LSG to face DC in campaign opener:Delhi defeated Lucknow in both matches last year, 10% chance of rain

The fifth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be played between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST. Last year, in the 18th edition, LSG and DC met twice, with Delhi Capitals dominating both encounters against Lucknow Super Giants. In their first match on March 25 in Vizag, DC secured a thrilling 1-wicket victory with three balls to spare. In the next clash, the Delhi-based franchise again secured an 8-wicket victory in Lucknow, finishing the chase with 13 balls remaining on 22 April. However, in the last season, neither LSG nor DC qualified for the playoffs, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in the standings. Interestingly, both sides are still chasing their maiden IPL title. This season, under the leadership of Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel, it will be exciting to see if either Delhi or Lucknow can finally lift their first IPL trophy. LSG vs DC: Match details Match info: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, Match 5 Date and Time: 01 April, 7:30 PM IST (toss at 7 PM) Venue: BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow Where to watch: JioHotstar, Star Sports network and Bhaskar English app LSG vs DC, head-to-head record in IPL Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have played against each other seven times in the IPL so far. Out of these encounters, Delhi have won four matches, while Lucknow have secured victory on three occasions. Balanced squad for 2026, Shami could be X-factor for Lucknow LSG have strengthened both their batting and bowling units ahead of the season. The opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram provides a solid start, while power-hitters like Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant bring aggression in the middle order. The addition of Mohammed Shami from SRH could prove to be a key factor, especially after his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy semifinal, where he picked up eight wickets. Looking back at the previous season, Mitchell Marsh was the team’s leading run-scorer with 627 runs. On the bowling front, uncapped player Digvesh Rathi emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Lucknow Super Giants, claiming 14 wickets during the tournament. Strong batting order, death bowling a major concern for Delhi Ahead of the campaign opener, Delhi’s playing combination looks strong. Delhi seems more dangerous with KL Rahul, Abhishek Porel and Pathum Nissanka in the top order. Their bowling is equally impressive with the spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. With Mitchell Starc’s unavailability for the first leg of the tournament, Delhi’s pace attack looks pale and is a major concern in the death overs. However, the inclusion of Ranji Trophy’s leading wicket-taker Auqib Nabi could be a great relief for the side. Last season, KL Rahul was the highest run-scorer with 539 runs. With 15 wickets, Kuldeep Yadav was their highest wicket-taker. Ekana Stadium, pitch report The Ekana Stadium pitch usually suits teams batting first, with average scores around 150–160. It is not ideal for easy run-scoring, and batting becomes more difficult as the game progresses. Chasing teams often struggle under pressure, while disciplined bowlers who maintain good line and length can stay effective and pick up wickets throughout the match. Lucknow weather report The weather on Wednesday is expected to be hot, with temperatures around 36°C. There is only a 10% chance of precipitation, so rain is unlikely to affect play. Humidity levels are low at 25%, making conditions relatively dry. Winds will blow at a moderate speed of 16 km/h in Lucknow.