- Arjun Tendulkar made his IPL 2026 debut for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings.
- Rishabh Pant said the team had a tough season and apologised to fans.
- Mitchell Marsh missed the match after leaving for Australia’s ODI series in Pakistan.
On Saturday, Arjun Tendulkar’s lengthy wait at the Lucknow Super Giants came to an end as the left-arm bowler was included in the starting lineup for the IPL 2026 encounter at the Ekana Stadium against Punjab Kings.
The timing of the pick, which took place in LSG’s last league game in a disappointing season, added to the story’s impact. Lucknow is no longer in the running for the playoffs. However, Punjab Kings are under pressure going into the game and need to win to maintain their chances of qualifying.
Pant also disclosed two changes to the LSG starting lineup for their season-ending match, including the much-awaited arrival of Arjun Tendulkar, the son of Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar.
“We have two changes. Arjun and Arshin come in since Mitch went home,” Pant added.
Before IPL 2026, the Mumbai Indians traded Arjun for Rs 30 lakh. The team benched him for the first 13 games of the season before finally giving him a chance in the last game.
Due to his well-known last name, the left-arm bowler has consistently sparked fans’ interest, but opportunities at the IPL level have remained scarce over time.
The team ultimately made the decision to give the renowned surname Tendulkar a shot on the grand stage after LSG was already out from the playoff competition.
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Rishabh Pant apologises to LSG fans after tough IPL 2026 season
Pant acknowledged that the season had been difficult for both the players and the fans at the toss prior to their match against Punjab Kings at the Ekana Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter said that the squad will return stronger next season and thanked supporters from all throughout Uttar Pradesh for continuing to support the team despite their difficulties.
“See, everyone knows it has been a tough season for us. But there has been a lot of learning for us as a team and as individuals. We just want to say sorry to our fans.
“They have been coming in large numbers to support us from different parts of the country, especially from all over UP. It’s been tough for us. We want to come back stronger and we are going to give our 100 per cent,” Pant said at the toss.
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Why Mitchell Marsh is not playing against PBKS?
Mitchell Marsh, an Australian international, is unavailable for the Lucknow Super Giants’ crucial IPL 2026 matchup versus Punjab Kings. According to reports, he has departed for Pakistan to participate in the three-match ODI series. In his absence, LSG paired Josh Inglis and Arshin Kulkarni at the top of the order.
Marsh, however, has been a formidable opponent for LSG this year. In 13 games, the all-rounder has hit 563 runs with a strike rate of 163.18. He is LSG’s top run scorer this season, and his absence might affect the squad in the season’s last league game. Since LSG has already been eliminated from the playoff race, they have nothing to lose. But in order to move up from the bottom of the league, the Rishabh Pant-led team would like to defeat Punjab.
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