Predicted LSG Playing XI vs KKR: Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran under scanner
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) go head-to-head today. LSG arrive in Kolkata with a win behind them, that too, an away win over Hyderabad. However, they still have some questions. The surface at Eden Gardens has been under covers for most of the week, practice has been disrupted, and the conditions could once again test batters more than the bowlers.
LSG did well to get past Sunrisers Hyderabad, largely on the back of their powerplay bowling. But with Kolkata Knight Riders desperate for a turnaround and conditions likely to aid seam early on, this is not a game where they can afford loose ends. That’s where LSG’s potent top-order will come into the picture. It is filled with big names but that A-tier performance is still to come. Thankful for KKR’s ordinary bowling show so far, LSG will be confident.
Pant and Pooran need to set the tone
The conversation begins with Rishabh Pant. He did get a fifty in the last game, but the concern is familiar. His starts remain slow. Since the beginning of 2024, Pant has the lowest strike rate in the first ten balls of an IPL innings at 111.96. On a surface where early movement is expected, that approach can put added pressure on the rest of the batting. At No. 3, he cannot afford to play catch-up cricket again.
Nicholas Pooran’s situation is slightly different. With Pant occupying the No. 3 spot, Pooran has been pushed down, and he is yet to leave a mark this season. His numbers have dipped since IPL 2025. But if there is one venue that could change that, it is Eden Gardens. He has 190 runs in three innings here at a strike rate of 193.87. More importantly, he matches up well against KKR’s spin. Against Sunil Narine, he averages over 48, and against Varun Chakaravarthy, he scores at over 165. This could be his game. But he needs to bat at four and not five.
At the top, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh will set the tone. Markram brings control and plays spin well, while Marsh’s role is clear, attack in the powerplay. If the ball swings, his battle against Vaibhav Arora and Blessing Muzarabani becomes crucial.
Predicted LSG Playing XI vs KKR
| S. No. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aiden Markram  |
| 2 | Mitchell Marsh |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant (w/c) |
| 4 | Nicholas Pooran |
| 5 | Ayush Badoni |
| 6 | Abdul Samad |
| 7 | Mukul Choudhary |
| 8 | Shahbaz Ahmed/M Siddharth |
| 9 | Avesh Khan |
| 10 | Mohammed Shami |
| 11 | Prince Yadav |
| 12 (Impact Player) | Digvesh Singh Rathi |
, Himmat Singh, Matthew BreetzkeAyush Badoni continues to be LSG’s problem-solver. He can absorb pressure or shift gears, depending on the situation. Abdul Samad, on the other hand, is more direct. His job is to finish, and on grounds like Eden, that role becomes even more valuable. They both need some runs, though. There’s another hitter in Mukul Choudhary, who is playing just because there’s an impact player rule that allows an extra batter. He has come in the tournament with hype but we are yet to see his best.
The choice between Shahbaz Ahmed and M Siddharth will depend on conditions. Shahbaz offers batting and he has enough familiarity with Eden, while Siddharth gives a more specialist spin option. At the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ahmed scored 390 runs at 130.00 and 103.72, while also taking six wickets in as many games. He certainly has form.
The bowling unit looks settled and perhaps the most exciting part of LSG. Mohammed Shami has been outstanding in the powerplay, with all his wickets coming early and an economy rate of 4.00 (in PP) that stands out. Avesh Khan did well in his first IPL 2026 game in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Prince Yadav has been a revelation once again, forcing LSG to keep the likes of Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan on the bench.
As an Impact option, Digvesh Singh Rathi should be a no-brainer. He can utilise the Eden Gardens pitch.
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