The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured a comfortable nine-run win over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium in Match 50 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday, May 7.
The Lucknow Super Giants were carried by Mitchell Marsh’s brilliant century, as he scored a magnificent 111 off just 56 balls. His innings took the Super Giants to 209/3 as their innings was cut short to 19 overs after multiple rain delays. Nicholas Pooran scored 38 off 23 balls, and Rishabh Pant scored a quickfire unbeaten 32 off just 10 balls.
The defending champions were dented early in their innings as Mohammed Shami dismissed Jacob Bethell, and Prince Yadav had Virat Kohli bowled with a peach. Despite a slow start to the powerplay, Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar stitched a brilliant stand of 95 runs off 53 balls they took on the Super Giants’ bowlers in the middle overs. Prince Yadav broke the innings open with the wickets of Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma in the same over. Tim David scored a brilliant 17-ball 40, and Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya took the bowlers on before Digvesh Rathi defended 20 runs off the final over to take the Super Giants home.
Talking Points:
1. Marsh cashes in with a century
Mitchell Marsh was the Lucknow Super Giants’ highest run-getter in 2025. The Australian all-rounder, playing as a batter in the IPL, has had a torrid season, getting starts but not being able to cash in on them. On this occasion, he was the Super Giants’ top batter, scoring his second IPL century for the LSG and first of 2026. He muscled the ball around, scoring a brilliant 111 off just 56 balls. His innings included nine fours and nine big maximums.
2. Has Rishabh Pant found himself a new role?
Rishabh Pant has looked scattered in his approach to batting in IPL 2026. The Lucknow Super Giants’ skipper has struggled for both form and runs, with just a single half-century score in the season. Coming in on the back end of the innings, Pant scored an unbeaten 10-ball 32 to push the Super Giants past 200. This was the most fluent Pant has looked with the bat, scoring at the destructive rate he is known for. That raises the question of whether a finisher role is where Pant can showcase his hitting abilities to the best.
3. Prince Yadav, LSG’s premier strike bowler
Prince Yadav has been Lucknow’s leading wicket-taker and one of their best players in an underwhelming season. The fast bowler from Delhi made his mark early in this match, dismissing the talismanic Virat Kohli for a second-ball duck. A length-ball which pitched on a length nipped back in sharply and beat Kohli through the gate. He then came back in the 11th over to dismiss both Devdutt Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma in the same over. He finished the game with figures of 3/33 in four overs, and was the pick of the bowlers once again.
4. Patidar brings back early-season form
Rajat Patidar started the season in blistering form, appearing as the defending champions’ most in-form batter. He was merciless against the spinners and had improved his hitting against the pacers, becoming a true middle-order enforcer. He was without a half-century in his last five games, but scored a brilliant 61 off just 31 balls, which kept his team in the game. Patidar took on Digvesh Rathi without remorse, taking him all over the park when he erred with length. His form would be vital for the defending champions if they are to recreate the magic of 2025.
Who said what:
Rajat Patidar, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain:
“Definitely. We were pretty sure about the target and how will go about it. We were one or two shots behind. It was really good batting track. The ball was coming nicely onto the bat. As I said, we fell two or three shots behind. It’s difficult to analyze the game now. We will take time before we analyze the game. I think we have four games more. We are just taking one game at a time and one step at a time. Mitchell Marsh was beautiful. The way he played and especially in the powerplay, he kept us under pressure. The way he played, it was a tremendous innings. As I said, the way we played, it was a very good intent shown by every batsman. Everyone was looking in a good space of mind. I need some time to see where we lacked. In the powerplay, I think we could have been more spot on.”
Rishabh Pant, Lucknow Super Giants captain:
“Yes, it was a good game for us for sure. Yes, this victory means a lot for the whole team. We have been trying a lot of things together. Coming to the same page finally, it means a lot to us. It has been a tough season for us but sometimes you have to go through the grind. We were trying to put our close to perfect game where our batting and bowling both comes together. There has been some good luck and some bad luck at the same time. Really happy to get a win here. It was a tough call for us. We were under pressure but at the same time, you have to trust your bowler and Rathi was the right matchup for us against Shepy (Shepherd). He bowled well and got the job done for the team. Unbelievable. We know as a team that we have been grinding hard. We were not ending up on the right side but this victory might just be a turnaround for us. Our strength this season has been our bowling with the way all the bowlers have been stepping up for the side especially Prince, Shami bhai, Rathi, Sid, who is not playing. Avesh and Mayank have been brilliant too. There have been good things for us for sure as a bowling unit and we are looking forward to that.”
Mitchell Marsh, Player of the Match:
“It has been a tough season. Nice to be able to get over the line and get the win. It is great for our morale. Few of the Indian boys said before the match that it (the pitch) looked better than the wickets we have played on here before. So I tried to maximise the powerplay and have an impact on the game. It is one area which we have not got right so far in the tournament. But we did well tonight and got some runs. I think we batted really well in the last 2 games. We were 10-15 short against MI, on a very good pitch. Then, we were courageous in the manner in which we bowled. We know RCB bat deep and hence, it is not over till it is actually over. So proud of some of the young guys.”
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