Two teams desperately chasing a playoff lifeline. Lucknow Super Giants host Kolkata Knight Riders tonight at Ekana, and for both sides, this is less a regular fixture and more a must-win moment. Rishabh Pant vs Ajinkya Rahane — the captaincy contrast alone makes this one unmissable.
Table of Contents
LSG vs KKR Match at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | LSG vs KKR, Match 38, IPL 2026 |
| Date & Time (IST) | Sunday, April 26, 2026 · 7:30 PM |
| Venue | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| TV Broadcast | JioStar Network / Star Sports |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar App & Website |
| LSG Captain | Rishabh Pant |
| KKR Captain | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Weather | Hot & dry, ~32°C — dew likely later |
LSG vs KKR Head-to-Head Record (IPL)
| Stat | Result |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 7 |
| LSG Wins | 5 |
| KKR Wins | 2 |
| No Result | 0 |
LSG have dominated this rivalry — 5 wins from 7 makes Ekana a house of horrors for KKR. History isn’t on Rahane’s side tonight. Stay updated with live standings on our IPL 2026 Points Table tracker.
Pitch & Conditions
Ekana is famously slow and spin-friendly. The big boundaries keep scoring rates in check, making this a game of patience and smart accumulation rather than brute power hitting. Dew could sneak in during the second innings — giving the chasing team a modest edge. Expect both captains to lean heavily on their spinners in the middle overs.
Predicted Playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants: Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Abdul Samad, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth
Kolkata Knight Riders: Tim Seifert, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora
Key Players to Watch
Rishabh Pant (LSG) — Electric with the gloves and the bat. At home in Lucknow, Pant is in his element. One big innings from him changes the entire complexion of the match.
Varun Chakaravarthy (KKR) — On a sluggish Ekana surface, Varun’s mystery spin could be the great leveller. If he finds his line and length early, KKR can squeeze LSG out of the game.
Mohammed Shami (LSG) — Finding his rhythm with the new ball, Shami is the man LSG will bank on to expose KKR’s inconsistent top order in the powerplay.
For the full fantasy XI breakdown, visit our IPL Fantasy Cricket Tips page.
LSG vs KKR: Match Prediction
LSG hold clear advantages — home ground, superior head-to-head record, and a more balanced pace attack. KKR’s death-bowling struggles remain a real concern, while LSG’s deep batting lineup and disciplined pace attack anchored by Mohammed Shami give them the upper hand. myKhel
That said, KKR’s spin duo of Narine and Chakaravarthy can make any total look competitive on this surface. This won’t be a free-flowing run fest — expect a tactical, low-scoring thriller.
Prediction: LSG to win — home fortress advantage proves decisive.
How to Watch LSG vs KKR Live
Catch all the action live on Star Sports network channels on TV. For online streaming, head to JioHotstar — available on app and website across India. Toss at 7:00 PM IST, match begins 7:30 PM IST. For the full IPL 2026 schedule, visit the official IPL website.
FAQs
Q. What time does the LSG vs KKR IPL 2026 match start?
The match begins at 7:30 PM IST on April 26, 2026, at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. You can stream it live on the JioHotstar app or watch on Star Sports TV channels.
Q. Who has the head-to-head edge between LSG and KKR in IPL?
LSG lead the head-to-head record convincingly with 5 wins against KKR’s 2 from 7 IPL meetings. Ekana has historically been a tough ground for KKR. For more IPL stats and records, visit our IPL Head-to-Head Stats page.
