IPL 2026 | Match 29: PBKS vs LSG | Preview and Predictions

The high-flying Punjab Kings (PBKS) are back at home and next host the struggling Lucknow Super Giants (PBKS) in the second game of the double-header Sunday.

Shreyas Iyer and Co are looking like early title contenders, and it will take something special from Rishabh Pant’s squad to take them down.

Here, we present our preview and predictions for Match 29 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Indian Premier League 2026 | Match 29: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 19:30 IST, April 19, 2026

Last season’s runners-up look like they are all set to go all the way this time around. Having started the season as dark horses, PBKS are beginning to look like genuine tournament favourites.

The Kings’ batting has been carried by their top four. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have been providing the explosive starts, while Cooper Connolly and Shreyas Iyer have been seeing the games through. Iyer has taken up extra responsibility with the bat and looks in sublime touch.

While the PBKS captain has been the glue holding the batting unit together, middle- and lower-order batters Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, and Nehal Wadhera haven’t yet been needed too much, which is one of the few areas the team will look to fine-tune as the tournament progresses.

The Kings’ bowling hasn’t been too bad either. That said, the fact that their seamers have leaked runs at the top is something they’ll have to work on, though at Wankhede against the Mumbai Indians, Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen plucked wickets at the top and were incredibly miserly at the death.

With Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak providing breakthroughs in the middle, PBKS are thin in the spin department. Usually, they field a single spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal, with Shashank Singh being a handy additional option, having provided incredible breakthroughs whenever the ball has been handed to him.

The Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, have been struggling to find form and get the best out of their big guns.

LSG’s batting relies heavily on their top four, which comprises Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant, and Nicholas Pooran, all of whom have failed to get runs or spend time in the middle. The experienced and power-packed opening pair hasn’t batted past the fifth over, while captain Pant has struggled to find consistency and even suffered an injury last game.

With Pant not taking the field against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Nicholas Pooran captained the team in his absence, and LSG will hope the role helps the Trinidadian find some form. LSG’s batting has mostly been carried by youngsters Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary.

As far as their bowling is concerned, veteran Indian seamer Mohammed Shami has been leading the LSG attack, getting wickets and being economical at the top. Mohsin Khan started the tournament promisingly, but an injury has kept him out, while other pacers such as Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan have been doing the support work for Shami. Spinners Digvesh Rathi and George Linde haven’t been as threatening as the Super Giants management would hope for thus far.

The New Chandigarh ground has been one which has suited batters, with a lot of runs on offer. While pacers struggle a bit, the slower bowlers fare much better.

We should be in for a high-scoring encounter, especially if the home team bat first. The Punjab Kings come into this game as heavy favourites for the win, given both their form and the struggles of the Lucknow Super Giants.

Fantasy XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Cooper Connolly, Nicholas Pooran, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ayush Badoni, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami (vc)

Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Winners Prediction: Punjab Kings