The 68th match of the Indian Premier League Season 19 (IPL 2026) will be played today between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings. This match to be held at Ekana Stadium is ‘do or die’ for PBKS, only by winning which this team under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer will be able to keep alive the hopes of going to the playoffs. LSG is out of the race for the playoffs, but is now playing fearless cricket and will give its all to win its last match. Know who will today’s pitch help in Ekana, how will the weather be in Lucknow today.

Lucknow Super Giants are at the bottom of the points table, this season of Rishabh Pant and team has not been good but in the last few matches the team seems to be playing fearless cricket and can spoil the game of Punjab Kings today. Punjab did not lose even a single match in the first 7 matches, but is yearning for victory in the last 6 matches. Which was believed to be in the top-2, it has to depend on the results of other teams to make it to the playoffs. However, before that, PBKS has to win its match today, otherwise the team will be out.

Punjab Kings playoff equation

PBKS should beat Lucknow Super Giants today, this will give Punjab 15 points. Then it would be necessary that Rajasthan Royals lose their last match, which is against MI on Sunday. Then it would be necessary that KKR also loses in the match to be held on Sunday evening, if this happens then Punjab will be the fourth team to reach the playoffs. Even if KKR wins, they will also have 15 points, then the net run rate will decide who will go next. If Rajasthan wins then it will become the fourth team.

Also read- Who is the best captain of IPL 2026? Former Indian cricketer told and enumerated the reasons

How will the weather be in the LSG vs PBKS match?

The weather in Lucknow today will be favorable for the match, there is no possibility of rain. The match will start at 7:30 pm, during which the temperature will be 41-42 degrees Celsius. The weather will be hot for the first 1 hour, after 8:30 the temperature will be 35-36 degrees Celsius.

Pitch report of LSG vs PBKS match

The Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings match will be played on pitch number 5 of Ekana Stadium, which is a mixed soil pitch. It is equally helpful for batsmen and bowlers. Out of 6 matches played in IPL 2026 at this venue, the team chasing the target has won 3 matches, the result of one match was in Super Over. It is not easy for the batsmen to score runs in Lucknow, which is visible even today. In such a situation, the role of bowlers will become important.

Also read- Both the teams of Qualifier 1 have been confirmed, know when and where the first match of the playoff will be held.

IPL record at Ekana Stadium

A total of 28 IPL matches have been played in this stadium of Lucknow, out of which the team batting first has won 12 times and the team chasing 15 times. The highest score at this venue is 235, which was made by KKR in 2024. The highest individual innings is 118, which Rishabh Pant played against RCB last year. The average score here in the first innings is 174 runs, the most successful run chase is 177 which was chased by Punjab Kings last year.

Live broadcast details of LSG vs PBKS match

The Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings match will be telecast live on Star Sports Network channels. Live streaming of the match will be on JioHotstar app and website.

There will be a clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings today in IPL 2026. This match will be played at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. This match is no less than do or die for Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings, because if they lose against Lucknow today, they will be out of the race for the playoffs. Lucknow is already out of the playoffs.

Punjab Kings is at fifth position in the points table. He has 13 points in 13 matches. If Punjab wins today then it will get 15 points. However, after the win, Punjab will not qualify for the playoffs. After today’s victory, Punjab will have to pray for the defeat of Rajasthan. Only if Rajasthan loses its last match will Punjab be able to qualify for the playoffs. Talking about Lucknow, Rishabh Pant’s team has won only four out of 13 matches. He is at the bottom 10th position in the points table.

Who is ahead in head to head?

Shreyas Iyer’s team is ahead 4-3 in the head to head between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings. Punjab Kings are also ahead by 2-1 in Ekana, Lucknow. Since 2025, Punjab Kings have defeated Lucknow in all three matches so far.

pitch report

It is very hot in Lucknow today i.e. Saturday. The temperature has reached above 40 degrees Celsius. Usually there are low scoring matches here, but in the last two matches the batsmen have benefited from the pitch. Lucknow has also won the last two matches here. The Lucknow pitch is expected to provide some help to the fast bowlers in the initial overs. Out of the 13 matches played here since IPL 2025, the teams chasing the target have won 9 matches. Except the Super Over match involving KKR only.

match prediction

Our match prediction meter is saying that Punjab Kings have the upper hand in this match. However, if Lucknow team chases then there can be an upset. However, considering the pitch and weather, the chasing team has more chances of victory.

Probable playing eleven of Lucknow Super Giants- Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.

Probable playing eleven of Punjab Kings- Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal/Vijaykumar Vaishak.

Also read-

LSG vs PBKS Pitch Report: Pitch report of Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings match, who will have the advantage among batsmen or bowlers? Know

In the 68th match of IPL 2026, Lucknow Super Giants have given a target of 197 runs after playing first. This match is of ‘do or die’ for Punjab Kings. To keep alive the hopes of reaching the playoffs, Punjab will have to win this match at any cost. For Lucknow, Josh English played a stormy inning of 72 runs in 44 balls. Whereas Ayush Badoni scored a quick 43 runs in 18 balls. In the end Abdul Samad returned unbeaten on 37 runs in 20 balls. He took Lucknow to 196.

Lucknow Super Giants, who came to bat first after losing the toss, did not have a good start. Maharashtra’s explosive batsman Arshin Kulkarni, who came to open in place of Mitchell Marsh, returned to the pavilion without opening the account. After this, Nicholas Puran, who came at number three, also returned to the pavilion after scoring only two runs. The beginning was very bad, but Ayush Badoni and Josh English turned the tables.

Ayush Badoni played a explosive inning of 43 runs in just 18 balls. 5 fours and 3 sixes came from his bat. Captain Rishabh Pant could score only 26 runs in 22 balls. He hit three fours. Josh English hit 9 fours and two sixes in his stormy innings of 72 runs.

In the end, once again Lucknow’s innings came to a halt. Abdul Samad played an unbeaten inning of 37 runs in 20 balls and took the team’s score close to 200. Samad hit three fours and three sixes.

Yuzvendra Chahal bowled brilliantly for Punjab Kings. Chahal took two wickets for 25 runs in four overs. Marco Jansen also got two successes. He gave 33 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Azmatullah Omarzai and Shashank Singh got one wicket each.

Read this also-

Arjun Tendulkar’s debut, Punjab won the toss, Lucknow batted first; 4 changes in playing eleven

Punjab won from Lucknow today, still will not be able to qualify for the playoffs, know what is the equation

In the ‘do or die’ match, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and decided to bowl first. Lucknow Super Giants will come out to bat first. To keep the playoff hopes alive, Punjab will have to win this match at any cost. Whereas Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow is already out of the race for the playoffs. Today there have been major changes in the playing eleven of both the teams. Lucknow has given a chance to Arjun Tendulkar to debut.

What did Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer say?

After the toss, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said, “We will bowl first. We have made two changes. Marco Jansen and Vijaykumar Vaishak are back in the team. The atmosphere is very encouraging, I think it is a do or die match for us. We have never been in such a situation before and the boys are ready to give their best.”

What did Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant say?

After the toss, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant said, “We wanted to bowl first. This wicket is good for cricket, both bowling and batting. It is one of the best wickets for batting, so it can be a high-scoring match. We have made two changes. Arjun Tendulkar and Arshin Kulkarni have joined the team. This season has been very difficult, but at the same time we have got to learn a lot as a team and also individually. I would like to apologize to the fans, they have come from all over Uttar Pradesh, but today we will give our 100%.

Playing XI of Punjab Kings- Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vaishak, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Playing XI of Lucknow Super Giants- Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper/captain), Abdul Samad, Mukul Chaudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan.

Also read-

Punjab won from Lucknow today, still will not be able to qualify for the playoffs, know what is the equation