LSG vs KKR Match 38 Preview: Pant's LSG Home vs Rahane's KKR Revival

Lucknow Super Giants take on Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 Match 38 at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow — and the playoff math is starting to bite. With Rishabh Pant leading Lucknow Super Giants and Ajinkya Rahane leading Kolkata Knight Riders, this fixture is more than two points: it reshapes the top four. In this preview we cover the pitch, the predicted XIs, the key battles, Dream11 captain picks, and the one toss-call that could decide the match before the first ball is bowled.

Match Overview

Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders — IPL 2026 Match 38 Date & time: Check the IPL 2026 schedule for start time Venue: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (free on mobile)

Current form & points table context

As of 2026-04-21, Punjab Kings sit unbeaten at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad round out the top four, and both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are fighting from the bottom half. For the live standings, see our IPL 2026 points table and mid-season analysis.

Lucknow Super Giants form

Lucknow Super Giants come into Match 38 under Rishabh Pant. Key players to watch: Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Mitchell Marsh. Their death-overs unit has been a strength this season — see IPL 2026 death-overs specialists ranked for the data.

Kolkata Knight Riders form

Kolkata Knight Riders under Ajinkya Rahane bring their own firepower: Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy. For how their impact player use compares to the rest of the league, read our impact-player rule breakdown.

Pitch report — BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Balanced pitch with spin purchase in the middle overs. Par score 165–175. Batting first slightly preferred. Full Ekana pitch report.

Key battles to watch

1. Rishabh Pant vs Lockie Ferguson — the marquee battle that decides the powerplay shape. For powerplay form, see IPL 2026 powerplay leaders.
2. Sunil Narine vs Ravi Bishnoi — death-overs chess that decides the total.
3. Spin vs the wicket — especially in overs 8–14.

Predicted playing XIs

Lucknow Super Giants XI (predicted)

1. Rishabh Pant (c)
2. Nicholas Pooran
3. Mayank Yadav
4. Mitchell Marsh
5. Ravi Bishnoi
6. • 5 more from squad depth — track the Lucknow Super Giants squad analysis.

Kolkata Knight Riders XI (predicted)

1. Sunil Narine
2. Rinku Singh
3. Venkatesh Iyer
4. Varun Chakravarthy
5. Rinku Singh (finisher; KKR's death-overs role post-Russell retirement)
6. • 5 more from the full Kolkata Knight Riders squad.

Head-to-head records

For the all-time head-to-head between these two sides, bookmark our Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders all-time comparison. Short version: this is one of the more competitive match-ups in IPL history, with neither side dominating more than 55% of encounters.

Dream11 fantasy picks

Captain picks (in order of confidence):

1. Rishabh Pant
2. Sunil Narine
3. Mayank Yadav

Differential picks — for grand-league edge, read Dream11 batter differential picks IPL 2026 and powerplay bowlers differential picks.

Credits-efficient XI tips: see how to build a budget Dream11 team IPL 2026.

Prediction

Based on current form, venue trends and squad balance, the slight edge is with Lucknow Super Giants on paper — but IPL 2026 has been a season of upsets, and the side that wins the toss at this venue will have a real advantage because of the dew equation.

Where to watch

Star Sports 1 / 3 HD (English & Hindi), JioHotstar (free on mobile via app), CricJosh live score page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match 38 start?

Match 38 follows the standard IPL 2026 schedule. Evening games start at 19:30 IST, afternoon double-header games at 15:30 IST. Confirm on our live IPL 2026 schedule.

Where can I watch Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders live?

Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming, free on mobile). For live scorecard, visit our CricJosh live page.

Who is the captain of each team in Match 38?

Lucknow Super Giants are led by Rishabh Pant. Kolkata Knight Riders are led by Ajinkya Rahane.

What is the venue and pitch type?

BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. See the pitch report section above for batting-first average, dew factor and spin vs pace behaviour.

Who should I pick as Dream11 captain?

Top choices are Rishabh Pant and Sunil Narine. For the full method, read our Dream11 captain-picks strategy.

The takeaway

Bookmark the IPL 2026 points table, check the live schedule, and use our Dream11 tools before you lock your fantasy team. CricJosh updates every hub after every match — no stale data.