Noida Super Kings vs Gorakhpur Lions Prediction, 18th T20, UP T20 League 2026
The Noida Super Kings vs Gorakhpur Lions prediction for the 18th match of the UP T20 League 2026 sets up an intriguing rematch at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 24th August 2026, just four days after these two sides met in a last-ball thriller.
This fixture arrives in the thick of the league stage, with both teams looking to build momentum ahead of the business end of the competition. Every result at this point carries weight as the six-team table continues to take shape.
Noida Super Kings, led by Nitish Rana, have shown they can win close matches, having chased down 186 against these very Lions in Match 9 courtesy of a dramatic Anivesh Choudhary cameo. However, their most recent outing ended in defeat, going down to Lucknow Falcons by 12 runs under the DLS method.
Gorakhpur Lions, meanwhile, come into this contest on the back of a difficult stretch. After that heartbreaking three-wicket loss to Noida in Match 9, they were then thrashed by 10 wickets in a rain-reduced game against Meerut Mavericks in their most recent fixture.
This match matters as a chance for Gorakhpur to arrest a slide and for Noida to bounce back from their own recent loss. Given that these two teams have already produced one classic this season, expectations are high for another competitive contest.
With both squads featuring a blend of experienced campaigners and promising young talent from across Uttar Pradesh, this fixture offers a good look at where each franchise stands as the league heads toward its business end.
This article covers the squads, recent form, head-to-head record, pitch and weather outlook, and full match predictions for the Noida Super Kings vs Gorakhpur Lions clash at Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Noida Super Kings vs Gorakhpur Lions |
| Date | 24th August 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Tournament | 18th Match, UP T20 League 2026 |
Team Preview
Noida Super Kings, captained by the experienced Nitish Rana, have shown they possess the fight required to win tight contests this season. Their Match 9 victory over Gorakhpur Lions was a perfect example, with the side recovering from 46/3 while chasing 186 before Anivesh Choudhary’s unbeaten 34 off just 15 balls, including back-to-back sixes in the final over, sealed a dramatic three-wicket win with a ball to spare. Earlier in the season, they also chased down Kashi Rudras’s total comfortably in Match 2. However, their most recent outing ended in disappointment, as they lost to Lucknow Falcons by 12 runs under the DLS method after posting 156/8. Their squad, built around Rana’s experience and a group of promising domestic batters like Prashant Veer and Naman Tiwari, has shown genuine depth through the middle order, though their bowling attack will need to find more consistency if they are to string wins together. Kunal Tyagi’s ability with the new ball has been a useful asset for the side so far this season.
Gorakhpur Lions, led by wicketkeeper-batter Aryan Juyal, have endured a testing run of results in their last few outings. Despite posting a competitive 185/9 against Noida Super Kings in Match 9, built on a strong 72-run opening stand between Abhay Pratap Singh and Juyal himself, they fell agonisingly short in a last-over finish. That defeat was followed by a heavier loss, going down by 10 wickets to Meerut Mavericks in a rain-curtailed contest in their most recent fixture. Before that stretch, they had shown some promise, including a four-wicket DLS win over Lucknow Falcons in Match 3. The Lions’ auction strategy prioritised bowling depth, with the returning Yash Dayal expected to offer wicket-taking threat at both ends of the innings, while Prince Yadav and Rahul Sharma add further variety to the attack. With the bat, Siddhartha Yadav and Shivam Sharma provide middle-order stability alongside the captain. The challenge for Gorakhpur now will be translating their competitive totals and periods of dominance into results, having lost their last two matches after finishing on the losing side in tight finishes.
Team Squads
Noida Super Kings: Nitish Rana (c), Prashant Veer, Naman Tiwari, Aditya Sharma, Ravi Singh, Kunal Tyagi, Kartik Sidhu, Shiva Singh, Shubham Gautam, Shoaib Siddiqui, Anchit Yadav, Deepak Rajput, Shaurya Singh, Madhav Kaushik, Anivesh Choudhary
Gorakhpur Lions: Aryan Juyal (c, wk), Shivam Sharma, Prince Yadav, Yash Dayal, Vishal Nishad, Rahul Sharma, Abhinav Singh, Aryan Choudhary, Abhay Pratap Singh, Parth Palawat, Shivam Choudhary, Ankit Choudhary, Siddhartha Yadav, Abdul Rahman, Hardeep Singh, Sparsh Jain, Nishant Kushwaha, Teerath Singh, Vasu Vats
Probable Playing XI
| Noida Super Kings | Gorakhpur Lions |
|---|---|
| Shoaib Siddiqui | Abhay Pratap Singh |
| Shaurya Singh | Aryan Juyal (c, wk) |
| Madhav Kaushik | Shivam Choudhary |
| Nitish Rana (c) | Siddhartha Yadav |
| Aditya Sharma | Shivam Sharma |
| Prashant Veer | Prince Yadav |
| Ravi Singh | Hardeep Singh |
| Anivesh Choudhary | Abdul Rahman |
| Kartik Sidhu | Yash Dayal |
| Kunal Tyagi | Rahul Sharma |
| Naman Tiwari | Teerath Singh |
Favourite Team Today
Noida Super Kings enter this match as the marginally favoured side, largely on the strength of their head-to-head edge over Gorakhpur this season and their ability to win close contests.
Their victory in Match 9, chasing down 186 against this very opponent, showed a batting order with genuine finishing power in Anivesh Choudhary, backed by the experience of captain Nitish Rana.
Gorakhpur Lions, however, will not be short of motivation after two straight defeats. Their top order, led by Aryan Juyal and Abhay Pratap Singh, has shown it can lay a platform for competitive totals, and a home-ground-style familiarity with Ekana Stadium could work in their favour if their bowlers can find early wickets.
Pitch Report & Ground Stats
Comprehensive UP T20 League-specific scoring statistics for this venue this season were not available at the time of writing, so no numerical ground-stats table is provided for this section.
The Ekana Cricket Stadium surface has historically been on the slower side, with a reputation for assisting spinners more than seamers, and boundaries that are larger than average for Indian venues. Historically, totals in the range of 150-170 have proven competitive here, though this season’s UP T20 League matches at the venue have shown the surface can also support totals close to or beyond 185 when batters get set, as Gorakhpur Lions did in their meeting with Noida. New-ball bowlers can find some assistance early on, but the pitch tends to play truer as an innings progresses, particularly once dew sets in during the evening session.
Weather Report
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 33°C / 91°F (high), 28°C / 83°F (low) |
| Humidity | High, typical of Lucknow in late August |
| Rain Chance | 65% |
| Condition | Warm with a strong chance of thunderstorms |
Conditions in Lucknow carry a significant 65% chance of rain, with thunderstorms possible around matchday. Fans should be prepared for the possibility of a delayed start or a reduced-overs contest.
Broadcast Details
UP T20 League 2026 matches, including this fixture, are being broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network for television viewers in India. Live streaming is available via the JioHotstar app and website. The match is scheduled for a 7:30 PM IST start at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, as the second game of the day’s double-header.
Toss Strategy
If Noida Super Kings win the toss: Given the ground’s tendency to play easier under lights as dew sets in, they should consider bowling first, using their bowlers to apply early pressure before chasing down a target on an easing surface.
If Gorakhpur Lions win the toss: With a top order capable of building a big total, as shown in their 185/9 against Noida, the Lions could look to bat first and use the runs on the board to apply pressure, backing their bowling attack led by Yash Dayal to defend it.
Toss Prediction
Given the historical tendency for chasing to be a workable strategy at this venue once dew becomes a factor, the toss-winning captain is expected to elect to field first. Both sides have shown a willingness to chase successfully this season, including Noida’s win in Match 9, making a bowl-first decision the more likely outcome in this contest.
Score Prediction
| Team | Predicted 1st Innings Score | Predicted 2nd Innings Score |
|---|---|---|
| If batting first | 165-180 | — |
| If batting second (chasing) | — | 160-175 |
These projections are based on both teams’ scoring form this season, including Gorakhpur’s 185/9 and Noida’s successful 186-run chase in their previous meeting, factored against the historically tougher scoring conditions at Ekana Stadium in matches unaffected by rain.
Probable Batsmen & Bowlers
| Team | Key Batsmen | Key Bowlers |
|---|---|---|
| Noida Super Kings | Nitish Rana, Aditya Sharma, Anivesh Choudhary | Kunal Tyagi, Kartik Sidhu, Ravi Singh |
| Gorakhpur Lions | Aryan Juyal, Abhay Pratap Singh, Shivam Sharma | Yash Dayal, Rahul Sharma, Prince Yadav |
Winning Chances — Noida Super Kings vs Gorakhpur Lions
| Team | Why | Why Not |
|---|---|---|
| Noida Super Kings | Head-to-head advantage this season; proven ability to win close finishes, as shown against this exact opponent | Lost their most recent outing to Lucknow Falcons and have shown some inconsistency with the ball |
| Gorakhpur Lions | Capable of posting big totals, as shown by their 185/9 against Noida; strong opening partnership potential | Lost their last two matches, including a heavy 10-wicket defeat, and will be short on confidence |
Win % Factors
| Factor | Edge |
|---|---|
| Batting depth | Even |
| Bowling attack | Noida Super Kings |
| Pitch suitability | Even |
| Recent form | Noida Super Kings |
| Head-to-head record | Noida Super Kings |
| Finishing power | Noida Super Kings |
Key Player Matchups
| Matchup | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Yash Dayal vs Anivesh Choudhary | Dayal’s pace at the death against the finisher who sealed Noida’s win in their previous meeting could be a defining passage of play |
| Aryan Juyal vs Kunal Tyagi | How the Gorakhpur captain handles the new ball from Tyagi could set the tone for the Lions’ innings |
| Nitish Rana vs Prince Yadav | A contest between Noida’s experienced captain and one of Gorakhpur’s key bowling options in the middle overs |
Match Prediction
This match promises to be another close contest between two sides who have already produced a last-ball classic this season. Noida Super Kings’s head-to-head edge and their proven ability to win tight finishes give them a slight advantage, though their recent loss to Lucknow Falcons shows they are not unbeatable. Gorakhpur Lions will be desperate to arrest a two-match losing streak and have shown they can post competitive totals. Expect a close match that could again go down to the closing overs, with Noida’s recent record against this opponent giving them a marginal edge.
Winner: Noida Super Kings
What Could Prove Us Wrong?
The high chance of rain and thunderstorms on matchday is a genuine concern, and any reduction in overs could significantly alter the dynamics of this prediction, particularly given how competitive both sides have been in shortened contests this season. An early breakthrough against either top order, especially against Gorakhpur’s key opening stand, could also swing the balance. Finally, given how form has fluctuated for both sides in recent matches, an inspired individual performance from either camp could easily overturn current expectations.
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