India, May 14 -- Hosts Lucknow Super Giants may already be out of the IPL 2026 playoff race, but five-time champions Chennai Super Kings still have everything to play for when the two sides meet here on Friday, at the red-soil surface of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.

The fixture presents a contrasting feel. CSK, with 12 points in 11 matches so far, needs a win to stay alive in the standings. LSG, already languishing at the bottom with only six points, can use the match to test their bench strength and give opportunities to a young group of cricketers.

For LSG, the pressure of qualification is gone, which can sometimes make a team more dangerous. With Rishabh Pant at the helm, they can now focus on experimentation, give...