Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will field Rishabh Pant, Josh Inglis, and Mohammed Shami, while Chennai Super Kings (CSK) rely on Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Anshul Kamboj in Match 59 of IPL 2026 at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, CSK sit 5th with 12 points and desperately need a win to cement their playoff spot, whereas LSG are eliminated at 10th with just three wins from eleven games. Although CSK beat this same LSG side by 5 wickets just five days ago, they suffer a massive blow with Jamie Overton ruled out through injury, leaving a gaping hole in their all-round balance.
LSG Playing 11 Today
Because LSG posted 203 but still lost by 5 wickets in Match 53, their bowling remains the primary concern. Accordingly, Josh Inglis (85 off 33 balls in the last meeting) and Mitchell Marsh continue opening, since this duo has been LSG’s only consistent bright spot.
Furthermore, captain Rishabh Pant bats at No. 4, although his win rate of just 30% as LSG captain is the lowest among IPL captains with 10+ games since 2025. Additionally, Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram handle the middle order, while Shahbaz Ahmed adds left-arm spin all-round balance.
On the bowling front, Prince Yadav leads the attack, while Mohammed Shami and Mohsin Khan share the new ball. Moreover, Digvesh Rathi and Shahbaz Ahmed handle the spin duties. However, LSG remain winless at Ekana this season (0 wins from 5 home matches), making this the worst home record in IPL 2026.
LSG Predicted XI: Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan.
CSK Playing 11 Today
Since Jamie Overton has been ruled out with an injury, CSK face their biggest selection headache of the season. Consequently, Mukesh Choudhary comes in to add pace bowling, while CSK lose their most impactful all-rounder who scored runs at SR 158 and took 14 wickets.
Besides that, Sanju Samson (430 runs at SR 169.29, just 101 runs from matching his career-best IPL season) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad continue opening. Additionally, Urvil Patel bats at No. 3 after his blistering 65 off 23 balls against LSG in Match 53. Furthermore, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, and Shivam Dube handle the middle order.
In terms of bowling, Noor Ahmad has dismissed Pooran three times for just 2 runs in four meetings, making him CSK’s most dangerous weapon against LSG. Moreover, Akeal Hosein provides left-arm spin variety, while Anshul Kamboj leads CSK’s wicket charts with 17 scalps. However, Overton’s absence creates a 4-over gap that either Prashant Veer or an extra spinner must fill.
CSK Predicted XI: Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Noor Ahmad, Akeal Hosein.
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
LSG Impact Sub: Avesh Khan / Mayank Yadav
Since Pitch No. 4 has historically assisted fast bowlers (23 of 30 wickets to pace), Avesh Khan or Mayank Yadav becomes the natural bowling impact sub. Specifically, Mayank’s express pace above 150 kmph could be deadly on a surface where LSG bowled teams out for 141 and 119 earlier this season.
CSK Impact Sub: Sarfaraz Khan
Similarly, Sarfaraz Khan offers CSK a batting impact sub to compensate for Overton’s absence. Because CSK’s middle order with Brevis and Dube has underperformed this season, Sarfaraz’s ability to play spin on slow surfaces also addresses their most glaring weakness tonight.
Key Players to Watch in Match 59
Firstly, the battle between Noor Ahmad and Nicholas Pooran will be fascinating, since Noor has dismissed Pooran three times for just 2 runs in four IPL meetings. Similarly, Shahbaz Ahmed versus Ruturaj Gaikwad promises drama, given Shahbaz has dismissed Gaikwad three times in four games (SR 122 against him).
| Player | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Inglis | LSG | Opener | 85 off 33 balls vs CSK in Match 53; explosive Australian; top-order threat |
| Rishabh Pant | LSG | Captain / WK-Batter | Win rate 30% as LSG captain; needs to lead from the front |
| Prince Yadav | LSG | Pacer | Leading LSG wicket-taker; Pitch No. 4 assists fast bowlers heavily |
| Shahbaz Ahmed | LSG | All-rounder | Dismissed Gaikwad 3 times in 4 games; left-arm spin all-round value |
| Sanju Samson | CSK | WK-Opener | 430 runs; SR 169.29; 101 away from career-best; CSK’s standout |
| Urvil Patel | CSK | Middle-order Batter | 65 off 23 balls vs LSG; 8 sixes; breakthrough innings in Match 53 |
| Noor Ahmad | CSK | Leg-spinner | Dismissed Pooran 3 times for 2 runs; restricts Markram and Pant too |
Head-to-Head Record: LSG vs CSK
Across 8 IPL meetings, CSK hold a 5-2 lead over LSG, with one match ending without a result. Notably, CSK have won the last two meetings by exactly 5 wickets each, including the Match 53 chase of 204 just five days ago at Chennai.
| Category | LSG | CSK |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 8 | 8 |
| Wins | 2 | 5 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Most Recent Result | Lost by 5 wkts (Match 53) | Won by 5 wkts (Match 53) |
| Record at Ekana | 1 win (2024) | 1 win (2025) |
Additionally, LSG’s only Ekana win in this rivalry came in 2024 when Stoinis smashed 124 off 63 balls to chase 210. However, CSK won at Ekana in 2025 and then dominated Match 53 at Chepauk, meaning they carry a clear psychological advantage into this rematch.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, tonight’s game will be played on Pitch No. 4 at Ekana, which has produced two low-scoring games this season. Furthermore, LSG were bowled out for 141 and 119 on this very surface, and fast bowlers took 23 of 30 wickets in those matches.
Secondly, the Lucknow weather forecast shows extreme heat with a high of 38°C and a 65% chance of passing showers. Consequently, rain interruptions could shorten the game, which benefits the team batting first under DLS. Besides that, heavy dew will arrive during the second innings if the game reaches a full 40 overs.
However, the average first-innings score at Ekana this season is around 165, making this a bowler-friendly venue. As a result, any total above 180 will be extremely competitive, and the captain winning the toss faces a genuine dilemma between DLS protection (bat first) and dew advantage (bowl first).
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Chennai Super Kings enter as clear favourites despite Overton’s absence, especially since they have won the last two meetings and carry a three-match winning streak. Specifically, CSK’s spin duo of Noor Ahmad and Hosein is perfectly suited to this slow Ekana surface, and Samson’s 430 runs make him the most dangerous batter on display.
On the other hand, LSG have nothing to lose and Inglis’s 85 off 33 in the last meeting shows they can score quick runs. However, LSG remain winless at Ekana in IPL 2026 (0 from 5), and their middle-order collapses make defending any total extremely difficult.
As for the toss, both captains will consider the 65% rain chance before deciding. Ultimately, CSK are predicted to win this contest and therefore take a giant step toward confirming their playoff qualification, although the rain and Pitch No. 4’s pace-friendly nature could spring a surprise.
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Final Word
To sum up, the LSG vs CSK Match 59 is a rematch of a game played just five days ago, with CSK chasing a playoff spot and LSG playing for pride at their struggling Ekana home. If Noor Ahmad targets Pooran again, then LSG’s middle order faces another collapse.
Otherwise, Inglis’s explosive batting and Prince Yadav’s pace on a bowler-friendly Pitch No. 4 could make this closer than the 5-2 H2H suggests. Either way, CSK cannot afford a slip-up with their playoff destiny on the line.
