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Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Lucknow Super Giants
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Lucknow Super Giants in the 23rd match of IPL 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. RCB will enter this game with strong momentum, having won 3 of their 4 matches and sitting third on the points table with 6 points. LSG will look to improve consistency, with 2 wins and 2 losses placing them sixth at this stage.
RCBβs batting unit will continue to be their main strength, especially at home, where the surface will suit their aggressive approach. They have already won both matches at this venue this season and will aim to make it 3 in a row. Their record while defending big totals remains strong, with 23 wins when defending 200-plus scores.
Head-to-head results remain close, with RCB winning 3 of the last 5 meetings. Teams defending totals have won 3 of those matches.
RCBβs top order had shown better consistency with multiple players scoring big runs this season, while LSGβs key batters had struggled for form and failed to convert starts.
The betting tip is...
Top Batterβs Team - RCB
66 %
34 %
Royal Challengers BengaluruLucknow Super GiantsRCBβs only loss came against RR by 6 wickets, but they responded with an 18-run win over MI. In that match, RCB had posted 240-4 and restricted MI to 222. They have scored 200 or more in all 4 matches, showing consistent batting strength.
Virat Kohli has scored 179 runs in 4 matches, while Devdutt Padikkal has made 125 runs in 3 games with 2 fifties and a strike rate of 202. Phil Salt found form with 78 off 36 balls in the last match. Rajat Patidar had led well, scoring 195 runs at a strike rate of 214. Tim David had struck at 222 with 12 sixes, while Romario Shepherd had maintained a strike rate near 175.
Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar had picked up 10 wickets combined. Krunal Pandya had taken 5 wickets, maintaining control in the middle overs.
Kohli, Padikkal and Patidar are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma, Impact Subs: Rasikh Salam, Venkatesh Iyer
Aiden Markram had been their most reliable batter, scoring 108 runs in 4 matches at a strike rate of 152. Nicholas Pooran has managed only 41 runs in 4 matches, though his record at this venue remained strong with 148 runs in three matches at a strike rate above 217.
Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 68 against SRH but had not looked comfortable otherwise, while Mitchell Marsh had registered three scores below 20 in a row. Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad had also failed to contribute consistently. Mukul Choudhary had provided a positive with 54 not out off 27 balls against KKR.
Prince Yadav had led the bowling with 6 wickets, while Mohammed Shami had taken 4 wickets at an economy of 6.25. Avesh Khan and Digvesh Singh had picked up 3 wickets each.
Markram, Pant and Badoni are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c, wk), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh, Impact Subs: Prince Yadav, George Linde
RCB will enter this match as clear favourites based on current form and home advantage. Their batting has been consistent, with multiple players contributing and scoring 200-plus totals regularly. LSG will rely heavily on Markram, but the lack of runs from Pant, Marsh and Pooran will put pressure on their batting unit.
Against a strong RCB attack, this inconsistency will hurt them again. RCBβs top order looks more settled and in better form, which will likely produce the highest individual score in this match. With stronger batting depth and better momentum, RCB are expected to win this contest comfortably.
