Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl as Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans met in an IPL 2026 fixture on Sunday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Both sides named the same Playing XI they’ve been using, setting the stage for a contest that carries plenty of early-season momentum for Gujarat and a strong boost for Lucknow, with Rishabh Pant expected to play a key role with the bat. Live action is set to unfold with both teams coming into the match off contrasting but thrilling results.
Toss call and unchanged line-ups
Gill’s decision to field first was the headline moment at the toss. The match also features unchanged XIs for both teams, meaning there are no alterations to the combinations on either side as they look to build on recent wins.
- Gujarat Titans captain: Shubman Gill
- Toss result: Gill won the toss and opted to bowl
- Venue and time frame: Sunday at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Team news: Both squads announced unchanged Playing XIs
What Pant and Gill said at the toss
Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant framed the decision to bowl first as a positive given the way margins have been narrowing in modern T20 cricket. He also highlighted the importance of moving on match by match after a dramatic outing, and praised the team’s on-field intent, including players “putting bodies on the line.” Pant also spoke about how head-to-head confidence matters, but conditions and wicket behavior can shift quickly.
Gujarat captain Shubman Gill, meanwhile, backed the plan to field first and pointed to the confidence drawn from the previous match. He stressed that the team wants to improve their overall cricket and keep the game from reaching the final over, adding that consistency is the defining factor across a long IPL campaign. Gill also confirmed that the side will stick with the same unit for this game.
- Rishabh Pant: Felt bowling first suits the current landscape where batting-first or bowling-first margins are not as large, and welcomed the opportunity to continue building momentum.
- Rishabh Pant: Emphasised taking one match at a time, while noting the character shown in a win like the last one.
- Rishabh Pant: Mentioned that intent in the field was a standout from the previous match and that the team is backing the same approach again.
- Shubman Gill: Said Gujarat will field first, citing confidence from two points in the last game.
- Shubman Gill: Stressed the need to play better cricket and avoid the contest going to the last over.
- Shubman Gill: Highlighted consistency as crucial across the full tournament and confirmed the same team for today.
Playing XIs, plus the key match storylines
Gujarat Titans have listed a top-order and spin-heavy setup featuring their captain, wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, and a bowling mix that includes Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, and pace from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. Lucknow’s side is set to respond in the same combination it has been using, keeping focus on execution rather than reshuffling personnel.
Gujarat Titans Playing XI
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Jos Buttler (w)
- Washington Sundar
- Glenn Phillips
- Rahul Tewatia
- Rashid Khan
- Kagiso Rabada
- Mohammed Siraj
- Ashok Sharma
- Prasidh Krishna
Pitch and conditions: dry look, hard underlay
The pitch assessment suggested a surface that appears dry from a distance but plays differently once the ground is closer. With mixed clay and minimal grass, the ball should come onto the bat smoothly, while later stages may bring in some turn. Temperature conditions around 37 degrees were also flagged as a factor that could influence grip and spin as the innings progresses.
- Dimensions highlighted: roughly 60 metres to the left, about 61 metres to the right, and around 76 metres straight down the ground.
- Boundary angle: square boundaries are on the shorter side, potentially affecting shot selection.
- Surface look: dry from above, with hardly any grass closer in.
- Surface nature: mixed clay that is dry underneath but described as quite hard.
- Grass coverage and preparation: covers were only recently removed, suggesting it may play better than it first appears.
- Batting expectation: ball should meet the bat nicely.
- Later overs: possible turn later, influenced by heat near 37 degrees.
Rashid Khan’s role and LSG’s spin confrontation
With this being an afternoon contest, the matchup on a surface expected to slow down and offer variable bounce could decide key moments. Rashid Khan’s recent form was singled out after his previous game against Delhi Capitals, where he returned Player-of-the-Match figures of 3/17 that helped turn the contest in Gujarat’s favour in a one-run win.
Ayush Badoni’s comeback and LSG’s top-five depth
Another theme heading into the game is Ayush Badoni’s return to form. He struck a half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders to help set up the chase, and his presence among the runs offers depth behind an already strong top five that includes Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant, and Nicholas Pooran.
Mukul Choudhary emerges as a finisher for LSG
The previous Lucknow outing against KKR stood out for the arrival of a new “finisher” in Mukul Choudhary. The 21-year-old from Rajasthan produced a striking six-hitting display, driven by quick bat speed and a varied range of strokes, including the helicopter shot associated with MS Dhoni. His impact has turned him into one of the IPL’s latest talking points.
Ekana home record a concern for LSG
Despite the positive signs, Lucknow’s record at the Ekana Cricket Stadium has been difficult. Last season, they lost six of eight matches at the venue, including five straight defeats, and eventually ended up seventh. Across 22 games at the ground, they have managed only nine wins. This season also began with a home batting collapse, as they were bowled out for 141 in a six-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals.
- Last season at Ekana: six losses in eight matches
- Run of defeats: five consecutive losses at one point
- Season outcome: finished seventh
- Overall at the venue: nine wins from 22 matches
- This season’s home start: all out for 141 vs Delhi Capitals, losing by six wickets
Form guide: both sides on winning momentum
Both teams arrive with confidence after close games. Gujarat Titans secured a thrilling one-run victory over Delhi Capitals to register their first win of the season. Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, have collected two impressive wins on the road—against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders—showing that their form has not been confined to familiar conditions.
- Gujarat Titans: one-run triumph over Delhi Capitals; first win of the season
- Lucknow Super Giants: two wins on the road vs Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders
Welcome to live coverage of the IPL 2026 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans straight from the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Stay with us for all the ball-by-ball updates as the toss decision and recent form set the tone for what promises to be another high-stakes T20 battle.
