Lucknow Super Giants host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 50 of IPL 2026 with both sides arriving from contrasting positions in the tightening playoff race.
RCB sit second on the table but feel the heat as a six-team scramble develops behind the top four, while LSG remain bottom and are desperately searching for momentum after their Mumbai loss.
Match 50 takes place on May 7, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
LSG vs RCB Betting Odds
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter as favourites thanks to their 5-2 head-to-head record and unbeaten run at Ekana Stadium.
However, LSG’s home conditions and their best-economy bowling attack keep the markets close.
| Platform | LSG Win Odds | LSG Win % | RCB Win Odds | RCB Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 2.05 | 49% | 1.82 | 55% |
| Stake | 2.08 | 48% | 1.80 | 56% |
| 4RABET | 2.02 | 50% | 1.85 | 54% |
| BetVibe | 2.10 | 48% | 1.78 | 56% |
| Parimatch | 2.05 | 49% | 1.82 | 55% |
LSG vs RCB Head-to-Head Record
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the head-to-head 5-2 across 7 IPL meetings.
RCB have an even stronger record at the Ekana Stadium, winning both fixtures played here, with Jitesh Sharma’s match-winning innings powering RCB’s chase of 227 last year.
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 7 | 2 | 5 |
Recent Form
RCB return after a week-long break sitting second on the table despite three defeats batting first.
LSG arrive after a loss in Mumbai but draw confidence from Nicholas Pooran’s uninhibited return to form at the Wankhede.
Lucknow Weather Report
Hot and dry conditions expected at Ekana Stadium with no rain threat. Summer sun continues to dry out the surfaces with moderate dew expected in the second innings.
| Weather Aspect | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 28°C to 41°C |
| Humidity | 30% to 50% |
| Rain Chance | 5% (Minimal) |
| Wind Speed | 10 to 16 km/h |
| Conditions | Clear, hot evening |
| Dew Factor | Moderate in final overs |
Ekana Stadium Pitch Report
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium has produced the lowest scoring in IPL 2026.
The highest total at this venue this season has been just 165, making this typically a chase-friendly low-scoring surface.
| Pitch Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Slow, two-paced |
| Highest Total (IPL 2026) | 165 runs |
| Pace vs Spin | Spinners dominate middle overs |
| Boundary Size | 65-70m (square), 74m (straight) |
| Toss Factor | Chasing preferred |
| Key Factor | Surface grips further as game progresses |
The pitch slows significantly after the 8th over with summer heat drying the surface. Moreover, totals above 165 have been difficult to chase at this venue.
Additionally, LSG’s spin pair of Digvesh Rathi and Manimaran Siddharth alongside RCB’s Suyash Sharma will find natural turn on the Ekana strip.
LSG vs RCB Probable Playing 11
Both sides are likely to retain settled combinations, with Phil Salt still recovering from a finger injury for RCB and LSG making no major changes after Pooran’s return to form.
Lucknow Super Giants Playing 11 with Impact Players
LSG will likely retain the XI that featured at Wankhede with Nicholas Pooran’s uninhibited return. The probable playing 11 reads Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c, wk), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, and Avesh Khan.
Impact Player Options: Digvesh Rathi, Manimaran Siddharth, Mayank Yadav, Mukul Choudhary, George Linde
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing 11 with Impact Players
RCB are expected to retain the same XI that beat DC, with Phil Salt still unavailable. The probable playing 11 reads Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Suyash Sharma.
Impact Player Options: Rasikh Salam Dar, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Jacob Duffy, Swapnil Singh
Key Players to Watch
| Player | Stats |
|---|---|
| Nicholas Pooran (LSG) | Averages 50.18 and strikes at 209.09 when batting at No. 3 for LSG |
| Mohammed Shami (LSG) | Has dismissed Virat Kohli 5 times in T20 cricket |
| Avesh Khan (LSG) | Has dismissed Virat Kohli 4 times in T20 cricket |
| Virat Kohli (RCB) | First-10 balls strike rate of 174.44 this season |
| Krunal Pandya (RCB) | Dismissed Aiden Markram 3 times in just 8 deliveries |
| Josh Hazlewood (RCB) | Leading RCB’s pace attack with consistent wicket-taking |
Match Prediction and Analysis
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will edge this clash thanks to their unbeaten record at Ekana Stadium and stronger overall squad balance.
Virat Kohli’s first-10 balls strike rate of 174.44 alongside Devdutt Padikkal’s elegance and Tim David’s middle-order firepower makes RCB’s batting unit formidable.
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s experience suits the slower Ekana surface.
Lucknow Super Giants counter with their best-economy bowling attack featuring Mohammed Shami’s 5-dismissal record over Kohli and Avesh Khan’s powerplay threat.
However, LSG’s batting fragility outside Pooran exposes gaps that Suyash Sharma’s leg-spin can exploit.
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Final Verdict
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will continue their Ekana dominance with a clinical chase.
Expect Kohli and Padikkal to anchor the innings while Hazlewood targets LSG’s top order in the powerplay.
