Bigger tests ahead: LSG and GT's narrow escapes raise questions

Both Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans meet after finishing on the right side of last-ball thrillers against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively. In a tournament moving at breakneck speed and leaving little time for reflection, those are the nights that can have a positive knock-on effect on the rest of their campaign. GT's wins might be a bit misleading, as they've had some close calls. Their batting's consistent but seems stuck in neutral, possibly due to an undercooked middle order. Mohammed Siraj's powerplay bowling's also been lacking incisiveness. On the bright side, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, and Rashid Khan are finding their form. LSG's struggles are real, with Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran not quite clicking. Pant's been kept quiet by short-ball tactics, and Pooran's struggling to find form. Despite Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary's good show, the batting's not as fearsome as expected. GT are comfortable using five bowlers, with Washington Sundar being used sporadically depending on match-ups. Kushagra or Holder would be tempting options, but otherwise, the team prefers stability in their XIs, and seamer Ashok Sharma could keep his place in the XII. Mohammed Siraj's powerplay struggles are concerning, given his past form as RCB's go-to powerplay bowler. So far in IPL 2026, he's had two wicketless overs against Punjab Kings and his only wickets came in the 17th and 20th overs against DC and Rajasthan Royals, respectively. He's conceded 100 runs in eight overs against RR and DC, indicating he's yet to find his groove in the powerplay. Given his past performance, it's likely Siraj will bounce back soon. In 2025, he had the most wickets in the powerplay, showcasing his capability to dominate this phase. This will be the first day game on pitch no. 4 at Ekana Stadium in IPL history. Across the four evening games played on this strip, the chasing side has won the last three matches. But it's tough to determine a winning total as first-innings scores as varied as 144, 166 and 227 have been chased down. It is expected to be a scorching afternoon.