Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh were the two most successful openers in IPL 2025. They were the high points in an otherwise mediocre campaign for Lucknow Super Giants. However, in the first match of IPL 2026, LSG took a gamble with the opening pair. LSG captain Rishabh Pant walked out to bat against the Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals, but he could not reach double-digit figures.
The opening foray ended in a run-out at the bowler’s end. Against Mukesh Kumar‘s pitched-up delivery, Marsh drilled it back at the bowler. Mukesh got his hand across, took a fingertip, and the ball crashed into the stumps at the other end. Rishabh Pant had backed up considerably by then as the ball went on to hit the stumps.
Social media users felt for Pant.
Not a good start for Rishabh Pant. Unlucky run out. #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/4XEbxzvHI6
— Verma Ji (@vermaji_27) April 1, 2026
Watched Rishabh Pant after a long time and what an unfortunate dismissal for him. pic.twitter.com/O2Kwq0B1vK
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) April 1, 2026
Most Times Run Out as Designated Wicketkeeper in IPL:
13 – Dinesh Karthik
10 – MS Dhoni
9 – Parthiv Patel
9 – Wriddhiman Saha
6 – Sanju Samson
6 – Robin Uthappa
6 – Rishabh Pant* #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/qApZMs1RMJ
— CREX (@Crex_live) April 1, 2026
Delhi Capitals (DC) won the toss and opted to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season on Wednesday at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.
After winning the toss, DC captain Axar Patel said he chose to bowl first to test the fresh pitch for pace assistance. He noted that chasing teams usually win. He also listed the overseas players in the DC line-up for the match: batters David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, and Tristan Stubbs, and bowler Lungi Ngidi.
“Fresh wicket, red soil – we want to see if the wicket offers assistance to the pacers. Data says chasing teams win, but it’s also a new tournament and I think we should start by bowling first. Last year, we started well but lost it in the middle. We want to start well again. Overseas picks – three batters: Miller, Nissanka, Stubbs, and the bowler Ngidi,” Axar Patel said at the toss.
LSG captain Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, said the toss would not have much impact on the pitch. He added that last season’s injury concerns are behind them, with players now fit and ready to contribute. Pant also confirmed the overseas picks: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Anrich Nortje.
“Not much will change on this wicket, so the toss won’t matter. It’s a completely new energy – new logo, colour and mindset. We’re feeling good and raring to go. Injuries were a concern last year; we won’t dwell on that too much. Bowlers are fit, everyone’s willing to go in and make an impact. Markram, Marsh, Pooran and Nortje are our overseas picks,” Pant said.
LSG will look to kick off their campaign with a win in a bid to improve on last season’s seventh-place finish. DC, on the other hand, will also look to put up a better show than last season, when they failed to qualify for the playoffs despite winning five of their first seven matches