Gujarat Titans’ top-order batsmen face a test against the Lucknow Super Giants’ pace attack in the dry April heat of Lucknow.
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have been carrying GT’s top-heavy batting, but they now face what is arguably the best pace attack of IPL 2026 so far.
LSG’s seamers have averaged just 8 in the Powerplay this season, picking up eight wickets in three matches and conceding under five an over.
GT’s Recent Record Against LSG
Gujarat Titans have been on the receiving end of this fixture, losing the last three meetings, including both times last year.
Small margins can change outcomes. For example, if David Miller had taken that single off the penultimate ball, if Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada had managed to squeeze a boundary against Tushar Deshpande in the last over, their season could have looked very different.
LSG’s Form and Potential Weaknesses
It took a freakish innings from Mukul Choudhary to get LSG over the line in what should have been a routine chase.
Nicholas Pooran, has not looked the same force this season. He has been moved down the order to spread out the formidable top-three from last year.
His returns tell the story: 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.4 and a strike rate of 113.55, and there will be opportunities on offer to shut the game down.
Venue and Expected Conditions
The match will be held at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
While the pitches in Lucknow have improved over the years, they are still expected to be sluggish.
The hosts were bowled out for 141 before a Sameer Rizvi special got Delhi Capitals over the line in the opening match here this season. It’s supposed to be a hot and dry afternoon in Lucknow.
Team Availability and Key Matchups
There are no reported fitness concerns in either camp.
LSG’s seamers have stuck to good and hard lengths in the Powerplay and it will be interesting to see what GT’s top-order comes up with against it. Gill averages over 54 and strikes at over 147 against LSG, and his battle with Mohammed Shami will be the one to watch out for.
Probable Teams
Lucknow Super Giants Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav
Gujarat Titans Probable XII: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (w), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma, Prasidh Krishna
Shubman Gill seems to have recovered well from his neck troubles.
Rashid Khan, who has roared back to form, has a favourable matchup against Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran, getting them both thrice each, and the legspinner will be key.
GT’s top order faces a stern test against LSG’s seamers.