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Lucknow Super Giants
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Lucknow Super Giants will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 50th match of IPL 2026 at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. This match will come at a crucial stage of the league. RCB enter this game with a strong record.
They sit 2nd on the table with 6 wins and 3 losses, and a net run rate of 1.420, which shows consistency. LSG are struggling at 10th place with 2 wins and 7 losses and a NRR of -1.076.
LSG have lost their last 5 games. Their form remains a major concern. RCB also come after a loss, but their overall performance has been stable. In the head-to-head record, RCB leads 3-2 in the last 5 matches. Teams chasing have won 3 of those games. This trend will again play a key role in this contest.
Bhuvneshwar has taken 17 wickets in 9 matches and picked 3 wickets in each of the last 3 games, while LSGβs top order has struggled, increasing his chances of taking at least 2 wickets.
The betting tip is...
Bhuvneshwar Kumar - Over 1.5 wickets
60 %
40 %
Lucknow Super GiantsRoyal Challengers BengaluruLSG have adjusted their batting order a few times. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis opened the innings in the last match. Aiden Markram moved down the order to fit Rishabh Pant at the top earlier and later for Badoni & Inglis.
Marsh scored 44 off 25 while Nicholas Pooran returned to form with 63 off 21. Himmat Singh added 40 off 31 at number seven as LSG posted 228/5 but failed to defend it.
Marsh and Markram have 256 and 224 runs this season. Pant has 204 and struggled for consistency. In bowling, Prince Yadav leads with 13 wickets in 9 matches, but went wicketless in the last two games. Mohsin Khan picked up 10 wickets in 5 games. Mohammed Shami has 8 in 9 matches. M Siddharth claimed 6 in 4, while Digvesh Rathi just 3.
Marsh, Markram and Prince are the key players.
Predicted Lineup: Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c, wk), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan
Jacob Bethell opened with Virat Kohli in the last two games instead of Philip Salt. Kohli has 379 runs at a strike rate of 165.50 with 3 fifties. Devdutt Padikkal has 282 runs, with 3 fifties, at number 3. Salt also has 2 fifties this season.
Rajat Patidar handled the middle order with Tim David, Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd. Patidar scored 257 runs at a strike rate of 200.78. David contributed 192 runs at a strike rate of 192.00.
In bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the attack with Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya. Kumar picked 3 wickets in each of the last 3 matches and led with 17 wickets at an economy of 7.54. Pandya took 9 wickets in 9 games, while Hazlewood has 8 wickets in 6 matches. Rasikh Salam and Suyash Sharma picked 6 and 7 wickets.
Kohli, Patidar and Bhuvneshwar are the key players.
Predicted Lineup: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt/Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Josh Hazlewood
RCB will enter this match as the stronger side with better balance in both batting and bowling. Their bowling unit will make the difference again. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the attack and will come in with strong momentum after taking 3 wickets in each of the last 3 matches.
His control with the new ball will put pressure on LSGβs top order, which has struggled to score runs.
LSG have relied heavily on a few players, and their top order will face a tough test early on. Even though Prince Yadav has averaged close to two wickets per match, RCBβs batting depth will handle that challenge better.
RCB will have the edge and will likely control the game through their bowling strength.
