Delhi Capitals (DC) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 6 wickets with 17 balls to spare in the 5th match of the IPL 2026 at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. After being invited to bat first, LSG were bowled out for 141 in 18.4 overs. Lungi Ngidi (3/27 in 3.4 overs), T. Natarajan (3/29 in 4 overs), and Kuldeep Yadav (2/31 in 4 overs) dismantled the LSG batting line-up and did not allow any batter to play freely. Abdul Samad was the highest scorer for LSG.

While chasing a modest target of 142, DC found themselves in deep trouble at 26/4 after 4.3 overs. Sameer Rizvi, who came in as an Impact Player, then built a crucial partnership with Tristan Stubbs. Together, they steadied the innings and guided the team to victory, adding 119 runs for the fifth wicket. Prince Yadav (2/20 in 3 overs) was the most successful bowler for LSG.

With this win, Delhi Capitals became the first visiting team to register a victory in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.

Challenging Conditions Make Small Target Look Tough

Although the target seemed easy, the pitch and conditions made batting difficult early on. The fast bowlers from Lucknow Super Giants exploited swing and seam movement for a longer period than usual in T20 matches.

The red-soil surface became quicker in the second innings, assisting pace bowlers. Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, and Mohsin Khan troubled DC batters with disciplined bowling.

Spin Turns the Match Around

The turning point came when LSG introduced spin. They bowled only 2.1 overs of spin, but those overs proved expensive, conceding 35 runs.

Rizvi took full advantage, smashing four boundaries and two sixes. He also hit the winning shot on the very first ball of the 18th over, sealing the match comfortably.

Delhi Bowlers Set Up the Victory

Before the chase, DC’s bowlers played a key role by restricting LSG to a below-par total. The pitch behaved differently in both innings. It was slow and gripping in the first half, which helped DC bowlers control the game.

Lungi Ngidi delivered one of the standout moments by dismissing Nicholas Pooran with a clever slower ball. That wicket likely reduced LSG’s total by 20 to 30 runs.

LSG Experiment with Batting Order

LSG made a surprising change by sending their captain Rishabh Pant to open the innings alongside Mitchell Marsh, breaking their successful opening pair from last season.

However, the move did not work. Pant was run out early after a deflection off Mukesh Kumar’s hand. Mukesh bowled tightly in the powerplay, giving away only 17 runs in three overs.

Axar Patel also contributed by dismissing Aiden Markram with a well-directed delivery. LSG slipped to 49 for 3 soon after the powerplay.

Middle-Order Collapse Hurts LSG

LSG continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Kuldeep Yadav and Ngidi struck at crucial moments to break partnerships. Marsh tried to accelerate but failed to maintain momentum. He scored 35 runs but was eventually dismissed while attempting another big shot.

Abdul Samad top-scored for LSG and shared a 33-run partnership with Shahbaz Ahmed. However, the steady fall of wickets forced LSG to play cautiously. They were eventually bowled out with eight balls remaining, with Ngidi picking up two wickets in consecutive deliveries in the 19th over.

LSG Fast Bowlers Show Early Promise

Despite the loss, LSG’s pace attack showed strong potential. Fully fit this season, their fast bowlers created significant problems for DC.  Shami dismissed KL Rahul on the very first ball. Mohsin and Prince Yadav also picked up key wickets, reducing DC to a difficult position early in the chase.

The ball continued to swing for a long period, even into the 10th over, which is rare in T20 cricket.

Rizvi and Stubbs Take Control

Rizvi had a slow start and struggled initially, scoring just 5 runs off 13 balls. However, he gained confidence with a ramp shot for six off Anrich Nortje. With a small target to chase, Rizvi and Stubbs focused on building the innings rather than taking risks. They waited for the right opportunities, especially against spin.

When Shahbaz came on to bowl, Rizvi attacked immediately, hitting multiple boundaries in one over. This shifted the momentum firmly towards DC. Later, he also dominated Markram’s bowling, hitting a six and a four in the same over.

Comfortable Finish for Delhi Capitals

As the match neared its end, LSG’s bowlers tried to create pressure by bowling short deliveries. However, Rizvi and Stubbs handled them well. By the time the 18th over began, DC needed only three runs. Rizvi finished the match in style, completing a remarkable comeback victory.