Cricketers from Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants observed a minute’s silence before their IPL 2026 encounter at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Friday. The gesture was made to honour everyone affected by the severe storms across Uttar Pradesh. Players also wore black armbands in remembrance of 100 people who were reported to have died on Wednesday and Thursday following heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, while officials said many others suffered injuries. The worst hit areas included Barabanki, Bahraich, Kanpur Dehat, Basti, Sambhal, Hardoi and Unnao.
CSK vs LSG: toss, team news and playing XI
- Rishabh Pant, captaining Lucknow Super Giants, won the toss and chose to field on a pitch described as tacky red soil.
- Chennai made a forced adjustment after all-rounder Jamie Overton was ruled out for the remainder of the season because of a thigh injury.
- Spencer Johnson, Australia’s left-arm fast bowler and making his CSK debut, returned after recovering from a back issue and was set to play his first competitive match since IPL 2025.
- Gurjapneet Singh was named as CSK’s Impact Player, ahead of left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Akeal Hosein.
- A win would keep CSK on course for the top four, while Lucknow—already eliminated from playoff qualification—entered the game with a largely settled squad.
- Lucknow handed Akash Singh his first appearance of the tournament.
- In the middle order, Abdul Samad and Mukul Choudhary returned to the XI, replacing Himmat Singh and Akshat Raghuwanshi.
- Mayank Yadav was selected for what was his third match of the season, with Avesh Khan left out.
- Josh Inglis was not part of the starting group, but is expected to be used as Lucknow’s Impact Player during the chase.
Chennai Super Kings (playing XI): Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary.
Lucknow Super Giants (playing XI): Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (wk/c), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav.
