Predicted LSG playing XI vs PBKS: Arjun Tendulkar in as Rishabh Pant & co look to play spoilsport

LSG can look to bring in Arjun Tendulkar for the game against PBKS on Saturday as they look to play spoilsport for Shreyas Iyer and co.

Lucknow Super Giants will aim to end Punjab Kings’ hopes of reaching the IPL 2026 playoffs as they take on Shreyas Iyer and co. in their final game of the season. LSG have already been eliminated from the tournament and are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just 4 wins from 13 matches. Rishabh Pant and co. will be looking to all guns blazing against PBKS as they have nothing to lose. This also means that they can test their bench strength and give someone like Arjun Tendulkar, who has warmed the bench throughout the tournament, a chance.

Predicted LSG playing XI vs PBKS

Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Prince Yadav
Impact player: Digvesh Rathi

LSG will once again be without the services of Aiden Markram as the Proteas star returned home due to personal reasons. The team will be relying heavily on the opening duo of Marsh and Inglis to score the bulk of the runs. Marsh has been LSG’s best batter this season, having amassed 563 runs from 13 matches at an average of 43.30 and a strike rate of 163.18. Inglis has also been impressive in his short stint with the franchise, having scored 194 runs in 4 matches.

The biggest let-downs for LSG in IPL 2026 have been Pooran and Pant. The former has scored just 232 runs in 13 matches, while the LSG captain has amassed just 286 runs at an average of 28.60. The duo will be eyeing to go all guns blazing, but the task won’t be easy as they will be up against a formidable PBKS bowling attack.

Akash Maharaj Singh, who played two games this season, is likely to make way for Arjun Tendulkar in the playing XI for LSG’s final game. Bought for Rs 30 lakh, the all-rounder is yet to make his debut for the team despite bowling consistently in the nets. Akash, who picked up 3 wickets in his first game against CSK, was quite expensive in the match against RR. Therefore, LSG can consider leaving him out.

Mohsin Khan has a good record against Shreyas Iyer, with the batter scoring 12 runs off 27 balls that he has faced from the pacer. It won’t come as a surprise if Pant decides to unleash Mohsin when the PBKS skipper comes out to bat. Apart from Khan, LSG’s pace unit comprises Prince and Mayank. Rathi is expected to be the sole specialist spinner, while Shahbaz can also roll his arm over, if needed.