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LSG vs. RCB Dream11 Prediction, Match 50, IPL 2026—Fantasy Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Updates: Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants are desperate to make a comeback in their home opener against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore, in what promises to be a high-stakes match at Ekana Stadium.
The performance of LSG this season has been very poor. They have won just two games and have lost 7 matches. However, RCB has played 9 matches to date and has won 6 of them and lost just 3, placing them in the second position in the table of points.
LSG vs RCB Current Form
LSG (Last 5 Matches): L L L L L
The team’s season has been ruined by inconsistent performance, strategic instabilities, and numerous failures to finish matches. Important batters such as Mitchell Marsh, skipper Rishabh Pant, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran have struggled for the sameness, and constant reshuffles of the order of batting have made their issues worse.
In their most recent match with the Mumbai Indians, LSG put up an impressive total of 228 runs, including Mitchell Marsh scoring 44, Nicholas Pooran smashing 63 off just 21 balls, and Himmat Singh contributing 40. Despite the impressive batting performance, however, the bowlers of Lucknow failed to take early wickets and struggled to control Mumbai’s top order. This allowed them to chase their goal easily within 18.4 overs.
RCB (Last 5 Matches): L W W L W
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been very well-behaved this season. They are currently in second spot on the table of points with six wins in nine games. But they were beaten by an unbeatable loss of four wickets in their last match, the match against the Gujarat Titans. First batting, RCB managed only 155 runs; Gujarat defeated them in only 15.5 overs. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 40 runs, and Virat Kohli scored 28. The bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the most impressive in the form of figures of 3-28 in just four overs.
Head-to-Head Record
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the head-to-head match by 5-2 over 7 IPL matches. RCB have a better track record on the Ekana Stadium, winning both matches played there, with Jitesh Sharma’s match-winning run driving the RCB’s pursuit of 227 last year.
Pitch Report — Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
The surface of Ekana Cricket Stadium. Ekana Cricket Ground is considered a relatively balanced wicket. It typically provides support to spinners and has an average of 160 runs, indicating it is a medium-scoring ground.
The pitch becomes more sluggish following the 8th over due to the summer heat drying out the pitch. Scores over 165 have proven difficult to achieve at this location. LSG’s spin team, consisting of Digvesh Rathi as well as Manimaran Siddharth, along with the RCB’s Suyash Sharma, will be able to find an easy path at the Ekana strip.
The game will take place on the same surface on which LSG and KKR were tied with scores of 150. Both seamers and spinners received support from the pitch.
Toss Tips: The captain winning the toss should bowl first, since teams who chased have won approximately 58% of their matches at this stadium.
Weather Forecast
Lucknow will be greeted with mostly sunny skies throughout the evening’s match. The temperature is likely to be close to 32 °C at the start of the game and will drop gradually later in the evening. The humidity will start at around 36% with no forecast for rain, which will ensure an uninterrupted and full game.
LSG vs RCB Injury Updates
Phil Salt (RCB) is doubtful/out. Salt isn’t likely to play with LSG on 7 May. Salt’s absence is a huge negative for RCB as he’s scored 202 runs over six innings, with an average strike percentage of 168.33 this season. Salt has injured his finger in his left hand in the match with the Delhi Capitals and has returned to England to have scans.
In the absence of Phil Salt, who is unavailable due to an injury to his finger, Jacob Bethell is expected to remain as the best player alongside Kohli.
Rishabh Pant (LSG)—Available but not in condition. The skipper Rishabh Pant, who was rehired for the sum of Rs27 crores by LSG and has been a huge disappointment, scoring just 204 runs across nine matches, at a strike rate of 128.3 and just one fifty thus far.
LSG vs RCB Probable Playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Avesh Khan / Manimaran Siddharth.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma. Impact player choice: Rasikh Salam Dar.
LSG vs RCB Key Player Battles
For the power play, Virat Kohli will try to strike first, while Prince Yadav is looking to hit with the ball that he has just received. On the other hand, Mitchell Marsh will try to take on the swoop from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The middle-overs will be the focus. Rajat Patidar is expected to face Mohsin Khan and maintain the high scoring rate. While Nicholas Pooran will aim to move strike around and speed up in the face of Krunal Pandya. In the final overs, Tim David will focus on completing his innings well in the face of Avesh Khan.
Mohammed Shami has a favorable game against Virat Kohli, who has beaten him several times. A tough pitch and an enormous outfield could be the place where Kohli’s skills of accumulation really excel in 2026.
Dream11 Fantasy Team Suggestions
Dream11 Team 1 (Balanced)
Captain: Virat Kohli (RCB) Vice-Captain: Rishabh Pant (LSG)
Batters: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Mitchell Marsh. All-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Aiden Markram. Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant, Jitesh Sharma. Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav
Dream11 Team 2 (RCB Heavy)
Captain: Virat Kohli (RCB) Vice-Captain: Nicholas Pooran (LSG)
Batters: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal. All-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Mitchell Marsh. Wicket-keepers: Jitesh Sharma, Rishabh Pant. Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Shami
Read Also: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Players List 2026 with Price – Full Squad & Team Analysis
Top Fantasy Picks
| Player | Role | Why Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Batter | 422 runs over the last 10 IPL games with an average striking rate of 159 |
| Mitchell Marsh | All-rounder | 323 runs and an SR of 146 over the recent 10 games, including 44 against MI |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler | Ekana is a good fit for his style. 328 on his last outing |
| Nicholas Pooran | Wicket-keeper | In good shape with 63 balls off 21 in MI MI |
| Josh Hazlewood | Bowler | The RCB’s most deadly pacer on slow surfaces |
| Krunal Pandya | All-rounder | Critical with spin and bat in a turn track |
LSG vs RCB Players to Avoid
Jacob Bethell has only scored 39 runs across three games thus far, making him a shrewd fantasy selection. In the same way, Jitesh Sharma has scored only 63 runs over 9 games and should be avoided as a captain.
LSG vs RCB Match Prediction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will edge this match due to the unbeaten records they have at Ekana Stadium as well as a stronger overall balance of the squad. Virat Kohli’s strike rate was 174.44; along with Devdutt Padikkal’s grace and Tim David’s mid-order power, it makes the RCB batting team powerful. Hazlewood, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s expertise, is suited to the slow Ekana surface.
When RCB bats first, they’re likely to get around 170-185 runs. Should LSG begin first, around 155-170 is realistic, based on the current performances.
Predicted winner: RCB—More depth in batting, a better head-to-head record in this stadium, and a well-balanced combination make them the most popular even without Phil Salt.
