Rishabh Pant (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant has apologized to the franchise’s fans after Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to participate in Match 68 of IPL 2026 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday.Already eliminated from the playoffs, LSG are just playing for pride in their final league game of the season, while Punjab Kings need a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Speaking during the toss, Pant said that LSG too would have preferred to bowl first and expected a high-scoring contest.“We would have bowled first too. This wicket is good for cricket regardless of bowling or batting. This is one of the best batting wickets; it could be a high-scoring match.”
There are two changes – Arjun and Arshin Kulkarni,” Pant said during the toss.Pant also apologized to fans for the franchise’s disappointing campaign.“It has been a tough season, but at the same time, there has been a lot of learning, both for the team and personally. I would like to say sorry to the fans, they have come from all over UP. It has been tough for us, but we will give our 100% today,” the LSG skipper said.LSG have suffered a poor IPL 2026 season. Despite having a star-studded squad, Pant’s side recorded just four wins and nine defeats in 13 matches.
They were also the first team to fall out of the playoff race this season.
This is the third consecutive year that the Lucknow team has failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs after finishing seventh in both IPL 2024 and IPL 2025 as well.Meanwhile, Punjab Kings chose to bowl first after winning the toss.“We’ll play first. Two changes – Marko and Vicak. The feeling is exciting, I would say it’s a good match for us.
“We have never been in this situation before, and the boys are waiting to do their best,” Iyer said during the draw.the difference:Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (W), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marko Janssen, Vijaykumar Vishak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.Punjab Kings (Influential Players): Harpreet Brar, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey.Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Aayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant, Abdul Samad, Mukul Chaudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan.Lucknow Super Giants (Influential Players): Shehbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Manimaran Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh.
Which aspect of the match do you expect to be more exciting?