The LSG practice match scorecard 2026 from Lucknow Super Giants’ first intra squad game at Ekana Cricket Stadium tells two stories — the emergence of Himmat Singh as a genuine playing XI contender and a concerning day for express pacer Mayank Yadav, who looked rusty on return from a long injury layoff.
LSG A beat LSG B by 20 runs in the practice match on March 24, posting 241/5 in 20 overs before restricting the chase. Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, and Himmat Singh all scored fifties in the first innings, while Himmat returned to smash an unbeaten 42 off 15 in the second innings — making him the standout performer of the day in the LSG intra squad match.
LSG Practice Match Scorecard 2026 — Key Batting Performances
LSG A: 241/5 in 20 overs
| Batter | Runs (Balls) | How Out |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | 71 (~31) | Retired out |
| Ayush Badoni | 50+ (~24) | Dismissed after fifty |
| Himmat Singh | 74 | Caught behind off Mayank Yadav |
| Matthew Breetzke | Low score | Caught behind first over |
LSG B chase: Lost by 20 runs
| Batter | Runs (Balls) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ayush Badoni (batted again) | 23 (9) | Blistering start to chase |
| Himmat Singh (batted again) | 42* (15) | Unbeaten, dealt in boundaries |
| Mukul Choudhary | 5 | Dismissed by Digvesh Rathi |
LSG A won convincingly with both innings featuring aggressive batting. Several players batted across both innings in the practice match format, with Himmat Singh and Badoni the most prominent double contributors.
Watch full LSG practice match on Lucknow Super Giants YouTube channel.
Key Takeaways from the LSG Intra Squad Match
Some of the key takeaways from the LSG IPL 2026 squad match ahead of IPL 2026:
Himmat Singh Made the Strongest Case for the Playing XI
The LSG practice match scorecard will be remembered for Himmat Singh’s dominance. He scored 74 in the first innings and followed it with an unbeaten 42 off just 15 balls in the second — dealing exclusively in boundaries in both knocks. For a squad searching for a reliable Indian middle-order batter alongside Rishabh Pant and Badoni, Himmat may have answered the question emphatically. He is now a serious contender for a spot in LSG’s first-choice XI against Delhi Capitals on April 1.
Mitchell Marsh Looked IPL-Ready
Marsh pulled Mayank Yadav for a massive six en route to his fifty in 31 deliveries, eventually retiring out on 71. The Australian all-rounder’s ability to bat through the innings while accelerating in the death overs is exactly why LSG invested in him. His form in the LSG practice match score suggests he will anchor the middle order from Day 1.
Ayush Badoni Staked His Claim at the Top
Badoni’s 24-ball fifty in the first innings was the most fluent knock of the early overs. He showed impressive prowess against the short ball and continued his aggression in the second innings with 23 off 9 balls while opening the chase. His versatility — capable of batting in the top order or finishing in the death — was the clearest tactical takeaway from the LSG intra squad match 2026 and gives the franchise flexibility that few squads can match.
Mayank Yadav’s Rustiness Is a Concern
The headline from the bowling side of the LSG practice match scorecard 2026 is Mayank Yadav’s struggles. The express pacer, returning from a long injury layoff, was hit for back-to-back boundaries by Badoni and pulled for six by Marsh. He did eventually pick up Himmat Singh’s wicket (caught behind), which should offer some confidence, but his rhythm was clearly off. With LSG’s campaign opener just eight days away, Mayank’s fitness and form will be monitored closely.
Arjun Tendulkar Bowled — But Sparingly
Arjun Tendulkar got an over in the second innings and was decent, conceding just 6 runs. He was a tad unlucky to not get on the wickets tab with two catches dropped off his bowling.
However, the LSG management did not trust him with bowling in the first innings, which suggests he is unlikely to feature in the playing XI early in the season. He remains a development option rather than a first-choice selection.
Other Bowling Notes
Mohammed Shami opened the bowling in the second innings of the LSG intra squad match 2026 and delivered a tight first over (6 runs). Avesh Khan also bowled and looked the most likely part of the pace XI. Spinner M. Siddharth bowled a miserly over against the run of play, while mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi picked up the wicket of Mukul Choudhary. Prince Yadav also struck in his first over, dismissing Badoni in the chase.
What the LSG Practice Match Scorecard 2026 Tells Us About the Playing XI
The match offered clear pointers for LSG’s likely IPL 2026 combination:
- Marsh and Breetzke opened together, suggesting LSG may use an overseas opener alongside Marsh rather than defaulting to an Indian top-order option. Breetzke fell cheaply though, which keeps the door open
- Rishabh Pant did not bat prominently in this match — his role as captain and middle-order anchor is settled, and the practice game was used to test other slots
- Himmat Singh at No. 4 or 5 now looks highly likely after his two-innings masterclass. He solves LSG’s Indian middle-order puzzle
- Badoni’s flexibility means he can float between No. 3 and No. 6 depending on the match situation
- Mayank Yadav needs more time — Shami and Avesh Khan are likely to lead the pace attack initially, with Mayank eased back in as his rhythm returns
- Anrich Nortje and Wanindu Hasaranga were part of the squad but their roles in this match were not prominently reported. Both are expected to be first-choice overseas picks
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Why Did Rishabh Pant Not Bat in LSG Intra Squad Match on March 24?
Rishabh Pant did not bat in the LSG practice match scorecard 2026, but there is no injury concern. His No. 3 position for IPL 2026 is already confirmed — multiple reports, including a PTI report from earlier this week, have stated that the LSG management and Pant are aligned on him batting at No. 3 this season after spending most of IPL 2025 at No. 4.
The practice match was specifically designed to test the positions around Pant — the opening combination (Marsh and Breetzke), the middle-order options (Himmat Singh, Badoni, Abdul Samad), and the bowling attack’s readiness. With his batting slot settled, there was no tactical reason for the captain to bat in a game aimed at resolving other selection questions.
Pant is under significant pressure heading into IPL 2026. He scored just 269 runs in 14 innings last season at a strike rate of 133.17, with 118 of those coming in a single knock against RCB in the final league game. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka has publicly backed Pant, dismissing release rumours, but a strong start to the season is essential — both for the franchise’s title push and for Pant’s own hopes of returning to India’s T20I setup, where Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have established themselves ahead of him.
Expect Pant to bat at No. 3 behind Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh when LSG open against Delhi Capitals on April 1.
LSG IPL 2026 Schedule — Phase 1
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 | LSG vs DC | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| April 5 | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
| April 9 | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| April 12 | LSG vs GT | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 3:30 PM |
LSG open at home against Delhi Capitals on April 1. IPL 2026 tickets for the Ekana Stadium are available on BookMyShow, with LSG also offering a Season Membership at ₹4,999 covering all home fixtures.
Also read: RCB Practice Match Scorecard 2026 | KKR Practice Match Scorecard 2026 | SRH Practice Match Scorecard 2026 | CSK Practice Match 2026
