IPL 2026: Who are stars to watch out for as Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals?

Lucknow: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will play their opening match of IPL 2026 on April 1 against Delhi Capitals at their home ground, the Ekana Stadium. In this match, the eyes of cricket fans will be fixed on the performance of LSG captain Rishabh Pant. Meanwhile, for Delhi Capitals, Axar Patel is expected to make contributions with both bat and ball. 

Who are the players to watch out for?

In his debut season with the Lucknow team—serving as both captain and star batsman—Rishabh Pant failed to live up to expectations. Injuries to key players, particularly the fast bowlers, further compounded his difficulties. This year, Lucknow boasts a fully fit squad, and the arrival of experienced bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje has significantly bolstered their bowling attack.

Mayank Yadav, a fast bowler frequently sidelined by injuries, has worked extensively on his fitness over the past year; Lucknow will be hoping he justifies the faith the team has placed in him. Fast bowler Mohsin Khan is also making a comeback after recovering from an injury, while Prince Yadav has impressed with his medium-pace bowling. Spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi made a strong impression with his performance in his very first season and will be looking to replicate that success.

Compared to their bowling unit, Lucknow's batting lineup appears to be the stronger suit. Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram form one of the most formidable opening pairs in the IPL. Pant, who failed to make a significant impact at number four last season, had previously scored a century while batting at number three. He is set to bat at the number three position this season, while Nicholas Pooran will take the field at number four.

What is the issue with Delhi Capitals' openers?

The Delhi Capitals experimented with seven different opening pairs during the last season, but none proved successful. This season, they will be hoping to find some stability at the top of the batting order. KL Rahul is set to open the innings, though it remains undecided who will partner him—Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Porel, or Pathum Nissanka. David Miller has been brought in to reinforce the middle order, and South African Tristan Stubbs is also part of the squad. Although Mitchell Starc will miss the first match due to injury, Delhi's bowling attack remains robust. They possess two proven match-winners in captain Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Joining them is Lungi Ngidi, who was in sensational form during the T20 World Cup.