Punjab Kings (PBKS) won the toss and chose to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 68th match of IPL 2026 on Saturday evening. The contest at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow carries major end-of-season pressure: a win would help LSG close their campaign on a brighter note, while a loss for PBKS would rule them out of the playoff race.
Even though PBKS’s captain Shreyas Iyer is leading from the front, qualification is not guaranteed for the visitors. Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals are still in the hunt for the remaining spots, meaning every outcome in this match could have wider implications across the table.
Toss reaction and confirmed team changes
- LSG captain Rishabh Pant said the pitch looked well-suited for batting, suggesting the match could turn into a high-scoring affair.
- He added that LSG would have been happy to bowl first as well, but confirmed they were content with their decision after inspecting the surface.
- Pant also revealed two changes to the playing XI, naming Arjun and Arshin Kulkarni for the final league fixture.
- PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, after winning the toss, confirmed PBKS would bowl first and stated that two replacements have been made in their XI.
- Iyer said Marco and Vyshak come into the side for the match, framing the situation as a fresh challenge for a group that has not previously been in this specific position.
At the toss, Pant emphasised that the wicket should play as a batter-friendly surface regardless of who bowls first, and he acknowledged the team’s learning curve through a difficult season. He also extended an apology to the travelling supporters from across Uttar Pradesh, while promising the squad would give their best effort on the day.
Iyer’s message was similar in tone—he described the fixture as an exciting opportunity for PBKS and underlined how the team is eager to perform, despite the unusual scenario they are facing heading into this match.
Playing XIs and impact players
Punjab Kings
Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Players: Harpreet Brar, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey.
Lucknow Super Giants
Playing XI: Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan.
Impact Players: Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Manimaran Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh.
