By BattingFirst | April 1, 2026 | IPL 2026, Match 5
Get the best LSG vs DC Dream11 Prediction for Today Match IPL 2026. Includes Ekana Stadium pitch report, confirmed playing 11, and expert fantasy cricket tips.. IPL 2026 is officially underway, and Match 5 brings us one of the most anticipated clashes of the early season — Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals. The game takes place tonight at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, with the first ball scheduled at 7:30 PM IST.
Both teams had disappointing 2025 campaigns and narrowly missed the playoffs. Now, under new leadership and with revamped squads, they are eyeing a fast start. For Dream11 players, this match is loaded with quality options across all categories. Here is everything you need to build your best fantasy team today.
Match Details – LSG vs DC IPL 2026
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals |
| Tournament | IPL 2026 – Match 5 |
| Date & Time | Wednesday, 1 April 2026 | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar / Star Sports Network |
Ekana Stadium Pitch Report
The Ekana Stadium pitch is one of the more interesting surfaces in the IPL. It is a mixed pitch — black soil on one end, red soil on the other — which means it tends to offer a bit of everything. Early on, the new ball moves nicely off the surface, giving fast bowlers something to work with. As the match progresses and dew sets in, the pitch gets better and better for batting.
Historically, this venue has strongly favoured the team batting second. In IPL 2025, six out of eight matches at Ekana were won by the chasing side. Dew after 9 PM makes it extremely difficult for spinners and even for fast bowlers trying to grip the ball. Both captains are likely to bowl first if they win the toss tonight.
The average first innings score here has hovered around 175 to 185 in recent seasons. A total anywhere in that range should be considered competitive. For your Dream11 team, keep an eye on the toss — try to back the batters from the team batting second wherever possible.
Weather Report – Lucknow
Good news for fans: there is no rain in the forecast tonight in Lucknow. Temperatures are expected to stay between 24°C and 28°C, making it a comfortable evening for cricket. Humidity will rise gradually as the night goes on, which is exactly what causes the dew problem. No DLS concerns for this match.
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Record
These two teams have met seven times in the IPL. Delhi Capitals lead the head-to-head 4–3, and notably, DC have also won both their previous encounters in Lucknow. That is not a great record for the hosts heading into tonight, but LSG’s squad looks noticeably stronger this time around, especially in the bowling department.
In their last meeting in Lucknow, DC chased down 159 with eight wickets in hand and more than two overs to spare. LSG’s middle order collapsed badly that day, and their bowling had no answer in the second innings. Expect LSG to be far more switched on tonight, with Mohammed Shami and Mayank Yadav back in the mix.
Team News & Injury Updates
Lucknow Super Giants
The biggest news from LSG is the confirmed return of Mayank Yadav. The young pace sensation who took the IPL by storm in 2024 with his 150kph+ thunderbolts has been plagued by injuries ever since. He missed the entire IPL 2025 season. Head coach Justin Langer has confirmed Mayank is fully fit and will start tonight — this is genuinely exciting news for both LSG fans and fantasy players.
Mohammed Shami is also available and expected to lead the pace attack. His addition gives LSG an experienced and dangerous bowling unit that was missing last season.
The one concern is Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan all-rounder is yet to arrive in India and needs to clear a fitness test. He is doubtful for tonight, and Anrich Nortje is likely to take his place in the XI. If Nortje plays, LSG will field one more overseas bowler but may have to compromise on their Indian batting depth.
Delhi Capitals
The big blow for DC is the absence of Mitchell Starc. The Australian left-arm quick was retained for a massive price but is recovering from a shoulder and elbow injury and will miss the early part of the season. His absence weakens DC’s pace attack significantly.
T. Natarajan is expected to fill in as the left-arm seam option. Dushmantha Chameera could also play ahead of Lungi Ngidi as the overseas pace bowler. One exciting name in DC’s squad is Auqib Nabi, the young Kashmiri all-rounder who had a brilliant domestic season — he could make his IPL debut tonight.
Otherwise, DC have a settled batting unit. KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav — all confirmed fit and available.
Probable Playing XI
LSG Probable XI
- Mitchell Marsh
- Aiden Markram
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (C & WK)
- Ayush Badoni
- Abdul Samad
- Akshat Raghuwanshi / Himmat Singh
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Mohammed Shami
- Mayank Yadav
- Digvesh Rathi / Anrich Nortje
DC Probable XI
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Pathum Nissanka
- Nitish Rana
- Tristan Stubbs
- David Miller
- Axar Patel (C)
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Vipraj Nigam
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Dushmantha Chameera / Lungi Ngidi
- T. Natarajan
⚠️ Playing XI will only be confirmed after the toss. Keep this page bookmarked and finalise your Dream11 team only after the official announcement.
Key Player Battles
Mitchell Marsh vs Kuldeep Yadav — This is the battle that could define the match. Marsh is LSG’s most dangerous batter and DC know it. Kuldeep will target him with his left-arm wrist spin, and if he gets Marsh out cheaply, DC’s bowlers suddenly look far more threatening. If Marsh reads Kuldeep well, he could take him to the cleaners. Either way, keep both in your fantasy team because big points are coming from this contest.
KL Rahul vs Mayank Yadav — The comeback kid against one of the safest batters in the IPL. Rahul is technically excellent and has handled pace brilliantly throughout his career. But Mayank at 150kph+ is a different challenge altogether. This is the most physically intense battle of the night. A wicket here for Mayank would send the crowd wild.
Rishabh Pant vs Axar Patel — Captain vs captain. These two know each other inside out, having played together for Delhi for years. Axar will go round the wicket to cramp Pant, and Pant will try to hit him over mid-wicket. Expect fireworks. Either player can flip the match in five minutes.
LSG vs DC Dream11 Prediction – Fantasy Picks
Top Picks
Mitchell Marsh (LSG, 9 Cr) — The most important pick in this match. Marsh was LSG’s best batter last season with 627 runs in 13 innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 163. He opens the batting, which means maximum balls faced, and he can also chip in with his medium pace. He is the first name on your team sheet — captain or vice-captain in nearly every combination.
KL Rahul (DC, 9 Cr) — One of the most consistent IPL batters of the last decade. Rahul has scored over 5,200 runs in the IPL at an average of 46. He scored 539 runs last season at a strike rate close to 150 and actually hit a match-winning fifty against LSG in the previous edition. He is the safest pick from DC and an excellent vice-captain option.
Aiden Markram (LSG, 9 Cr) — Five fifties in 445 runs last season. Markram is a beautifully timed player who can score quickly at the top of the order and also bowl off-spin in the middle overs. His dual value as a batter and part-time bowler makes him a premium all-round fantasy asset and a strong differential captain for Grand League.
Kuldeep Yadav (DC, 8.5 Cr) — The best bowler in this match on current form. Kuldeep is lethal at Ekana where the pitch turns from the second innings. He takes wickets at regular intervals and racks up dot balls for bonus points. If you are looking for a solid bowling pick, Kuldeep is the one.
Budget & Differential Picks
Vipraj Nigam (DC, 7.5 Cr) — An underrated pick who bowls in the middle overs and can contribute with the bat lower down the order. His low ownership makes him a great Grand League differential.
Mayank Yadav (LSG, 7.5 Cr) — If he is anywhere near his 2024 form, Mayank at 7.5 Cr is an absolute steal. He could blow DC’s top order away with sheer pace. Low ownership because of his injury history, but that is exactly why you play him in Grand League.
Digvesh Rathi (LSG, 7 Cr) — The young leg-spinner took 14 wickets in his debut IPL season. At just 7 Cr, he frees up credits to spend on the big names while still delivering wickets from the middle overs.
Players to Avoid
Mitchell Starc — Confirmed injured. Do not pick him under any circumstances.
Nitish Rana — Likely to bat at number three for DC but has been inconsistent. At 8 Cr, the risk-reward does not justify selection when there are better options available.
Lungi Ngidi — May not even play if Chameera is preferred. Avoid until team is confirmed.
Dream11 Team Combinations – LSG vs DC IPL 2026
Team 1 — Safe Team (Small League)
WK: K Rahul (VC), R Pant | BAT: M Marsh (C), P Nissanka | ALL: A Markram, V Nigam | BOWL: M Shami, K Yadav, A Khan, M Yadav, D Rathi
Strategy: Marsh as captain, Rahul as vice-captain. Proven performers in a stable structure. Ideal for head-to-head and small league contests.
Team 2 — Balanced Team (Grand League)
WK: K Rahul, N Pooran | BAT: M Marsh (C), P Nissanka (VC) | ALL: A Markram, V Nigam | BOWL: M Shami, K Yadav, A Khan, M Yadav
Strategy: Nissanka as differential vice-captain. Good balance between safe picks and upside. Works well for medium-sized Grand League pools.
Team 3 — Aggressive Team (Ultra Grand League)
WK: R Pant (C), K Rahul | BAT: M Marsh (VC), D Miller | ALL: A Markram, Axar Patel | BOWL: M Yadav, K Yadav, D Rathi, V Nigam
Strategy: Pant as captain is the bold, high-risk call. If he explodes tonight, this team wins big. Pure Grand League play — not recommended for small leagues.
Captain & Vice-Captain Picks
- Best Captain: Mitchell Marsh — Highest fantasy ceiling in this match. Opens the batting and can bowl overs too.
- Best Vice-Captain: KL Rahul — Rock solid, consistent, and has a great record against LSG at this venue.
- Grand League Differential Captain: Aiden Markram — Lower ownership but massive upside. His off-spin could bring bonus wicket points too.
- High Risk Captain: Rishabh Pant — Completely unpredictable. Could score a match-winning 80 in 35 balls or get out for 4. Use only in high-stakes Grand League.
Toss & Strategy Tips
The toss is going to be huge at Ekana tonight. Dew is expected to make life easy for batters in the second innings, and both captains know it. Whoever wins the toss will almost certainly choose to bowl first.
For your Dream11 team, wait for the toss if you can. Once you know which team is batting second, load up on their top-order batters and reduce your exposure to the first-innings batting side. Given the historical chasing record at this venue, the second-innings batting picks carry more weight for captain and vice-captain roles.
For Small League, go with a Marsh-Rahul captain combination — safe, proven, and high-floor. For Grand League, take a punt on Pant or Markram as captain to separate yourself from the field.
Match Prediction – Who Will Win LSG vs DC Today?
This is a genuinely close contest. On paper, LSG look stronger at home, especially with Mayank Yadav and Mohammed Shami forming a fearsome pace combination. Their batting is also deeper with Marsh, Markram, Pooran, and Pant all capable of winning a match on their own.
DC, however, are a well-drilled unit. Even without Starc, they have Kuldeep Yadav as a world-class spinner, and KL Rahul gives their batting a solid foundation. Their problem is that they lost Starc’s ability to swing the match with the new ball.
Our prediction is LSG to win by a narrow margin, with home advantage and Mayank’s return being the decisive factors. Confidence split: LSG 55% – DC 45%.
Predicted top scorer: Mitchell Marsh. Predicted best bowler: Kuldeep Yadav.
FAQs – LSG vs DC Dream11 IPL 2026
Q: Who is the best captain for Dream11 in LSG vs DC today?
Mitchell Marsh is the safest captain pick for today’s match. He opened the batting for LSG last season and scored 627 runs with a strike rate of 163. For Grand League, Rishabh Pant is a high-risk, high-reward differential captain option.
Q: What is the best Dream11 team for LSG vs DC today?
For Small League, go with K Rahul, R Pant, M Marsh (C), P Nissanka, A Markram, V Nigam, M Shami, K Yadav, A Khan, M Yadav, and D Rathi. Always wait for the toss before finalising.
Q: What is the pitch like at Ekana Stadium today?
The Ekana pitch is balanced but dew-assisted in the second innings. Chasing teams have won 6 of 8 recent IPL matches here. Expect a score of 175–185 in the first innings to be competitive.
Q: What time does the LSG vs DC IPL match start today?
The match starts at 7:30 PM IST on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. Live streaming is on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
Q: Who will win today — LSG or DC?
LSG are slight favourites at home, especially with Mayank Yadav returning to full fitness. We predict LSG to win with a 55/45 edge. However, DC’s head-to-head record (4–3) means they cannot be taken lightly.
💬 Who will be your Dream11 captain today — Mitchell Marsh or KL Rahul? Drop your pick in the comments below!
Disclaimer: This prediction is based on analytical reasoning, current form, pitch conditions, and fantasy cricket insights. It does not guarantee results. Player availability may change — always check the official toss update before finalising your team. Please play fantasy cricket responsibly.
🔄 This article will be updated after the toss with the confirmed Playing XI and final Dream11 teams. Bookmark this page!
