be banking on ever reliable Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist spinner has picked at least 10 wickets in each of the last four seasons.
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LSG vs DC: Date, Time, Venue
The match will be played at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
LSG vs DC Probable Playing XI
- LSG: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.
- DC: KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (capt), David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav
How to Watch Live Telecast?
IPL 2026 matches are being broadcasted LIVE on the Star Sports channels.
How to Watch Live Streaming?
IPL 2026 matches are being streamed on the JioHotstar app.
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