Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants are set to meet in Match 29 of IPL 2026 at Mullanpur, but the two teams are coming into this encounter in completely different situations. PBKS are flying high at the top of the table with 4 wins from 5 matches, while LSG are struggling down in 8th place with 3 losses in their first 5 games. For LSG, one of the talking points ahead of this clash remains around their skipper Rishabh Pant, who suffered an injury scare in the previous match. Will he play today? Check the injury and unavailability news below.
Rishabh Pant – Playing Today
There was a big scare around Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant ahead of this clash, but the good news for LSG fans is that he is fit and playing today. Pant had retired hurt in the previous match against RCB after being hit on his left elbow by a sharp delivery from Josh Hazlewood, raising concerns about a possible serious injury.
However, medical scans confirmed that it was just a bruise with no fracture, and the team management has cleared him to feature. He was also seen training with an elbow guard as a precaution. Pant is expected to lead the side and keep wickets in todays match.
Lockie Ferguson – Not Playing Today
Punjab Kings will be once again without one of their key pacers, Lockie Ferguson, in today’s match against Lucknow Super Giants. The New Zealand speedster is currently on paternity leave, having stepped away from the tournament following the birth of his son.
He is expected to miss the early phase of the IPL 2026 season, with a return likely around the latter half of the tournament. In his absence, PBKS have managed to maintain balance by using Xavier Bartlett alongside Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen.
Josh Inglis – Not Plating Today
LSG will also be without Josh Inglis today, as the Australian wicketkeeper-batter has not yet joined the squad for IPL 2026. Inglis is currently on personal leave due to his wedding and honeymoon, which were scheduled for early April.
Even before the auction, he had informed franchises about his limited availability, likely joining only in the later stages of the season. Despite being bought for INR 8.60 crore, LSG are yet to benefit from his presence.
PBKS vs LSG Predicted Playing XIs:
PBKS: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar/Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
LSG: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Himmat Singh, Mukul Choudhary, George Linde/Mayank Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi
