Lucknow vs Delhi IPL 2026 Match Today: Team News, Pitch Report, Head-to-Head & Probable Playing XI

The excitement is building as the 5th match of IPL will take place tonight. Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow side will take on Delhi at home, with both teams eager to begin their campaign with a win.

Last season did not go well for either team as they missed out on the playoffs. This time, both squads are stepping in with fresh hopes of reaching the final.

Venue: Ekana Stadium, Lucknow 

Date & Time: 1 April 2026, 7:30 PM IST 

Head-to-Head: Delhi Holds the Edge

Delhi has had the upper hand in past encounters, winning more matches overall.

Last season, Delhi defeated Lucknow in both meetings, which could boost their confidence going into this clash.

Key Absentees

Both teams will miss important players:

• Lucknow will be without Wanindu Hasaranga due to injury
• Delhi will miss Mitchell Marsh due to injury

These absences may affect team balance and strategy.

Batting Position Debate

There is curiosity around Pant’s batting position. He scored a century at number four last season, but Nicholas Pooran has already been effective in that role.

Delhi may also experiment with their lineup. Nitish Rana is likely to be considered for the number four spot after strong domestic performances.

Players to Watch

• Mohammed Shami will aim to make a strong comeback
• Mayank Yadav returns after regaining fitness
• Aaqib Nabi impressed with 30 wickets in the Ranji Trophy
• These players could play a crucial role in the match.

Pitch and Conditions

A red-soil pitch has been prepared, which is expected to support batting. However, pacers may get early assistance, and extra bounce is likely.

Since it is a night match, the team winning the toss is expected to choose to field first.

Probable Playing XI

Lucknow XI:

Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (Captain), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Ankush Raghuvanshi / Himanshu Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi

Impact Sub: Arif Nabi

Delhi XI:

KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (Captain), David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Aaqib Nabi, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav

Impact Sub: T Natarajan

Final Take

Both teams have something to prove this season. With strong line-ups, key absentees, and tactical decisions at play, fans can expect a competitive and intense contest