IPL 2026, LSG vs PBKS 68th Match Match Preview – PBKS meet LSG with playoffs hopes hanging by a thread
Big picture: Win or bust for PBKS
In a throwback to IPL 2018, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have seen their IPL 2026 campaign take a turn for the worse after a bright start. Eight years ago, they began with five wins in six matches but lost seven of their next eight games to finish seventh. This time, they’ve lost six successive matches after starting with six wins in as many completed games.One of those wins was over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the teams’ first meeting this season. But a long time seems to have passed since then.
Once on the path to finish the league stage as table toppers, PBKS now run the risk of missing out on the playoffs. Just one spot is up for grabs, and not only must PBKS beat LSG on Saturday to stand a chance of taking that but also hope Mumbai Indians (MI) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday. A defeat against LSG will end PBKS’ hopes.
Despite the hole they find themselves in, however, playing LSG at this point may not be all that bad for PBKS. LSG “are a f***ing good team” if you believe their captain Rishabh Pant, but find themselves at the bottom of the table. PBKS have won their last three meetings with LSG.
Rishabh Pant top scored the last time these two sides met•BCCI
One of the positives for LSG, though, is Mitchell Marsh’s form. He has scores of 111, 90 and 96 in three of his last four innings, and has found an equally aggressive opening partner in Josh Inglis. Marsh, however, has left the LSG squad and is understood to be unavailable for their final group-stage fixture.
But PBKS will have to find a way through that opening pair early, and do what is in their hands to finally register a win after almost a month. Even if that happens, they will need help from MI to progress.
Form guide
Lucknow Super Giants: LWLWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Punjab Kings: LLLLL
Key question
In the spotlight: Inglis and Arya
A 360-degree batter, Josh Inglis has flown out of the blocks in the powerplay across conditions after arriving late. In the absence of Marsh, LSG will look up to him to give them a blazing start once again. He has scored 194 runs in four innings so far at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 195.95. That strike rate jumps to 242.42 in the powerplay.Priyansh Arya’s returns have fallen off dramatically. Here’s a comparison of his numbers from his first seven innings and his last five innings this season: runs 283 vs 81, average 40.43 vs 16.20, and strike rate 250.44 vs 139.65. In four of these last five innings, Arya has fallen to the short or back-of-a-length ball. LSG’s pace attack of Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan and Mayank Yadav might target Arya with those lengths, and look to lengthen his poor run of form.
Team news
Shami had missed LSG’s previous match, against RR on Tuesday. If he’s fit to play PBKS, he could replace Akash Singh, who went for 54 runs in three overs against RR. Arshin Kulkarni could get another game in the absence of Marsh.
Lucknow Super Giants (probable): 1 Arshin Kulkarni, 2 Josh Inglis, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Ayush Badoni, 5 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Mohsin Khan, 9 Mayank Yadav, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Prince Yadav, 12 Digvesh Rathi.
PBKS brought in Marcus Stoinis for Yuzvendra Chahal as Impact Sub while chasing against RR. They could continue with the same swap against LSG, which would then allow them to play two spinners in Chahal and Harpreet Brar.
Punjab Kings (probable): 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 3 Cooper Connolly, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 Suryansh Shedge, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Shashank Singh, 8 Azmatullah Omarzai, 9 Harpreet Brar, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Arshdeep Singh, 12 Yuzvendra Chahal.
Pitch and conditions
The match at the Ekana Stadium will be played on pitch No. 5, a mixed-soil pitch. So it could have something in it for both batters and bowlers. So far in five matches this season completed in regular time in Lucknow, chasing teams have a 3-2 edge over teams batting first. A high of 35 degrees Celsius is expected in Lucknow on Saturday, with no chance of rain.
Stats and trivia
- Pant’s strike rate of 136.69 is the lowest among all 35 batters to have scored at least 500 runs in the IPL since 2025.
- While Shami has an edge over Prabhsimran Singh – two dismissals, but 19 runs conceded in nine balls – the LSG quick has struggled against Arya. The left-hand opener has thumped Shami for 26 runs in 12 balls without being dismissed.
- As a bowling unit, PBKS have the worst average and economy rate among all teams this season.
Quotes
“I guess there’s no hiding from the fact that it’s it’s now or never for us as a team in in this tournament. I’m really excited actually about tomorrow. I’m excited about what this group is capable of and I think we all saw in the first seven games of the season just how good this team can play.”
PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting on the situation they find themselves in
“I think once Josh Inglis has come, he’s made a big difference. He’s given us that input and Mitch has found some form as well, and then the others have been kicking in.”
LSG assistant coach Lance Klusener on Josh Inglis’ impact on their batting line-up
Himanshu Agrawal is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
