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Delhi Capitals have won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants in the fifth match of IPL 2026 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant's pre-match thoughts for LSG vs DC IPL 2026 game

Axar Patel's reasoning was straightforward, fresh wicket, first game of the season, the surface looked like it might offer something early. "It's a red solid wicket and might help in the first six overs," he said. "Data says a lot of matches are won by the team batting first, but we thought it's the first game and we will bowl."

Rishabh Pant took the toss result in his stride and pushed back gently on the dew factor that most captains cite when choosing to field. "It doesn't matter on a wicket like this, it won't change a lot as I don't think dew will come," he said. Pant also took a moment to acknowledge the visible changes at the franchise. "It's completely new, we've changed our colour and logo. No negative thoughts, we're feeling good and raring to go."

LSG vs DC: Team news

The headline from the Lucknow camp is the debut of Anrich Nortje, the South African speedster whose pace makes him one of the more dangerous new-ball bowlers in the competition when fit.

He leads an attack that includes Mohsin Khan and Yash Thakur, with Ravi Bishnoi providing the spin. The batting is built around Quinton de Kock opening, Devdutt Padikkal alongside him, Aiden Markram at three, Mitchell Marsh at four and Nicholas Pooran in the middle order.

Ayush Badoni and Krunal Pandya complete a balanced lower order. Notably Rishabh Pant does not appear to be keeping wickets, with De Kock behind the stumps.

Delhi have gone with a bowling-heavy overseas combination, Pathum Nissanka and David Miller in the batting, Tristan Stubbs in the middle order, and Lungi Ngidi as the overseas pace option alongside Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar.

Kuldeep Yadav is the spin weapon and Axar himself provides the all-round balance. Prithvi Shaw opens alongside Nissanka, with Abishek Porel keeping wickets.

Also READ: LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Preview: Shami vs Rahul key as Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals at Ekana

LSG vs DC: What the playing XIs tell you

LSG: Quinton de Kock (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Anrich Nortje, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur.

DC: Pathum Nissanka, Prithvi Shaw, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel (wk), Axar Patel (c), Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar.

LSG vs DC: Impact substiutes

Lucknow Super Giants Impact subs: Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akshat Raghuvanshi

Delhi Capitals Impact subs: Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair

Also READ: Here's why Delhi Capitals might benefit most from MI ending their IPL opener curse in 2026