The stage is set for Match 29 of IPL 2026 as the only unbeaten side is in action later tonight, as PBKS hosts the LSG team live from Maharaja Yudhavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur in New Chandigarh. PBKS after 5 games are sitting pretty at the top of the points table with 9 points from 5 games, with one match abandoned due to rain. Under the able leadership of Shreyas Iyer, PBKS are a well-oiled machine, and the captain is performing to its potential. They will look to stay unbeaten and continue the winning momentum.
Up against them are LSG, led by Rishabh Pant. LSG have blown hot and cold in this tournament and are currently in 8th place with 4 points from 6 games. They have won two games but have lost 4. They are the only team in this IPL yet to muster 200 runs in an innings. Yes, they haven’t conceded 200+ runs yet, but needs their batting to fire in full cylinders in order to upstage Punjab. LSG needs a win more than PBKS.
Overview
For the second game of the day on Super Sunday, we move to Mullanpur in New Chandigarh, where the only unbeaten side in the tournament, PBKS, hosts the LSG live from Mullanpur. PBKS have chased in this tournament in all the games so far. They are yet to bat first this season. Under Shreyas Iyer, PBKS are functioning well as a unit. Their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, are looking in decent touch. Cooper Connolly won them a game against GT earlier in the tournament. Captain Shreyas Iyer has been leading from the front and is looking determined as ever.
The Mumbai-born lad is determined to go one better this season after finishing as a runner-up last season against RCB. Iyer wants to make a statement, and so far, he has been able to lead from the front with some match-defining knocks. Even in the last game against MI, he was an able ally to Prabhsimran Singh. So far, PBKS has ticked all the major boxes and has nothing to worry about.
But with the top order firing, the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and Marco Jansen are yet to get proper batting with the willow in hand. They won’t complain, though, as long as they are winning games. The bowling is covered with Arshdeep Singh finding form against MI. There are Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett in their ranks. Vijaykumar Vyshak has been able to do a job. Yuzvendra Chahal has had a few cold games and would want to do well consistently.
The team is functioning well, and there is no need to change anything. There will be a temptation to play Harpreet Brar, but there is no need for that. But their opponents, LSG, are in desperate need of a win this season. They have won 2 and lost 4 games. They lost their last two games badly to GT and then to RCB, where the bowling is fighting hard, but the batting is not firing. The likes of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram are getting starts, but they are unable to convert them into big scores.
Rishabh Pant has blown more hot than cold and was hit on the elbow, which raised a scare, but he was later declared fit and available for tonight’s game. Nicholas Pooran cannot buy a run and is in a lean phase at the moment. Ayush Badoni has performed well in a couple of matches. Abdul Samad has been inconsistent, to say the least. Mukul Choudhary won them the game the other night in Kolkata. George Linde’s use as an Impact Substitute is not working.
With the ball in hand, the likes of Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Prince Yadav boast a potent bowling attack, while Digvesh Rathi has blown cold so far in the spin department. The bowling looks to be sorted, but the batting is an issue. With the ball, they are yet to concede 200+, while with the bat in hand, 200 is conceded easily. LSG has a good team and can upstage the fancied Punjab team.
The stage is set for an interesting battle under the lights in Mullanpur.
Head-To-Head
These two teams have played against each other in 6 previous fixtures, with both PBKS and LSG winning 3 matches apiece. PBKS won the last encounter on 4th May 2025 against the same opponents.
Pitch & Weather Report
The pitch at New Chandigarh will be a batting track as the black soil wicket is characterised by its consistent bounce and carry, which allows the ball to come onto the bat beautifully for stroke-makers. The boundary sizes are big, where a lightning-fast outfield ensures that well-timed shots are highly rewarded. The pace bowlers can expect some lateral movement at the start, but then the pitch flattens out, and dew is a factor as well. Teams will prefer to chase.
The weather in New Chandigarh is expected to be stable and conducive for a full game. The temperature will be around 32 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is at 30%. There will be a light breeze blowing. The nights will get cooler, and the dew will be a factor here. The team chasing will have an advantage as there is no rain predicted in the city.
Predicted Playing XIs of both sides
Let’s now look at the predicted playing XIs of both sides.
PBKS XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nehal Wadhera.
LSG XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, George Linde, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.
Predicted Outcome of the Match
Well, it is safe to say that PBKS will start this match as favourites. But they could be tested if they are asked to bat first. But they have all the bases covered. But in IPL, anything can happen, and we have to wait and watch whether LSG can win today. Lucknow can upset the apple cart. So, a good game of cricket awaits us all. PBKS favourites, while LSG are underdogs.