Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings, 59th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - CommentaryLSG vs CSK, 59th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - Commentary

Yesterday it was Mumbai Indians, today it is Lucknow Super Giants - two eliminated sides playing spoilsport against teams chasing playoff spots. For LSG, this might just have been the complete performance they were searching for throughout the season. Everything clicked - the opening partnership, the aggressive intent in the powerplay and the finishing at the end. Unfortunately for them, it has arrived a little too late. As for CSK, this defeat is a major blow to their playoff hopes. They are still alive, but the equation is now very straightforward - they must win both of their remaining matches, against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. That’s all from this game. Tomorrow, we have Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Rajasthan Royals. Do join us for that one. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Mitchell Marsh | Player of the Match: Yeah, look, it's obviously nice to get a win. That's been far and few for us this year. As a group, we've stuck together and it's really nice to get a little reward tonight. (What do you think kept you going in the tough season for the team?) We've got great people in this group. Some great young kids. And we know that we haven't got it right on the field at times, but it's still a great group to be around. And I think sometimes when things aren't going well, that's when it's the group that we have. So it's just really nice to get a win tonight. (On opening with Inglis) I love it. He certainly feels like he takes the pressure off me with the way he goes about it. And we've obviously kind of grown up together playing for Western Australia for the last probably eight years. So we know each other very well. It was a good partnership tonight. (What changed towards the back end of that powerplay?) I think having the experience, certainly the red soil wicket here now, I've sort of known that that first 2-3 overs can be hard work. And if you look back to the start of the tournament, we were two or three down in those periods and we just weren't able to get through. And today we sort of, well, I thought about just backing the new powerplay as much as we could. And then it is a good wicket once you get going. It sort of reminded me of the first day a little bit. (On his unfortunate dismissal) Cricket's a funny game, isn't it? (Are you fielding a lot more than last year?) I am, yeah. I've had a few stints there last one when it comes to the sub. Josh Inglis hurt his finger a few games ago, so he's partially taken over the mantle. I enjoy being out there with the boys. It's always good fun.

Rishabh Pant | LSG captain: It feels good. Getting a win definitely feels good. There are things we talk about, that there is a lot to play for, regardless of where our season ends. We take a lot of pride in playing this way. (On Akash Singh) See, definitely he's been working hard throughout IPL. You know that sometimes it's harder to give everyone a game. But when people are preparing really well and he's one guy, who stick to the plan more often than going anywhere else. So yeah, definitely it paid off. The way he bowled, stick to the plan for a longer period of time. That's really good to see. (On the opening partnership - is this what they had in mind?) Definitely that was the first thought that, getting two overseas players to open the inning and Nicky batted number three. That was the idea, sometimes it's difficult when thought process is not being implemented all the time. But at the same time we take pride and we are confident as a team. The only thing I would say is, it's frustrating when you know what you have as a team, just because of little thought process here and there and you can't implement things the way you want, things can happen. (Do you think you're close to cracking a formula for success at this home ground of yours?) We are working out and it's been working for us, four fast bowlers, especially in the home condition, depending on the opposition we play, definitely works out for us. As at the same time, the team we have, I'm going to say this again, it's so amazing. The only thing gonna can harm us [is] having too many processes. (Why didn't he bat?) I was ready to bat and the idea came up, I was in the dressing room, the idea came in like, why not try players who have not played much, they haven't got much chances. And that was the idea, I was thinking again and again, should I do it or not? Because I still wanted to be out there in the field, but sometimes you have to respect the think tanks decision. So that's the thing.

Kamboj is the first bowler to be hit for four sixes in an over twice in an IPL game.

Highest successful chases for LSG
213 vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2023
211 vs CSK, Brabourne, 2022
211 vs CSK, Chennai, 2024
191 vs SRH, Hyderabad, 2025
188 vs CSK, Lucknow, 2026

11 of the 16 deliveries bowled by Kamboj went for a four or six, making for a boundary% of 68.75%. Of the 13059 spells of minimum 2 overs in the IPL, only Washington Sundar’s 1/46 in 2 overs vs DC in 2024 ranks higher: 10 boundaries in 12 balls (83.33%).

Kamboj is the second bowler to concede 60-plus in an IPL game while bowling three or fewer overs, after Khaleel Ahmed's 0/65 vs RCB in Bengaluru in 2025.

LSG at Ekana since 2025
Matches: 13
Won: 4
Lost: 9

Most runs conceded by a CSK bowler in an innings
0/65 (3) - Khaleel Ahmed vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2025
0/63 (2.4) - Anshul Kamboj vs LSG, Lucknow, 2026
0/62 (4) - Lungi Ngidi vs MI, Delhi, 2021
2/61 (4) - Shardul Thakur vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2024
0/60 (4) - Simarjeet Singh vs GT, Ahmedabad, 2024

Eight sixes conceded by Kamboj is the joint-most by a bowler in an IPL innings, alongside as many by Yash Dayal against KKR in Ahmedabad in 2023.

Josh Inglis: We spoke before the game, we keep putting owners on every game to try and win every game and we've obviously we're not playing for what we want to be playing for the back end of the tournament but it was important to put on a good performance tonight. (What was the key today?) Well I felt like I was batting with a stump tonight so the way that Mitchy started really helped me out to be honest and look it was really hard in those first few overs. It was really steep bounce. Spencer was bowling with some real pace so I just tried to just be mature about it and just try and get off strike and the way Mitchy was playing, yeah, he got us off to a flyer. Well I think it was more ball dependent. I think Kamboj, he obviously didn't get the figures he'd like tonight but he was a bit skidder than the other guys so he felt a bit easier to score off and then we know how much, how hard Noor is in those middle overs so we were already at seven and over by then so we just didn't want to take too many risks against him. (If the wicket changed in the 2nd innings) I'm probably not the man to ask to be honest. It felt pretty hard the whole time. It's so funny you can feel like you're not going to miss the middle of the bat the other night and then tonight I felt really rusty but no, look, it was coming on really nice. As I said, it honestly felt like a Perth wicket. Funnily enough, it was quite bouncy, good pace in it but yeah, it was a pretty good wicket throughout. (Asked if he was worried if Marsh would hit back at him?) Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I've learned my lesson. I've been run out at the non-strikers from Mitch before. He hits the ball that hard so I was definitely staying in my crease and maybe a couple of feet behind. (Asked if his hand is fine after getting hit) Yeah, all good. All good, thank you.

Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK captain: II felt there was a bit of something for the fast bowlers. You know, when we batted, we found it difficult to hit it off the hard lengths probably, their bowlers executed it really well. But I think we were looking at 160 or 170 and we ended up getting 180. So I thought, probably nothing much better we could have done from a batting point of view, but I think credit to them. They batted really well and never know if the pitch got better or not, but I think they played some extraordinary shots. (Talking about bowling short balls) We were looking but you know, Josh Inglis, he played differently last game. So we had to come up with a plan and definitely Mitch Marsh is someone who plays the short ball really well. So I think we were just looking to hit that hard length, proper test match length. We felt that there was something, ball was nibbling around well, but I think he hit some really good shots. We missed on execution on a few areas or a few balls as well, but I think they played some extraordinary shots. But I think looking back, after the opening batters fell, we felt that the coming batters found it really difficult to start with as well. So I think, yes, there was something a bit still in the hard length, both their openers batted brilliantly once again. (How the season has gone so far) Well, sometimes the opposition can play good cricket than you, so you just have to accept it. I think last game they still played better cricket than us to start off, but we came back really well. So we showed some character. Even today, I think from a batting point of view, a young boy Kartik, showing that confidence, getting that 70 or 80 odd was really good to see. So, as a unit, as I said, you know, middle order was something still we were lacking. But going into the last couple of games of the tournament, I think I'm really confident that, right from a batting point of view, we have started to click and bowling, we are doing really well. Just off day today, but going into the couple of games, I'm really confident on the side. (How do you face the next two games?) Well, first challenge is getting to Chennai. It's a long flight. After that, just make sure we comeback and improve what are the areas we need to improve and yes, try and adapt and assess the conditions as quickly as possible and it is a simple calculation for us. Win each and every game for how much ever games we play. So I think nothing simple. I mean, it is simple, nothing complicated. So quite easy here on for us. Nothing to worry about. Just make sure we have a good day. Make it count whoever has a good day and hope that we hope that we turn the things around.

23:14 Local Time, 17:44 GMT: A thumping win and a clinical chase from Lucknow Super Giants. They may finally have found their ideal opening combination. After trying multiple partners alongside Mitchell Marsh at the top this season, it now looks like Josh Inglis could be the perfect fit. Inglis played more of a supporting role in the mammoth 135-run opening stand, but his presence allowed Marsh to completely dominate proceedings. This chase was all about Marsh. He tore into the bowling right from the powerplay, especially targeting Anshul Kamboj, whom he smashed for 28 runs in a single over. LSG raced to 86 in the powerplay and from that point onward, the game was firmly under their control. Marsh kept finding boundaries with ease and stormed to a breathtaking 38-ball 90. To Chennai Super Kings’ credit, they did fight back briefly with 3 wickets for 9 runs, including both openers. But Pooran, who had looked scratchy initially, finished things off in brutal fashion with four consecutive sixes. At the halfway stage, 187 felt around par on this pitch. But the way Lucknow batted made it look nowhere near enough as they completed the chase with 20 balls to spare. Post-match stuff coming up..

Timeout LSG are on course to back to back home wins. They need 24 from the last four overs. There's still Rishabh Pant to come. CSK need something miracluous to get the two points.