Last Updated on 3 weeks ago by Charbel Coorey

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will meet Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow in the 5th match of IPL 2026. Both franchises will look to start off their campaign with a win, and it promises to be a thrilling game between two evenly-matched sides.

LSG won six of the 14 matches last season and finished seventh. They have a very explosive batting unit with the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, and Aiden Markram being their key batters. 

They have an all-Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Mohammed Shami alongside Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav. Anrich Nortje is the only overseas bowler in the LSG squad. 

Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Manimaran Siddharth are their spinners, with Aiden Markram also chipping in when required. Overall, batting is LSG’s strong suit but they have a promising bowling unit to go complement the batters.

On the other hand, it’s another shot at their much-awaited first IPL title for DC. They just missed out on the playoffs in the last season, finishing fifth. 

KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Pathum Nissanka, and Abhishek Porel are their key batters. They will miss the services of Mitchell Starc, as he’s currently unavailable due to injury. 

Karun Nair and Nitish Rana will have to do well if DC are to qualify for the playoffs this season. Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan, Kyle Jamieson, and Lungi Ngidi form their bowling attack. Kuldeep Yadav will be their lead spinner alongside skipper Axar Patel. 

DC’s squad looks good, but they could lack that X-factor with both the bat and the ball. They must perform as a unit to go a long way in IPL 2026.

IPL 2026 5th Match: LSG vs DC Probable Playing XIIs

Lucknow Super Giants: 1. Aiden Markram, 2. Mitchell Marsh, 3. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Ayush Badoni, 6. Arjun Tendulkar, 7. Abdul Samad, 8. Shahbaz Ahmed, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Avesh Khan, 11. Digvesh Rathi 

Impact Sub: Mohsin Khan/Prince Yadav

Delhi Capitals: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Karun Nair, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Axar Patel, 5. David Miller, 6. Tristan Stubbs, 7. Ashutosh Sharma, 8. Vipraj Nigam, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Mukesh Kumar, 11. Lungi Ngidi/Dushmantha Chameera 

Impact Sub: Pathum Nissanka/T Natarajan

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium Lucknow Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch at Lucknow will be a batting paradise. The ball will come onto the bat nicely, allowing the batters to play their shots. Expect a high-scoring encounter with the batters dominating the match. The big dimensions here will bring the spinners into the game.  

The average first innings score here was 187 runs in IPL 2025, with chasing sides winning six of the seven matches played at the venue. Teams will prefer chasing in this game too.

A hot, humid day will await both teams at Lucknow. The temperature will be around 30 degrees Celsius, and dew shouldn’t affect the game that much.

Insights that could shape how the LSG vs DC match could transpire

Below are some interesting insights that could decide this contest, according to SPODA AI data.

• KL Rahul has a 49.63% chance of making a 30+ score.
• Domestic star Auqib Nabi has a 42.86% chance of taking 2+ wickets.
• LSG average 97.6 runs scored in the middle overs in their past five games. The corresponding figure for DC is 79.2.

For more such information, check out SPODA AI below.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for LSG vs DC: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Rishabh Pant had a poor campaign last year, but he scored an excellent century in LSG’s last game of the season. Pant has been out of action for a while now, but he’s a proven match-winner and will be a must in your fantasy teams. Try him as C/VC too.  
• Nicholas Pooran will bat at 4 for LSG. He smashes spinners and can win games on his own when he gets going. He scored 524 runs in 14 games at an average of 43.66 at a rate of 196.25 with five fifties in IPL 2025.
• KL Rahul scored 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 53.90 at a strike rate of 149.72 with one century and three fifties in IPL 2025. Rahul scored a match-winning fifty against his former side in the last edition, and he’ll look to do the same in this game too. He’s expected to open this season, which makes him an ideal C/VC pick.

Key batter picks: 

• Mitchell Marsh was LSG’s highest run-scorer in the last edition – 627 runs in 13 innings at an average of 48.23, a strike rate of 163.70 with one century and five fifties. Marsh has looked in great touch during the warmups and will be the best C/VC pick.
• David Miller will be a key player for DC in the middle order. He was in good form in the recently concluded ICC T20 WC 2026. Miller has improved his game against the spinners considerably and will be a top fantasy pick.

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Aiden Markam made five fifties in the 445 runs he scored in the last edition. He’s been in terrific form lately and will be a no-brainer for your fantasy teams. He can bowl off-spin too against Delhi’s left-hand batters. Another excellent C/VC choice. 
• Axar Patel scored 253 runs and took five wickets in the last edition. He’ll be a key batter for his side with both bat and ball. Axar can trouble LSG’s openers with his left-arm orthodox. He will fetch points from both bat and ball. 

Key bowler picks: 

• Kuldeep Yadav is a wicket-taker in the middle overs and will be a crucial bowler for his side, especially against the likes of Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran. He picked up 15 wickets in the last edition – the highest for his team.
• Digvesh Rathi can bowl in any phase of the innings, including the death overs. He took 14 wickets in IPL 2025. Rathi will trouble DC’s middle order and will be an ideal differential pick.

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

• Avesh Khan
• Mayank Yadav
• Tristan Stubbs
• Vipraj Nigam

For predictive analysis that could help guide you in creating your fantasy cricket teams, check out SPODA AI (AI Cricket Prediction & Match Analysis Tool) below. If you sign up, you will receive 3 FREE match passes to start.

Other Matchups and Facts 

• Delhi Capitals have won 4 of the last 7 games played between the two teams. 
• KL Rahul vs Mohammed Shami (T20s): 43 runs, 2 dismissals in 35 deliveries.
• Rishabh Pant vs Kuldeep Yadav (T20s): 23 runs, 3 dismissals in 25 deliveries.
• Rishabh Pant vs Lungi Ngidi (T20s): 7 runs, 2 dismissals in 6 deliveries.
• Tristan Stubbs vs Anirch Nortje (T20s): 8 runs, 2 dismissals in 8 deliveries.

IPL 2026 5th Match: LSG vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today

Looking for paid fantasy cricket contests? We’ve partnered with MyRex11, a fantasy platform based in the UAE. Download the app here. Please play responsibly and within your limits.

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

IPL 2026 5th Match: LSG vs DC Match Prediction: Who will win?

Both teams have some quality players, but Delhi Capitals seem to be too dependent on a handful of players. They have depth in their squad but lack quality. LSG, on the other hand, has good quality with both bat and ball. They might lack batting depth, but their top four are amongst the world’s best at the moment.

Considering team balance and depth, Lucknow Super Giants should win this match.

——–

Affiliate disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, which means CricBlog will earn a commission if you make a deposit or purchase through them. These partnerships help support the work that goes into creating this content, but they never influence analysis, recommendations, or editorial independence. CricBlog only promotes brands and products that are safe to use with customer support available. Read our Editorial Policy for more information.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.