Huge blow for Lucknow just before LSG vs PBKS clash; Star player to miss final league game of IPL 2026
(Courtesy : BCCI)
LSG are currently at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table.
Lucknow Super Giants will face Punjab Kings (LSG vs PBKS) in their final match of the Indian Premier League 2026 on Saturday, May 23, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The Super Giants had a difficult season, securing only 4 victories while enduring 9 defeats in 13 matches.
LSG are out of the tournament and are likely to finish last in the league table. However, they can still ruin the Punjab Kings’ party. The two teams last faced each other on April 19 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium, where Punjab won by 54 runs.
Interestingly, it was PBKS’ second-last win of the season. After defeating Lucknow, they defeated Delhi Capitals, and since then, they have lost six matches in a row.
After being undefeated in the first seven matches, the two-time runners-up have now slipped to fifth on the points table. Now they will face Lucknow in a must-win game, as a win would put them on 15 points. However, their playoffs qualification will depend on the Rajasthan Royals’ final group-stage game.
Talking about Lucknow’s team news, a top star will miss the game, which could be a huge blow for Rishabh Pant’s side.
Mitchell Marsh is set to miss LSG’s final game against PBKS
Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will miss Lucknow’s final game of the season against the Punjab Kings. According to ESPNcricinfo, the reason for the 34-year-old’s absence from the final game of the season remains unknown. Marsh has been the leading run-scorer for LSG in IPL 2026.
In 13 matches, Mitchell Marsh has scored 563 runs with an average of 43.30 while maintaining a strike rate of 163.18. Marsh has also scored one century and three fifties in the ongoing tournament, the most 50-plus scores by any LSG batter.
Interestingly, no batter other than the 34-year-old has scored more than 300 runs for the side. LSG skipper Rishabh Pant is second on the list with 286 runs in 12 innings, while Nicolas Pooran is third with 232 in 13 matches.
In his absence, the likes of Rishabh Pant, Josh Inglis and Nicholas Pooran will be expected to score runs for LSG.
Can LSG qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
No, LSG are out of the contention.
Who is LSG’s top run-scorer in IPL 2026?
With 563 runs, Mitchell Marsh is LSG’s top scorer.
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