Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings – IPL 2026 Match Report | Statz
Lucknow Super Giants won by 7 wickets (with 20 balls remaining) in the 59th match of 74 in the Indian Premier League 2026, demolishing CSK’s 188-run target with more than three overs to spare. For LSG, it was a statement win that does little to change their playoff picture – still bottom of the table at 10th – but it was a reminder that this side can absolutely tear apart a bowling attack when the conditions align. For Chennai Super Kings, a third defeat in five games leaves their top-four hopes increasingly fragile at 6th on 12 points.
First Innings: CSK Post 187 But Lose Momentum Late
Chennai Super Kings elected to bat after losing the toss and made a stuttering start at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Ruturaj Gaikwad was the first to go, caught for 13 off 9 at 31/1 in the 4th over, before Sanju Samson – brought in as a reinforcement – departed for 20 off 20 with CSK on 36/2 in over 5.3. At that stage, the innings looked like it could unravel quickly.
Urvil Patel came and went cheaply – caught for 6 off 7, falling at 52/3 in over 7.2 – and CSK were in trouble at the halfway stage. What followed was a rescue act of the highest order. Kartik Sharma arrived and played a stunning innings: 71 off 42, hitting 6 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 169. He dominated the middle overs alongside Dewald Brevis, who chipped in with 25 off 16 before falling at 122/4 in over 14.4.
Sharma was eventually caught for 71 at 142/5 in over 15.6, which proved to be the decisive wicket in a partnership that transformed the innings. In the death overs, Shivam Dube (32* off 16, SR 200) and Prashant Veer (13* off 10) pushed CSK to a competitive 187/5 from 20 overs. Whether it would be enough was another question entirely.
With the ball for LSG, Akash Maharaj Singh was the standout: 3/26 off 4 overs at an economy of 6.5, comfortably the most effective bowler on the park. Mayank Yadav was also impressive with 4-0-26-0 at 6.5, while Mohammed Shami (4-0-41-1) and Shahbaz Ahmed (4-0-45-1) were expensive in the death. Prince Yadav went for 49 off 4 without a wicket.
Second Innings: Marsh Destroys CSK Before Run Out Sets Up Nervy Finish
Lucknow Super Giants needed 188 to win and Mitchell Marsh made it look like a training exercise. The Australian all-rounder opened the innings and was unstoppable from ball one, smashing 90 off just 38 deliveries – 9 fours, 7 sixes, strike rate of 237. He and Josh Inglis (36 off 32) built a platform that had LSG racing along at a pace CSK could not match.
Inglis was caught at 135/1 in over 11.4 and Marsh followed just a ball later – run out at 135/2 in over 11.5 – leaving LSG needing 53 off 51 balls with 8 wickets in hand. The match was effectively over at that point. Nicholas Pooran confirmed it with 32* off 17, hitting 4 sixes, before Abdul Samad was bowled at 144/3 in over 13.2. Mukul DChoudhary saw out the win with an unbeaten 13 off 10.
The decisive factor with the ball was Anshul Kamboj, who went for 63 off just 2.4 overs at an economy of 23.63 – essentially turning what should have been a tight chase into a procession. Noor Ahmad (4-0-21-0, econ 5.25) was the pick of the CSK bowlers, while Mukesh Choudhary (3-0-24-1) and Spencer Johnson (4-0-39-1) offered some resistance but not enough.
Statz MVP: Mitchell Marsh (128.91)
Mitchell Marsh takes the Statz MVP award with a rating of 128.91 – Statz calculates impact based on match context, and a 90 off 38 innings that set up a 7-wicket win with 20 balls to spare is hard to argue with. His 198 Dream11 points were the highest in the match and the official Man of the Match award from the IPL went the same way. Statz agrees – this one’s unambiguous.
Worth noting: Akash Maharaj Singh’s 3/26 in his 4 overs earned him a Statz rating of 116.53, which is exceptional for a bowling performance and reflects just how important his spell was in keeping CSK to a chaseable total.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Mitchell Marsh (LSG) – 128.91 | 90 off 38, 9×4, 7×6, the innings that won the match
- Akash Maharaj Singh (LSG) – 116.53 | 3/26 off 4 overs, 6.5 economy, kept CSK honest
- Kartik Sharma (CSK) – 83.86 | 71 off 42, the innings that gave CSK a fighting total
- Nicholas Pooran (LSG) – 49.79 | 32* off 17, finished the job with authority
- Mukesh Choudhary (CSK) – 40.54 | 1/24 off 3 overs, most economical of CSK’s frontline attack
Turning Point
Anshul Kamboj’s 2.4-over spell in the middle of the chase – which went for 63 runs at an economy of 23.63 – was the moment CSK lost the match. With LSG needing runs quickly after the Marsh and Inglis dismissals at 135/2, Kamboj’s deliveries turned a potential wobble into a procession. In terms of the first innings, the dismissal of Kartik Sharma at 142/5 in over 15.6 – caught off Shahbaz Ahmed – was key. Had he batted through, CSK might have pushed past 200. Instead, the innings stalled and 187/5 was the final tally.
Match Context
This was the 59th match of 74 in the IPL 2026 Regular Season. The result leaves Lucknow Super Giants rooted to the bottom of the table in 10th place with 8 points from 12 games (W4 L8, NRR -0.633). Elimination is effectively a matter of time – they would need a string of results to go their way alongside winning all remaining games, and that NRR deficit makes it near-impossible. Chennai Super Kings sit 6th on 12 points from 12 games (W6 L6, NRR +0.027) – still in contention for the playoffs but with little margin for error. A defeat to a bottom-placed side hurts their net run rate and their confidence heading into the final stretch.
Full scorecard and Statz ratings: statz.ai/cricket/fixtures/69653/lucknow-super-giants-vs-chennai-super-kings/scorecard
