Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will field Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, and Mohsin Khan, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) rely on Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal in Match 68 of IPL 2026 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, LSG have already been eliminated from playoff contention with only three wins from thirteen games. Meanwhile, PBKS sit 4th on the points table with seven wins from thirteen games and need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Although PBKS were the best team in the first half of IPL 2026 sitting top of the table for the longest stretch of any side they have now lost five consecutive matches. So, this is essentially a must-win game for Punjab, while LSG play with nothing left to lose on their home turf.
LSG Playing 11 Today
Because LSG are already out of the playoff race, the team management has less pressure on selection. However, they will still want to put in a competitive performance at their home ground in Lucknow particularly Mitchell Marsh, who is chasing runs for the Orange Cap. Accordingly, no significant changes are expected from their recent lineup.
Mitchell Marsh opens and is LSG’s standout performer by far this season. He has scored 499 runs in ten matches at an average of 49.9 and a strike rate of 169.72 second only to Abhishek Sharma in the overall run charts.
Furthermore, his 96 off 57 balls against Rajasthan Royals in Match 64 showed he is in peak form heading into this game.
Josh Inglis opens alongside Marsh and keeps wickets. He is an explosive option at the top and scored a vital half-century in LSG’s recent win over CSK. Together, their opening partnership has been LSG’s most reliable source of runs all season.
LSG Predicted XI: Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis (WK), Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh Impact Player: Himmat Singh / Digvesh Singh Rathi
PBKS Playing 11 Today
Since PBKS need a win to stay alive in the playoff race, they are expected to field their strongest available XI. Consequently, all available match-winners will feature.
The selection dilemma at PBKS revolves around the batting order specifically whether Prabhsimran Singh or Josh Inglis is the best pairing for Priyansh Arya at the top. Given that Prabhsimran is PBKS’s most consistent accumulator this season, he is expected to open alongside Arya, with Inglis held in reserve.
Captain Shreyas Iyer bats at No. 4 and is PBKS’s most important middle-order batter. His experience and composure are critical when PBKS are under pressure which they will be from the very first over here.
Additionally, Shashank Singh bats at No. 5 and can accelerate quickly when the platform is set. Marcus Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai provide all-round depth in the lower middle order. Furthermore, Marco Jansen adds genuine pace and batting firepower at No. 7.
PBKS Predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Impact Player: Vijaykumar Vyshak / Harpreet Brar
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
LSG Impact Sub: Himmat Singh / Digvesh Singh Rathi
Since LSG are already eliminated, their impact sub choices are more experimental. Himmat Singh is the batting option he is an aggressive lower-order hitter who can accelerate in the death overs if LSG’s middle order collapses.
On the other hand, Digvesh Singh Rathi is a mystery spinner who has impressed when given opportunities. Because the slow Ekana surface suits spin bowling in the middle overs, Rathi’s addition as a bowling sub could help LSG disrupt PBKS’s batting rhythm in a critical phase.
PBKS Impact Sub: Vijaykumar Vyshak / Harpreet Brar
Similarly, PBKS’s main impact option is Vijaykumar Vyshak, who brings additional pace and has taken wickets consistently at key moments this season. Furthermore, Harpreet Brar is the spin sub option and adds a left-arm variation to go alongside Connolly and Chahal on a surface that will assist spinners as the pitch slows down. Because this is a must-win game, PBKS are likely to use their impact sub for bowling reinforcement rather than batting depth.
Key Players to Watch in Match 68
Firstly, the battle between Arshdeep Singh and Mitchell Marsh in the powerplay is the most important individual contest of tonight’s game. Arshdeep has dismissed Marsh in recent meetings, and if he does so again here removing LSG’s most dangerous batter inside the first five overs PBKS can seize control early.
Similarly, Yuzvendra Chahal vs Rishabh Pant in the middle overs is an equally fascinating duel. Pant has historically struggled against quality leg-spin. On a slow Ekana track where Chahal gets extra grip and bounce, this is a matchup that could define LSG’s chase or batting total.
| Player | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | LSG | Opener | 499 runs in 10 matches; avg 49.9, SR 169.72; Orange Cap No. 2; 96 off 57 vs RR in Match 64 peak form |
| Mohsin Khan | LSG | Pace Bowler | 10 wickets in 5 matches; Econ 8.05, SR 12; best economy in IPL 2026 for any bowler with 5+ overs left-arm powerplay threat |
| Rishabh Pant | LSG | C/WK-Batter | 210 runs in 10 matches; avg 23.33, SR 140.93; historically vulnerable vs leg-spin Chahal matchup is the key battle |
| Prince Yadav | LSG | Pace Bowler | 11 wickets in 10 matches at Econ 8.58; LSG’s leading wicket-taker; effective death-over seamer at Ekana |
| Prabhsimran Singh | PBKS | WK-Opener | 361 runs in 10 matches; avg 40.11, SR 176.09; consistent top-order anchor for PBKS throughout the season |
| Cooper Connolly | PBKS | Top-Order All-Rounder | 365 runs in 10 matches; avg 40.56, SR 162.22; also bowls left-arm spin adds crucial balance on slow Ekana track |
| Shreyas Iyer | PBKS | C / Middle-Order Batter | The heartbeat of PBKS’s season; captaincy win rate 59.57%; composure under must-win pressure is crucial tonight |
| Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | Pace Spearhead | 14 wickets in 10 matches; Econ 9.75; dismissed Marsh, Markram, and Pooran in powerplay in IPL 2025 meeting |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | PBKS | Leg Spinner | 7 wickets in 9 matches; Ekana’s slow track suits leg-spin; Pant’s historical vulnerability vs leg-spin is the key angle |
Head-to-Head Record: LSG vs PBKS
PBKS have dominated this head-to-head rivalry in the most recent meetings. They have won three of the last five encounters, including a 54-run victory over LSG in their IPL 2026 reverse fixture at Mullanpur on April 19.
In that game, PBKS posted a strong batting total and then bowled LSG out comprehensively. Furthermore, they won by 37 runs in IPL 2025 and by eight wickets in the March 2025 meeting. However, LSG did win two of those five contests as well most recently in March 2024 by 21 runs and in April 2023 by 56 runs so they are capable of beating PBKS when the conditions suit their style.
| Category | LSG | PBKS |
|---|---|---|
| Last 5 H2H Results | 2 wins | 3 wins |
| IPL 2026 Standing | 10th (3W–10L, 6 pts Eliminated) | 4th (7W–6L, 14 pts Playoffs race) |
| Current Form (Last 5 matches) | 1 win, 4 losses | 0 wins, 5 losses |
| At Ekana vs PBKS (H2H) | LSG lead 2-1 | 1 win at Ekana |
Notably, LSG hold a 2-1 head-to-head advantage at their own Ekana ground against PBKS across all IPL meetings. This home advantage, combined with a pitch that suits their bowling attack, means they cannot be dismissed as a pushover tonight despite their elimination.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is one of the more bowling-friendly venues in the IPL. The black-soil surface is slow in nature. As a result, it grips and turns for spinners as the match progresses.
Furthermore, the pitch slows down significantly from the middle overs onwards, making it increasingly difficult for batters to play their natural game after the powerplay.
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average 1st Innings Score (IPL all-time at Ekana) | ~158–164 |
| Average 1st Innings Score (IPL 2026 at Ekana) | 165 (first-innings par this season) |
| Competitive Score (IPL 2026) | 165–185 |
| A Score Above This is Considered Strong | 185+ |
| Highest Total at Ekana (IPL) | 235/6 KKR vs LSG (2024) |
| Lowest Total Defended at Ekana | 160+ |
| Batting First Win % (IPL at Ekana) | Teams batting first win more often here |
| Chasing Win % (IPL at Ekana) | 60% based on recent season (per Cricscope) |
| Dew Factor | Very low in Lucknow during May no significant dew |
| Square Boundary | Large reduces six-hitting frequency |
| Pace vs Spin Ratio | 50:50 early; spin-dominant from over 8 onwards |
Secondly, the Ekana pitch favours pacers in the powerplay with some bounce and movement. Besides that, the surface slows dramatically from overs 7–8 onwards, which is exactly when Chahal and Connolly will take over for PBKS.
Moreover, unlike coastal venues such as Mumbai or Kolkata, Lucknow in May has very low chances of dew. Consequently, there is no significant second-innings advantage from dew here. Teams that post a total above 175–185 in the first innings are generally very hard to beat at this ground. As a result, the toss winner who bats first on a fresh pitch is in the stronger position tonight.
The weather in Lucknow on May 23 is expected to be clear and warm with temperatures around 35–36°C. There is no rain forecast. Therefore, a full 40-over contest is confirmed. The absence of dew and the hot, dry conditions further reinforce the advantage for the team batting first on this pitch.
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Punjab Kings are clear favourites, despite their five-match losing streak. The key reasons are straightforward. Firstly, LSG are eliminated and have very little to play for. Secondly, Arshdeep Singh’s powerplay bowling on a pitch that offers seam movement is the perfect weapon against LSG’s top order. Thirdly, Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin on the slow Ekana surface particularly against a Rishabh Pant who has averaged just 23.33 this season gives PBKS a decisive middle-overs advantage.
On the other hand, LSG have Mitchell Marsh in outstanding form, and Mohsin Khan’s 10 wickets in just five matches shows what he can do when fit. Furthermore, the home conditions and large boundaries at Ekana could slow PBKS’s aggressive top order if LSG’s bowlers bowl disciplined lines in the powerplay.
As for the toss, both captains will want to bat first at Ekana given the very low dew risk and the pitch’s tendency to slow significantly in the second innings. Ultimately, PBKS are predicted to win and end their five-match losing streak but they must win the toss and set a total above 175 to make that probable.
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Final Word
To sum up, LSG vs PBKS Match 68 is a contest between an already-eliminated home side and a playoff-chasing PBKS that desperately needs two points. The Ekana pitch, Chahal’s leg-spin, and Arshdeep’s powerplay bowling all point in PBKS’s favour on paper.
However, if Mitchell Marsh gets going in the powerplay and builds a platform for Pant and Pooran, LSG can post a total above 185 that might just be enough to end PBKS’s season on a frustrating note. Either way, Saturday night in Lucknow has the ingredients of a tense, slow-burning contest where bowling not batting wins the game.
