CSK aim for 4th consecutive win to reach playoffs:Can Lucknow dent Chennai’s qualification hopes?

After a hat-trick of victories, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face the eliminated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a thrilling battle. CSK are desperate to qualify for the playoffs in the absence of MS Dhoni on the field. The match will be played in BRSAVB Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, on 15 May. This will be the second encounter between the two teams in the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. In IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings have won six of their 11 matches and currently sit on 12 points. With three league games remaining, CSK are still alive in the playoff race and can reach 18 points if they manage to win all their upcoming fixtures. Meanwhile, LSG have already been knocked out of the tournament after suffering eight defeats this season. In this season, both teams faced each other on 10 May for their first clash, where Josh Inglis’ 85-run knock went in vain as Chennai defeated Lucknow by five wickets with four balls remaining. LSG, batting first, scored 203 runs in 20 overs. In response, CSK chased 204 runs within 19.2 overs. Jamie Overton was awarded POTM for his exceptional spell of 3/36. Also, Ruturaj Gaikwad (42) and Urvil Patel (65) showed some brilliant batting skills with quick runs with the bat. LSG vs CSK, match details Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings, match 59 Venue: BRSAVB Ekana Stadium, Lucknow Date: 15 May, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM IST, toss at 7:00 PM IST Where to watch: Star Sports network (Telecasting), JioHotstar (Streaming) Where to follow: Follow live updates from the match on the Bhaskar English app. LSG vs CSK, head-to-head record Chennai and Lucknow have shared an evenly fought rivalry in the IPL, facing each other seven times. Both teams have won three matches each, while one game ended without a result. CSK’s highest score against LSG is 217, while LSG’s best total against Chennai stands at 213. Marsh, Prince to play for Lucknow’s pride after elimination Mitchell Marsh is the leading run-scorer for LSG. The Lucknow opener has scored 377 runs in 11 games with a strike rate of 150.80, with an individual best of 111 in this season. Pacer Prince Yadav has taken 16 wickets with an economy of 8.17 in 11 matches played. His best figures of this season are 3/32. Samson, Kamboj crucial for qualification hopes alive for Chennai Sanju Samson is the highest run-scorer for CSK this season, having contributed 430 runs in 11 matches played. On the other hand, Anshul Kamboj, with 19 wickets, has been the leading wicket-taker for the five-time champions. He has conceded runs with an economy of 9.20. Noor Ahmad dominated Rishabh Pant with cheap economy Rishabh Pant’s record against the Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad has not been the best this season. CSK spinner couldn’t manage to dismiss him ever in the past, but has a cheap economy of 5.83 against the Lucknow captain. Pant has scored 35 runs in 36 balls at a strike rate of 97.22 in 4 innings. Sanju Samson boasts an 180+ strike rate vs Mohammed Shami CSK opener, Sanju Samson, has scored 93 runs in 51 balls with an explosive strike rate of 182.35 in 11 innings against the Lucknow pacer in the tournament history. However, Mohammed Shami could manage to dismiss Sanju only once in the past and conceded runs with an economy of 10.94. BRSAVB Ekana Stadium, pitch report The pitch at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium has stood out in IPL 2026 for offering more help to bowlers compared to the batting-friendly surfaces seen elsewhere. The venue has hosted five matches so far, with an average first-innings score of 161, highlighting its slower nature. Spinners like Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad could play a major role here, although LSG’s recent high-scoring clash against RCB suggests another run-fest cannot be ruled out. Lucknow weather report Clear skies are expected in Lucknow on Friday evening with no chances of rain. According to Accuweather, the humidity will be 27%, and the temperature will hover around 32°C during the match.