Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings in Match 59 of IPL 2026 at Ekana Cricket Stadium.

The clash holds major significance for CSK, who need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. LSG, meanwhile, have already been eliminated from the tournament.

LSG made multiple changes to their playing XI, with Akash Deep getting his first game of the season.

Alongside him, Abdul Samad and Mukesh Choudhary were also included as the hosts reshuffled their combination after their elimination from the tournament.

Chennai were forced into changes after Jamie Overton returned to England following a thigh injury.

The franchise handed an IPL debut to Spencer Johnson as Overton’s replacement, while Gurjapneet Singh also came into the side in place of Akeal Hosein.

Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav

Impact Subs: Josh Inglis, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Ayush Badoni

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary

Impact Subs: Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, Matthew Short, Matt Henry

LSG vs CSK: Captains at the toss

Rishabh Pant said Lucknow Super Giants still have plenty to play for as a unit despite being out of the playoff race, and stressed that the team’s focus remains on trust and planning ahead.

“We are still a team and we have a lot to achieve. We run on trust, and that is something we are looking forward to. Akash is playing today and he is getting his first chance of the season. We are trying a few things keeping next season in mind as well,” Pant said.

Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted injuries have disrupted Chennai Super Kings’s campaign, saying frequent changes have made it difficult to maintain rhythm despite the team’s recent momentum.

“Honestly, it is tough. Once you find momentum and settle on a squad, you want to keep going with it. But this is something we cannot control. At the same time, it gives opportunities to many players who want to represent CSK and be part of the IPL,” Gaikwad said.

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