Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – IPL 2026 Match Report | Statz
Lucknow Super Giants won by 9 runs (DLS method) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 50th match of 74 in IPL 2026, played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 7 May 2026. For LSG it was a rare and vital win – their fourth of a difficult campaign – while RCB suffered a setback that still leaves them third but with questions about how they collapse in big moments. Head-to-head it now stands at LSG 3, RCB 5, but this one belonged entirely to Marsh and LSG.
First Innings – Marsh Turns on the Power
Mitchell Marsh won the toss for RCB – wait, RCB won the toss and chose to bowl, handing LSG first use of a good Lucknow surface. It proved a costly call. Arshin Kulkarni opened alongside Marsh but contributed little – caught for 17 off 24 balls as LSG reached 95/1 at over 9.2, the partnership contributing steadily if not explosively. That dismissal brought Nicholas Pooran to the crease, but by that point Marsh was already in full flow.
Marsh was imperious. His 111 off 56 balls – 9 fours, 9 sixes, strike rate 198 – was the innings that won LSG this match. He was finally dismissed caught at 165/2 in the 16th over (16.1), having taken the game beyond RCB’s reach almost single-handedly. Krunal Pandya (1/31, Econ 7.75) was the pick of RCB’s bowlers while Rasikh Salam Dar went for 53 off 4 overs (Econ 13.25) and Josh Hazlewood 49 off 4 (Econ 12.25).
Pooran fell caught for 38 off 23 (SR 165) at 194/3 in the 18th over, and a remarkable cameo from Rishabh Pant – 32 not out off just 10 balls (SR 320, 4 fours, 2 sixes) – and Aiden Markram unbeaten on 1 off 1 saw LSG post 209/3 from their allotted 19 overs.
Second Innings – Two Down in Two Overs, Then Patidar Fights Back
RCB’s chase started disastrously. Jacob Bethell was caught for just 4 off 5 in the first over, and Virat Kohli – the man RCB’s innings so often revolves around – was clean bowled for a duck off his second ball. Two down for 9 inside two overs, with a revised DLS target looming, and RCB were in serious trouble.
Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar steadied the ship with a strong partnership. Padikkal made 34 off 25 before falling caught at 104/4 (over 10.1), and then Patidar went into overdrive – 61 off 31 balls, 3 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 197, before being caught at 112/5 in the 11th over (11.3). Jitesh Sharma lasted just 3 balls for 1 (dismissed at 106/6 in over 10.5 – caught between Padikkal and Patidar’s exits as wickets tumbled quickly in the 11th). Prince Yadav did the damage with 3/33 (Econ 8.25) and Shahbaz Ahmed took 2/33 (Econ 11).
Tim David provided late fireworks – 40 off 17 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes, SR 235) – keeping RCB alive before being caught at 158/6 in over 15.3. Krunal Pandya (28 not out off 16) and Romario Shepherd (23 not out off 15) kept swinging and got close, but RCB finished 203/6 from 19 overs – nine runs short under the DLS method.
Statz MVP – Mitchell Marsh (119.57)
Statz calculates impact based on match context and awards the MVP to Mitchell Marsh with a Statz Rating of 119.57 – the highest score in the match. His 111 off 56 was the foundation of LSG’s total and the decisive contribution of the game. Statz agrees with the official man of the match award here – Marsh was simply outstanding. A Statz Rating above 100 places him in a category reserved for genuinely match-winning performances.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Mitchell Marsh (LSG) – 119.57 | 111 off 56, 9 sixes, SR 198 – the game-defining knock
- Prince Yadav (LSG) – 99.98 | 3/33 (Econ 8.25) – best bowling figures on either side
- Krunal Pandya (RCB) – 92.29 | 28 not out off 16 and 1/31 – two-way contribution for the losing side
- Rajat Patidar (RCB) – 84.89 | 61 off 31, 6 sixes, SR 197 – kept RCB in contention
- Rishabh Pant (LSG) – 76.79 | 32 not out off 10, SR 320 – explosive late cameo that set the total
Turning Point
Virat Kohli clean bowled for 0 by Mohammed Shami in over 1.2 with RCB 9/2. Two wickets in two overs against a target that was always going to be 200-plus under DLS stripped RCB of their most dangerous batter before the chase had started. They were never truly in control from that moment despite Patidar’s best efforts.
Match Context
This was the 50th match of 74 in the IPL 2026 Regular Season – the race for the top four is tightening with every game.
Lucknow Super Giants sit 10th in the table – W3 L7, 6 points from 10 matches, NRR -0.934. A must-win situation, and they delivered. Marsh’s performance was the difference but LSG still face an almost impossible route to qualification with seven losses already banked. Hope remains while the maths still works, but they need an extraordinary run from here.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru drop a crucial two points but remain third – W6 L4, 12 points from 10 matches, NRR +1.234. They are still firmly in the top-four picture but this was an unexpected loss to the bottom side. Three teams – RCB, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans – are level on 12 points as the middle of the table tightens. RCB’s NRR cushion helps but the pressure is building.
Full scorecard: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Scorecard – Statz
