Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and chose to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 fixture at Lucknow on Friday. The hosts made a couple of personnel tweaks, while CSK handed Spencer Johnson a maiden appearance in the yellow jersey, as the match got underway on a surface that both teams described as slightly sticky.
Key takeaways
- Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to field first at Lucknow.
- Lucknow brought in Abdul Samad and Mukul Choudhary; Josh Inglis was not in the starting XI but is expected to feature in the second innings as an impact option.
- CSK included Spencer Johnson for his debut match in the team’s colours.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad said a total in the 170–180 range could be defendable if CSK bats well, despite early moisture.
- Gaikwad acknowledged the difficulty of managing injuries and pointed to replacements as chances for other players to step up.
Toss and team news from Lucknow
At the toss, Pant explained the decision to bowl first, noting that the pitch looked a touch tacky and that Lucknow preferred not to bat immediately. He also spoke about trust within the group and the need to give 200% effort regardless of the season’s momentum. Pant added that Akash Maharaj Singh is getting his first opportunity of the campaign and that the franchise is exploring a few ideas for the next season.
Asked about the pressure that comes with performances not meeting expectations, Pant said there is no getting away from how the team has played so far, though he believes there are positives to carry forward. He admitted the side can feel frustrated while still believing it has the talent to turn things around, stressing that Lucknow must keep improving each day.
Pant also confirmed the final changes at the toss: Abdul Samad and Mukul Choudhary come into the Lucknow XI, with further clarity on other selections coming through in the full teams list.
Gaikwad’s approach: bat well, adapt early
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said it is a privilege to wear the yellow jersey and that the venue demands both good batting and disciplined bowling. He suggested that even if there is a little moisture at the start, CSK can still aim to set a challenging score by batting well first.
Gaikwad indicated that a target around 170–180 could prove competitive and defendable. He then addressed the ongoing injury situation, calling it tough and explaining that constant reshuffling becomes necessary when momentum is hard to sustain. He highlighted that these changes also create opportunities for players who want to represent CSK and be part of the IPL environment.
Gaikwad pointed to examples such as Urvil Patel and, at another stage, Mukesh coming into the side, saying this has helped individuals grow and added confidence that the team has capable backups. He also mentioned that it has been a “must-win” stretch for CSK for some time, but the mindset remains to take matches one at a time. On the tactical front, Gaikwad said CSK will keep their focus on adapting to what the pitch offers.
For CSK, Gaikwad confirmed two changes: Spencer Johnson makes his debut, and Gurjapneet Singh is included in place of Akeal Hosein.
Playing XIs and impact options
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson (w), 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 (w/c), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav.
Impact substitutes for both teams:
- CSK Impact Subs: Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, Matthew Short, Matt Henry.
- LSG Impact Subs: Josh Inglis, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Ayush Badoni.
The contest begins with Pant’s Lucknow set to bowl first, as both captains frame their plans around early conditions and the need to execute under pressure at this stage of the IPL season.
