IPL 2026, Match 68: Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings Match Preview

Published - 22 May 2026, 11:54 IST | Updated - 22 May 2026, 13:39 IST

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) host the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 23 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The match will be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

LSG are currently at the bottom of the points table, having secured just four wins from 13 matches. They are coming off a loss against the Rajasthan Royals, where they failed to defend a total of 221. They will be looking to finish their season on a high note, despite the blips of the season.

At the halfway stage of the season, one would not have imagined PBKS to be in a precarious position. Starting the season unbeaten with six wins in seven, Shreyas Iyer's men have lost their next six games and sit on the brink of elimination. They need a win at Lucknow, but will also need other results to go in their favour.

The two teams met in Mullanpur on April 19, with the Kings emerging victorious by a massive 54 runs. Put into bat, they scored a mammoth 254 for 7 courtesy of a sizeable second-wicket stand of 182 runs between Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly. Arya scored a marvellous 93 off just 37 balls, while Connolly scored 87 off 46 balls. The Super Giants were unable to get going in their innings, finishing on 200 for 5 in 20 overs.

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium has a history of being a spinners' hotbed due to its sluggish nature. Of the six games at the venue in 2026, four have been tight, low-scoring affairs. The wicket offers grip and turn for the spinners, along with significant aid to hit-the-deck bowlers. The ball does not come onto the bat as comfortably, making it difficult for batters to attack from the get-go. The dimensions of the boundaries are significantly longer, with all boundaries ranging over 75 metres.

Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (captain & wicketkeeper), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmad, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh,