IPL 2026 | Sunday, April 12 | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 15:30 IST (10:00 UTC)

Gujarat Titans arrive at Ekana having won just once in four matches. LSG are desperate to keep the early-season momentum going after back-to-back wins. This fixture has form at this ground – and the hosts know how to use it.

Venue

The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is a par-plus batting ground. Statz Cricket records an average first innings score of 171 here from 22 IPL matches, comfortably above the T20 benchmark of 155-165. The average match total sits at 349 runs, and the bat-first win rate is a near-even 46.4% – slight edge to the team chasing. Spin (economy 9.40) runs marginally tighter than seam (9.78), though neither format dominates. LSG’s home record at Ekana stands at 9 wins from 22 matches; GT have visited twice and lost both times. Home advantage is real here, and LSG’s pace attack will fancy the surface.

Form and H2H

LSG sit 5th in the IPL 2026 table: 3 played, 2 wins, 1 loss, 4 points. GT are 7th: 3 played, 1 win, 2 losses, 2 points. The Titans have lost three of their last four and are running out of room for error this early.

Over seven H2H meetings since 2022, Gujarat Titans hold the overall edge 4-3. But the recent record belongs to LSG – three wins in the last five meetings, including consecutive victories in 2025. The most recent encounter (May 2025) saw LSG chase down 202 with eight wickets in hand. At this same Ekana ground in April 2025, they knocked off 180 with 3 balls to spare. GT‘s last win in this fixture came back in May 2023.

Statz Projections

Statz Cricket gives LSG a 55.7% win probability in the average scenario, rising to 57.1% if they bat first. Projected match total sits at 354 – just above the ground average of 349, suggesting a slightly high-scoring contest. Confidence level: 100%.

The top Dream11 pick is Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG, 126.1 projected D11 points) – the Sri Lanka spinner is Statz’s standout for this fixture thanks to allround impact. Mitchell Marsh (102.0) and Aiden Markram (84.8) follow for LSG. For GT, Washington Sundar leads at 87.1 D11 points, with Sai Sudharsan projected at 80.1. Full projections on Statz Cricket.

Predicted Lineups

Lucknow Super Giants (likely XI): Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C, wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Dalip Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav

Wanindu Hasaranga is in LSG’s 2026 squad and could return depending on conditions. Check the fixture page for any confirmed changes after the toss.

Gujarat Titans (likely XI): Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma

Check the fixture page for any confirmed changes after the toss.

Key Players

Aiden Markram (LSG) – Averaging 26 across three innings in IPL 2026. He’s a genuine boundary threat at the top and has a strong H2H record here with 12 fours from 7 meetings.

Rishabh Pant (LSG, C & wk) – Averaging 28.3 across three innings this season. His ability to accelerate mid-innings is LSG’s biggest match-winning asset. Needs a big one after scores of 85, 10, and 68 this season.

Shubman Gill (GT, C) – The all-time top run-scorer in this H2H with 271 runs from 7 meetings. He’s averaging 54.5 from 2 innings this IPL season. If GT are going to keep their campaign alive, Gill needs to bat deep at Ekana.

Rashid Khan (GT) – GT’s most dangerous weapon. Five wickets in three matches this season, active streak of 3 consecutive games with at least one wicket. He is also the all-time leading wicket-taker in LSG vs GT H2H matches with 9 scalps. If GT are to win this, Rashid needs to be at his best against a deep LSG batting order.

Verdict

LSG are the value pick. Better form, home ground, and recent H2H momentum all point their way. GT have the firepower to win any game, but their inconsistency this season – averaging 192 runs but conceding 194.7 – suggests frailties that LSG will look to exploit. Statz backs LSG at 55.7% and the hosts are worth siding with. LSG to win.

Bet Builder Angles

Build your selections at the Statz Cricket Bet Builder.

• Rishabh Pant to score 20+ runs – Pant batting at home with a licence to go. Three innings in, he’s yet to fire a truly defining knock but the average says 28.3. He’s overdue.
• Rashid Khan to take 1+ wickets – 100% hit rate in his last 3 appearances. The Ekana surface won’t derail him and he’s been near-undroppable from a 1-wicket perspective.
• Shubman Gill to score 20+ runs – GT’s captain has hit 20+ in both his innings this season. Two-match active streak. He leads GT’s run charts and typically gives himself time at the crease before accelerating.

All odds indicative. Check current prices at time of placing bet.