LSG vs DC: The Indian Premier League over the years has seen many rivalries take centre stage. However, there have been only a few clashes as heated as today’s IPL 2026 match. As Lucknow Super Giants gear up to host Delhi Capitals, it is crucial to understand the rivalries that will take centre stage in this high-octane clash. Playing their first game of the 19th season, both teams will be looking to start their respective campaign with a win. Multiple players from both teams will be looking to make a mark in today’s clash for reasons that might not be limited to cricket.
How is LSG vs DC an off-field battle?
While most of the cricketing games are played on the field, today’s clash between LSG and DC would be played as much off the field as it is on it. There will be multiple players, as well as support staff, along with owners who will be keeping their own personal scores in this clash. From KL Rahul wanting to shine in front of his former boss, Sanjiv Goenka, to Digvesh Rathi and Nitish Rana igniting a heated on-field exchange, there are a few rivalries to keep a close eye on during this clash. Apart from these well-known rivalries, there are a few that not many people know about.
KL Rahul vs Sanjiv Goenka: Takes centre stage
The silence from IPL’s organizing committee and senior players like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, and others on Mr. Goenka’s disrespectful act towards K L Rahul is deafening.pic.twitter.com/zda4Jx9yhn
— Prof cheems ॐ (@Prof_Cheems) May 9, 2024
Since confronting KL Rahul right after a humiliating loss, Sanjiv Goenka has been the face of toxic boss memes in India. Goenka, the owner of LSG, was not too happy with the performance of the team in one of the games in IPL 2024. It was a clash against one of the most dangerous teams in IPL that season, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Defending 165, LSG could not take a single wicket in the second innings and succumbed to an embarrassing 10-wicket loss inside 10 overs.
Goenka did not wait to express his emotions in the dressing room and lashed out at Rahul on the field while the broadcast camera was on. The internet was flooded with reactions to the video, and Rahul was released from the squad before IPL 2025. Last year, when these two teams met, it was Rahul’s DC who won both clashes. After missing the first game, Rahul top-scored for the Capitals in an eight-wicket win.
Digvesh Rathi and Nitish Rana bring aggressive Delhi flavour
It’s all happening here! 🔥🏏
Nitish Rana | Digvesh Singh Rathi | West Delhi Lions | South Delhi Superstarz | #DPL #DPL2025 #AdaniDPL2025 #Delhi pic.twitter.com/OfDZQGhOlr
— Delhi Premier League T20 (@DelhiPLT20) August 29, 2025
Digvesh Rathi and Nitish Rana, being Delhi boys, have been known to have an aggressive flavour to their personas. The two players came head-to-head during a clash in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) in the previous season. When such players clash against each other, fireworks not just from the bat and ball but words are set to go off.
That is exactly what happened during the DPL 2025 Eliminator when Nitish’s West Delhi Lions and Digvesh’s South Delhi Superstarz faced off. It all started when Rathi completed his action but did not deliver the ball. On the very next delivery, as expected, Rathi came on to bowl, but Rana moved away.
The next ball, Rathi finally bowled the delivery, which was reverse-swept for a six by Rana. Tensions started to flare when the batter kissed his bat in the celebration, and words were exchanged before the two players decided to charge at each other. Umpires and fielders had to come in between to separate the two players.
As these two players gear up for today’s clash, they will once again be meeting in the middle overs when LSG bowls. During the pre-match training, there was a moment where the two players shared a laugh, with Rishabh Pant playing the role of the mediator.
Rishabh Pant gears up to face his ex-team, Delhi Capitals
If go to the auction. will I be sold or not and for how much ??
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) October 11, 2024
Rishabh Pant, being the most expensive player in the IPL, will be under extreme pressure as the 19th season of the IPL begins. The wicket-keeper batter, after having a poor show in the previous season, will aim to prove his worth and why he is worthy of every penny of ₹27 crores being showered on him by LSG.
Pant, who was part of the Delhi Capitals for the majority of his career, will know that he has a point to prove to his former team. The Capitals had let go of Pant before the mega auction in 2025. After he failed to take any sort of revenge from his former team for axing him, the 28-year-old will play a vital role if LSG goes on to start their season with a win.
LSG vs DC: Social media influencer key part of the rivalry
One of the side rivalries between the two teams has been an off-field one. Shubham Gaur, a popular social media influencer, was part of the Lucknow Super Giants for the past few years. However, he was fired from his job before being hired by yet another franchise. There are no points for guessing; it was the Delhi Capitals who came to his rescue.
With him joining DC, KL Rahul, who was earlier with Shubham in the LSG camp, could not control himself and joked about how the influencer was ‘stalking’ him and followed him to the Delhi-based franchise.
