All eyes on fit-again Mayank as LSG kickstart season against DC

Rishabh Pant could bat at No. 3 for LSG, while Auqib Nabi is likely to make his IPL debut with DC

Himanshu Agrawal

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 1:03 PM (1 hr ago)

Big picture - DC eye 5-0

Both Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) missed out on the playoffs last season. Although not entirely, both teams somewhat reset themselves ahead of IPL 2026. But the similarities don't end there.

Before their season opener, LSG will be missing Wanindu Hasaranga, whom they had acquired for INR 2 crore. The allrounder isn't in India yet, as he's due to clear a fitness test by Sri Lanka Cricket. Mitchell Starc, whom DC retained for INR 11.75 crore, will be missing the early part of the season as he's recovering from a shoulder and an elbow injury.

While LSG might replace Hasaranga with quick Anrich Nortje, especially since it's a red-soil pitch in Lucknow, they would also not want over-reliance on their overseas batters Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran. Each of them got over 400 runs last IPL, while all of LSG's Indian batters combined scored only 835 runs.

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There's also the question of where Rishabh Pant bats. He smashed 118 not out from No. 3 in LSG's last game in 2025, even as 12 of Pooran's 14 innings for them previous season came at that position. Since IPL 2025, Pooran has had 20 innings at No. 3 across leagues, while Pant is yet to play a T20.

DC also have work to do on their top order. Pathum Nissanka was seen having a lengthy practice session with KL Rahul two days out from the match, and could open the batting. Nitish Rana was Delhi's top run-getter at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, with five of his seven innings coming from No. 3, and could take that spot for DC.

DC are 4-0 up against LSG from the sides' previous contests, two of which came in Lucknow. On Wednesday, the hosts will hope that the scoreline doesn't worsen.

Key question

Team news - Mayank fit

If Nortje takes Hasaranga's place, LSG will have to use an Indian batter as Impact Sub. Aside from those likely to start, the frontline options include Akshat Raghuwanshi, Mukul Choudhary and Himmat Singh. LSG head coach Justin Langer confirmed that Mayank Yadav is fit and will start the season.

LSG (probable): 1 Mitchell Marsh*, 2 Aiden Markram*, 3 Nicholas Pooran*, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Akshat Raghuwanshi/Himmat Singh, 8 Shahbaz Ahmed, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Mayank Yadav, 11 Digvesh Rathi, 12 Anrich Nortje*

DC might replace Starc with another left-arm seamer in T Natarajan. Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera could tip Lungi Ngidi as their overseas quick. Unlike LSG, DC have a strong middle order of Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel and David Miller. Auqib Nabi, who has lit up the 2025-26 domestic season, is likely to make his IPL debut.

DC (probable): 1 KL Rahul (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka*, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Tristan Stubbs*, 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 David Miller*, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Auqib Nabi, 10 Dushmantha Chameera*, 11 Kuldeep Yadav, 12 T Natarajan

In the spotlight - Mayank Yadav and Nitish Rana

Mayank Yadav burst into the limelight by breaching the 150kph mark in IPL 2024. But in nearly two years, he has played just seven competitive matches across formats having been troubled by injuries. After being ruled out of IPL 2024 midway and missing IPL 2025 entirely, Mayank heads into this IPL with a green signal. Will this one finally be his season?

Nitish Rana is set to represent a third different IPL team in as many seasons. He played just two games in Kolkata Knight Riders' victorious campaign in 2024 and scored only 217 runs in 11 innings for Rajasthan Royals in 2025. However, Rana enters IPL 2026 as Delhi's highest run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. If DC pick him at No. 3, he has the chance to bat long in the IPL too.

Stats and trivia

Kuldeep Yadav has had success over Pant in T20s. The left-arm wristspinner has given away just 23 runs off the 25 balls he has bowled to Pant, and dismissed him three times.

The run rate at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has increased with every IPL since matches started being held there in 2023. The number has gone from 7.36 in the first season to 8.94 in 2024 and 9.83 in 2025.

Pitch and conditions

Pitch no. 4 will be used for Wednesday's fixture at the Ekana Stadium. The average first innings score here last IPL was 187, a slight fall from the 203 in 2024. The temperature in Lucknow is expected to be 28 degrees Celsius in the evening, with no chance of rain.

Quotes

"There's pressure every season. I've been doing this for a long time. I've had pressure on me for 30 years. Every time I batted, there was pressure on me. Every time I've coached a side, there's pressure on me. Every time, for 30 years."

LSG head coach Justin Langer knows how to deal with pressure

"In India, [there are] good batting wickets and small grounds. So it's tough to bowl in these conditions - especially for fast bowlers. So mentally we have to prepare well."

DC quick Dushmantha Chameera is up for the challenge

Next three fixtures

Lucknow Super Giants

April 5: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad

April 9: vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata

April 12: vs Gujarat Titans in Lucknow

Delhi Capitals

April 4: vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi

April 8: vs Gujarat Titans in Delhi

April 11: vs Chennai Super Kings in Chennai

Himanshu Agrawal is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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