Match No. 5 of the ongoing IPL 2026 will be played between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 in Lucknow. This article covers the LSG vs DC match preview, including the pitch report, weather forecast, head-to-head records, probable playing XIs, and live streaming details.
Both Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be aiming to make a strong comeback in the upcoming IPL 2026 following their poor campaign last year. This clash is extra special and interesting for the fans because of the history.
The LSG captain, Rishabh Pant, and DC’s key player KL Rahul will be against each other’s former teams in their IPL 2026 encounter. Notably, Pant captained DC before moving to LSG last year, while Rahul led LSG for four seasons before joining the Capitals in 2025.
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LSG vs DC Match No.5 IPL 2026 Preview:
Match Details:
Match Date: The 5th IPL 2026 match will be played on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Venue: The match will take place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
Time: The match is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST.
LSG vs DC Squads:
Lucknow Super Giants –
Rishabh Pant (C), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan
Delhi Capitals –
Axar Patel (C), KL Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav
LSG vs DC Probable XIs:
LSG Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahamad, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Mohammed Shami
Impact Player: Digvesh Singh Rathi
DC Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam/Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan
Impact Player – Abhishek Porel/Mukesh Kumar
LSG vs DC 5th IPL 2026 Match Key Battles:
Mohammed Shami vs KL Rahul
This matchup is a classic fight between two India stars. Mohammed Shami brings deadly seam movement with the new ball and will pose a great threat to the new DC opener, Rahul.
If Shami manages to remove Rahul early, DC’s middle order will be under pressure, especially with LSG’s fast bowlers like Mayank Yadav waiting to attack.
Speaking about their IPL battles, the senior pacer has removed Rahul twice in the IPL. And the right-handed batter has managed only 13 runs against Shami at a strike rate of 76.47.
Kuldeep Yadav vs Nicholas Pooran
The battle between DC’s star spinner Kuldeep Yadav and LSG’s big-hitter Nicholas Pooran will be enthralling to watch for the fans in Lucknow. Even though Pooran is known as one of the best power hitters in the world, Kuldeep has troubled him again and again.
Kuldeep has dismissed Pooran 5 times in T20 cricket, including for a golden duck by hitting the off-stump. Pooran’s numbers against Kuldeep are not impressive at all, as the West Indies star averages only 10.40 and his strike rate stands at just 91.22.
Pooran is LSG’s main middle-order power hitter, and if Kuldeep manages to get the better of him, Delhi can control the important middle overs.
Mayank Yadav vs Tristan Stubbs
The clash between Mayank Yadav and Tristan Stubbs will be a pure speed-versus-power fight. Mayank is LSG’s biggest X-factor, known for bowling above 150 km/h. His sharp bouncers and raw pace can trouble even the best batters.
On the other side, Stubbs has become DC’s most dangerous finisher. He hits in all directions and loves attacking in the last overs. This makes their battle exciting, as Mayank will try to shock Stubbs with fast, rising balls, while the Proteas star will look to use his 360-degree hitting to break LSG’s plans. Their battle will play a key role in deciding the outcome of the match.
Wanindu Hasaranga vs David Miller
The contest between LSG’s leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and DC’s strong finisher David Miller will be a deciding factor in Lucknow. Hasaranga is LSG’s main wicket-taking spinner, and his job is to destroy the middle order with his sharp leg-spin and tricky googlies.
On the other hand, Miller will play the finisher’s role for the DC in this season. He is a good player of spin, and his role will be important in the death overs. If Hasaranga manages to get Miller out early, DC’s middle-overs momentum will be shattered. But if Miller survives, DC will be in a great position.
LSG vs DC Match No.5 Key Players:
Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Mohammed Shami, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mayank Yadav
Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, T Natarajan
Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast
TV Rights in India: The LSG vs DC match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network on TV in India.
Live Streaming Platform in India: Fans can watch the match on the JioHotstar app and website on mobiles, laptops, and other streaming devices.
When will the match take place?
The fifth IPL 2026 match is set to be played on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Where will the match be played?
This match will be played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
LSG vs DC Match No.5 IPL 2026, Weather Report, Pitch Report of Ekana Cricket Stadium
LSG vs DC: Weather Report in Lucknow
This IPL 2026 clash will have perfect weather at the Ekana Stadium. There is no chance of rain, so fans will enjoy the full match in Lucknow.
During the match, the temperature should stay between 28°C and 24°C, making it comfortable for players and spectators. Humidity and dew will be on the low side.
LSG vs DC: Pitch Report of Ekana Cricket Stadium
The pitch at Ekana Stadium has gone through a big makeover in the last few seasons. This venue offers a balance between bat and ball. Ekana uses two different types of pitches. One is made with black soil, which usually feels flat and becomes easier for batting once the ball gets older.
But as the game progresses, this surface starts helping the spinners a bit more. On the other hand, the red soil gives fast bowlers some natural bounce and a bit of movement early on. But spinners enjoy bowling later in the innings because it dries up quickly.
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Batters love hitting the new ball, but as the ball gets softer, timing shots becomes tough. Captains who win the toss mostly prefer to bowl first, and a total of 180–190 is likely to be a competitive total.
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
The Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants has become an exciting rivalry in the IPL. Out of their 7 IPL matches played between them so far, DC has a slight lead with 4 wins, while LSG has 3 wins. None of the games have ended in a tie or without a result.
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Records: Last Five Matches
The Capitals have stunningly dominated Lucknow in their last five meetings in the tournament. DC has won four out of the last five games, while the LSG managed only a single victory.
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Records- Result of the last five games:
- DC won by 8 wickets in Lucknow on April 22, 2025
- DC won by 1 wicket in Vizag on March 24, 2025
- DC won by 19 runs in Delhi on May 14, 2024
- DC won by 6 wickets in Lucknow on April 12, 2024
- LSG won by 50 runs in Lucknow on April 15, 2023
LSG vs DC – Conclusion:
The rivalry between LSG and DC may be young, but nothing less than a drama series. Now, both teams walk into the Ekana Stadium with something to prove after a disappointing 2025 season where neither team made the playoffs. This IPL 2026 clash is extra special, and the reason is the high-profile switches.
Rishabh Pant, who was once the face of Delhi Capitals, now leads Lucknow Super Giants after a record 2025 move. On the other hand, Pant will be up against KL Rahul, who is LSG’s former captain and will now open the innings for DC.
They look more settled under the captaincy of Axar Patel. Rahul’s arrival has strengthened their top order, while LSG has packed their middle order with power hitters like Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, giving Pant enough firepower.
Both teams look stronger on paper, but LSG is likely to make the most of the home conditions to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on a winning note.