IPL 2026, LSG vs GT 19th Match Match Preview - After narrow escapes, bigger questions await LSG and GT Both Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans enter the 19th match of the Indian Premier League after securing narrow victories against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively. These last-ball thrillers, while boosting their confidence, have left lingering questions about their readiness for the tournament’s next phase. The match, set for April 12, 2026, at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, will serve as a critical test of which team is truly in rhythm or merely surviving the margins. For Gujarat Titans, the win against Delhi Capitals was a tense affair, with their batting line-up struggling to maintain consistency. Despite Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, and Rashid Khan showing signs of form, the middle and lower-middle order remains undercooked, leaving gaps in their scoring. Mohammed Siraj, expected to dominate the powerplay, has yet to deliver a standout performance, conceding 100 runs in eight overs against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. His lack of impact in the early overs raises concerns about his ability to anchor the attack. Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna have not yet lived up to expectations, with Rabada failing to dismiss Nicholas Pooran, a key LSG batter, despite three dismissals in 28 deliveries. Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, face their own challenges. Rishabh Pant’s batting has been inconsistent, with short-ball tactics limiting his ability to play freely. Though he has shown resilience in chases, his average of 24.0 in the tournament highlights his struggle to replicate his 2025 form. Nicholas Pooran, another key player, has averaged just 7.33 in three IPL 2026 games, with his run-scoring drought extending to 10 of his last 11 T20s.#ipl_2026 #ekana_stadium #lsg #nicholas_pooran #gt
"He Is Bowling Without Any Fear": Cheteshwar Pujara Praises Delhi Capitals Bowler Delhi Capitals (DC) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign with a dominant six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. The win marked DC’s fifth consecutive triumph against LSG in the tournament, positioning them as the third team to face such a streak in IPL history. Cheteshwar Pujara, the former Indian cricketer and current DC player, highlighted the transformative journey of DC spinner Kuldeep Yadav, crediting his newfound confidence as a key factor in his improved performance. Speaking on Star Sports, Pujara emphasized that Yadav’s growth over the past two years has been instrumental in his success. “Confidence plays a very important role in a bowler’s performance. The way Kuldeep Yadav has bowled in the last two years is because of his confidence. He is bowling without any fear,” Pujara said. He added that Yadav’s confidence has evolved significantly since joining DC, enabling him to execute his skills more effectively. “When a bowler’s confidence increases, he starts picking up wickets, and the hunger to do well increases,” Pujara noted. The match saw LSG collapse to 141 all out, with DC’s seamers Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan playing pivotal roles. Both bowlers claimed three wickets each, dismantling LSG’s batting lineup. DC’s chase was anchored by Sameer Rizvi’s unbeaten 70, which helped the team reach the target comfortably. Kuldeep Yadav contributed with two crucial wickets, dismissing opening batter Mitchell Marsh and Mukul Choudhary. Marsh, who scored 35 off 28 balls, was dismissed by Yadav with a soft ‘caught and bowled’ catch.#kuldeep_yadav #lucknow_super_giants #delhi_capitals #cheteshwar_pujara #ekana_stadium
