IPL 2026: LSG opt to bowl vs CSK, Aussie star makes debut for Chennai; playing XIs revealed

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won the toss and elected to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at Ekana Cricket stadium on May 15.

Australia's Spencer Johnson made debut for CSK. Chennai also brought in Gurjapneet Singh in place of Akeal Hosein in their playing XI. Meanwhile, Mukul Chaudhary and Abdul Samad walked into LSG's fold.

What did the captains say at the toss?

LSG captain Rishabh Pant, after winning the toss, said:

"We are looking to bowl first. Wicket is looking little bit tacky, so didn't want us to go out there and bat. We have lot to achieve as a team. We are a team that runs on trust, we are trying few things for the next season, and give our 200%. There is no running away from the way we have played this season, but there are lot of positives. We know we have it as a team, but it hasn't worked, we have to improve each and every day. We have two more changes."

ALSO READ: 'The value has to be...': Virat Kohli's big statement on his availability for ODI World Cup 2027

Meanwhile, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, after losing the toss, said:

"It is a privilege to have, privalege to wear the yellow jersery. It is a venue where you have to bat and bowl well. There is a bit of moisture to start, but if we start well and get to 170-180 then it would be a challenging total. It is tough, you need to keep changing a lot, but it something which we cannot control but also gives an opportunity to the players, Urvil coming in, Mukesh coming in, it helps them grow and whenever we have a good squad, we deliver. It has been a must-win for a while now and we want to take it one game at a time. We have a couple of changes - Spencer Johnson makes his debut and Gurjapneet comes in for Akeal."

ALSO READ: KKR's overseas star returns home in middle of IPL 2026 to put team's playoff hopes in jeopardy

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI):

Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary

Chennai Super Kings Impact Subs: Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, Matthew Short, Matt Henry

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI):

Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav

Lucknow Super Giants Impact Subs: Josh Inglis, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Ayush Badoni