IPL 2026, Match 38: Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Preview

Published - 25 Apr 2026, 13:42 IST | Updated - 25 Apr 2026, 13:42 IST

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be desperate to revive their faltering campaign as they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 38 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow on Saturday, April 25.

LSG have endured a difficult season so far and currently find themselves in the lower half of the points table. Despite showing early promise with back-to-back wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, their campaign has lost direction due to a worrying four-match losing streak. With just two wins from seven matches, the Rishabh Pant-led side will be under pressure.

On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders have had an even more challenging start to the season. Sitting at the bottom of the standings with just three points from seven games, KKR struggled to find momentum early on. A winless run in their first six matches, including a no result due to rain, put them on the back foot before they finally registered their first victory against Rajasthan Royals.

With both teams struggling for consistency and fighting to stay relevant in the tournament, this clash promises to be a high-pressure encounter.

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow has been a bowler-friendly wicket so far in IPL 2026. The wicket has true bounce and assists pacers immensely early on with the new ball. In the three matches so far at the venue, no team has been able to cross the 170-run mark, which clearly showcases its nature. Expect yet another low-scoring thriller.

Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (c) (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mayank Yadav

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Matheesha Pathirana