The Lucknow Super Giants will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 38 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday, April 26.
Both teams find themselves near the bottom of the points table and are in desperate need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. LSG are currently on a four-match losing streak, while KKR finally opened their account with a win over the Rajasthan Royals in their previous outing.
Interestingly, LSG’s last victory came against KKR in the reverse fixture at Eden Gardens, where they clinched a thrilling last-ball win. With the Ekana surface traditionally favouring bowlers, another low-scoring and tightly contested encounter could be on the cards.
🔥 Top 3 Player Battles to Watch
1. Rishabh Pant vs Varun Chakravarthy
KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy has rediscovered his rhythm, picking up five wickets in his last two matches while maintaining tight control. This poses a serious challenge for LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, who has struggled for consistency this season.
Pant’s record against Chakravarthy is underwhelming — he has managed just 31 runs off 30 balls and has been dismissed three times in six IPL encounters. If this duel continues in the same vein, KKR could gain an early advantage.
2. Aiden Markram vs Sunil Narine
Aiden Markram, currently batting in the middle order for LSG, will likely face Sunil Narine in the middle overs — a phase where the veteran spinner thrives.
Narine has historically kept Markram in check, conceding just 47 runs across eight innings at a strike rate of 92.15, while dismissing him once. This matchup could prove crucial in controlling LSG’s scoring rate during the middle phase.
3. Angkrish Raghuvanshi vs Mohammed Shami
Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been a bright spot in KKR’s batting lineup, leading their run charts with 210 runs at an impressive strike rate of 142.85.
However, he faces a stern test against the experienced Mohammed Shami with the new ball. In their limited IPL encounters, Raghuvanshi has scored 11 runs off nine deliveries, making this an intriguing battle in the powerplay.
