Lucknow Super Giants hold the edge at home, and Rishabh Pant’s men are our pick to win IPL 2026 Match 5 against Delhi Capitals.
IPL 2026 Match 5 takes place on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The 7:30 PM IST evening clash marks DC’s first game of the season, while LSG looks to make their home advantage count.
DC entered without their strike bowler, Mitchell Starc, who confirmed a shoulder and elbow injury that will keep him out of the opening phase. That absence shifts the balance towards LSG, who boast Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje leading their pace attack.
IPL 2026 Match 5 LSG vs DC Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 5, IPL 2026 (TATA IPL) |
| Teams | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals |
| Date | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| LSG Captain | Rishabh Pant |
| DC Captain | Axar Patel |
IPL 2026 Match 5 Odds for LSG vs DC
The betting market gives LSG a slight edge at home, though this remains a closely contested fixture.
LSG enter as marginal favourites across major platforms, with odds hovering around 1.80-1.90. DC’s odds sit in the 1.95-2.05 range. The toss market is nearly even, reflecting the importance of winning the flip at Ekana, where chasing teams have historically dominated.
| Platform | LSG Win Odds | DC Win Odds | Toss Odds (LSG) | Toss Odds (DC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.85 | 2.00 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Stake | 1.82 | 1.98 | 1.88 | 1.88 |
| 4RABET | 1.88 | 2.05 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
| BetVibe | 1.84 | 1.96 | 1.88 | 1.90 |
IPL 2026 Match 5 Toss Prediction for LSG vs DC
At Ekana, the toss is not just a formality. It shapes the entire contest.
Five of the last six IPL matches at this venue were won by the chasing side. The surface tends to favour batters in the second innings as it settles. Dew becomes a factor from around the 12th-14th over of the chase.
Both Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel will want to bowl first if they win the toss. The captain who wins it will almost certainly elect to field.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will opt to field first.
LSG Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 5
Lucknow Super Giants enter IPL 2026 with renewed purpose after finishing seventh in 2025. The addition of Mohammed Shami through a trade deal significantly bolsters their pace attack.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Marsh | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Aiden Markram | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Nicholas Pooran (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 4 | Rishabh Pant (c) | Batter |
| 5 | Ayush Badoni | Batter |
| 6 | Abdul Samad | Batter |
| 7 | Wanindu Hasaranga | All-rounder |
| 8 | Shahbaz Ahmed | All-rounder |
| 9 | Mohammed Shami | Bowler |
| 10 | Anrich Nortje | Bowler |
| 11 | Mayank Yadav | Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Digvesh Rathi | Bowler |
Key Player Notes: Mohammed Shami returns to competitive cricket after his injury layoff. His ability to swing the new ball and execute yorkers at the death makes him LSG’s most valuable bowler. Mayank Yadav adds raw pace to the attack, regularly clocking 150+ kmph.
Rishabh Pant scored 118 not out off 61 balls against RCB at Ekana in IPL 2025. That innings remains the highest individual score at this venue in IPL history
DC Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 5
Delhi Capitals begin their IPL 2026 Season campaign under Axar Patel’s leadership, still chasing their maiden title. The batting looks solid, but the bowling has taken a hit with Starc’s absence.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KL Rahul (wk) | WK-Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Abishek Porel | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Nitish Rana | Batter |
| 4 | David Miller | Batter |
| 5 | Axar Patel (c) | All-rounder |
| 6 | Tristan Stubbs | Batter |
| 7 | Ashutosh Sharma | All-rounder |
| 8 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| 9 | Lungi Ngidi | Bowler |
| 10 | T Natarajan | Bowler |
| 11 | Auqib Nabi Dar | Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Sameer Rizvi | Batter |
Key Injury Update: Mitchell Starc is officially out of DC’s opening matches due to a shoulder and elbow injury. He confirmed the injury on March 28, 2026, stating he is rehabbing and will join the squad as soon as possible. This is a massive blow for DC.
Without Starc, Lungi Ngidi carries the pace bowling responsibility. He had a strong T20 World Cup 2026, picking up 12 wickets across the group and Super 8 stages. Auqib Nabi Dar, the Jammu & Kashmir pacer, signed for INR 8.40 crore and will look to make an impact on debut.
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report IPL 2026
The Ekana Stadium has transformed from a traditional slow turner into a more balanced surface. Recent seasons have seen it become increasingly batting-friendly.
Stadium Details:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium |
| Capacity | 50,000 |
| Pitch Type | Balanced, favours batting in the second innings |
| Average 1st Innings Score (IPL) | 170-180 runs |
| Boundary Size | Longest straight boundaries in India (81m) |
| Best Strategy | Bat second (dew factor, chasing advantage) |
What to expect from the surface on April 1:
Early movement for pacers: The new ball offers some assistance in the first 2-3 overs. Shami and Ngidi will look to exploit this.
Spin comes into play: Unlike Chinnaswamy, spinners find grip here. Hasaranga and Kuldeep could be crucial in the middle overs.
Long boundaries reward bowlers: The 81m straight boundary is the longest in India. Mishits that clear the rope at other venues get caught here.
Dew factor: Evening matches see significant dew from around the 12th over of the second innings. This makes it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball and favors the chasing team.
An expected score range of 175-195 is a competitive first-innings total. Only 2 of the last 8 IPL matches here saw 13 or more wickets fall.
Lucknow Weather Report, April 1, 2026
Good news for cricket fans. Clear skies are expected with no rain interruption in sight.
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Clear skies, no rain forecast |
| Temperature | 35-37°C (daytime), 22-24°C (evening) |
| Humidity | Moderate to high (65-75%) |
| Wind Speed | Light winds, 10-15 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Minimal during match hours |
| Dew Factor | High dew expected from 12th-14th over of the 2nd innings |
| Rain Probability | Less than 5% during match hours |
| Match Interruption Risk | Very Low |
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Last 5 Matches
Overall Head-to-Head (IPL History):
| Matches Played | LSG Wins | DC Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
DC holds a slight advantage with 4 wins in 7 meetings. However, the recent form favors them as well, having won the last two encounters in IPL 2025.
Last 5 Matches:
| Match | Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | April 22, 2025 | DC | 8 wickets | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
| IPL 2025 | March 24, 2025 | DC | 1 wicket | ACA-VDCA Stadium, Vizag |
| IPL 2024 | April 12, 2024 | DC | 19 runs | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
| IPL 2024 | March 26, 2024 | DC | 6 wickets | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| IPL 2023 | May 5, 2023 | LSG | 50 runs | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
At Ekana Stadium specifically, DC have won 2 of 3 matches against LSG at this venue, a notable stat given LSG’s home advantage. KL Rahul has been exceptional here, scoring 540 runs across all IPL matches at Ekana, the most by any batter at this venue.
Key Rivalry Stat: Nicholas Pooran leads the run charts in this fixture with 172 runs at a strike rate of 217.72. He has been particularly brutal against DC’s bowling attack.
Our Prediction: LSG Has Better Chances to Win Against DC in IPL 2026 Match 5
Bottom line up front: LSG wins, defending a total around 180-190.
Why LSG Are Favorites
Home advantage matters at Ekana. LSG knows this pitch better than any visiting team. The crowd, the conditions, and the familiarity with how dew behaves in the second innings give them an edge that should not be underestimated.
The pace battery is formidable. Shami brings experience and swing. Nortje brings raw pace. Mayank Yadav brings express speed. This is arguably the most complete pace attack LSG has ever fielded.
Middle-order explosiveness. Pooran at number three with Pant following him creates nightmares for opposition captains. Both can shift gears instantly and take the game away in 3-4 overs.
Why DC Could Cause an Upset
KL Rahul’s record at Ekana is outstanding. As the leading run-scorer at this venue, he knows every blade of grass. His return to Lucknow, albeit in opposition colours, adds intrigue to this contest.
Kuldeep Yadav thrives on this surface. The wrist spinner has taken 9 wickets in LSG vs DC fixtures, the second-highest in this rivalry. Ekana’s pitch offers grip, and Kuldeep knows how to exploit it.
DC has won the last four head-to-head encounters. Form is temporary, but confidence is real. DC enters this match knowing they have consistently outplayed LSG recently.
Final Verdict
Despite DC’s recent dominance in this fixture, LSG’s home advantage and superior bowling attack tip the scales in their favour. Starc’s absence leaves DC’s death bowling vulnerable, and that is where LSG’s power-hitters will capitalize.
Expect a competitive match with LSG winning by 15-25 runs if batting first, or chasing down a target with 4-5 wickets in hand if bowling first.
Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants to win IPL 2026 Match 5.
This prediction is based on publicly available squad data, injury reports, venue stats, and historical records as of March 31, 2026. Official playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
