Bathinda Royals vs Ludhiana Lions Prediction, 4th T20, Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026
Bathinda Royals vs Ludhiana Lions prediction for the 4th T20 of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 points towards a competitive contest at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Bathinda Royals enter the match with winning momentum after defeating Mohali Kings by seven wickets in their tournament opener on August 31, while Ludhiana Lions are preparing for their first game of the inaugural league season. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 1:00 PM IST.
Bathinda produced an impressive chase against Mohali Kings. After restricting Mohali to 176/9, the Royals reached 181/3 in just 17.2 overs, completing the chase with 16 balls remaining. Gourav Choudhury was the standout performer with an unbeaten 76 from 45 balls, while Ridham Satyawan contributed 51 not out from 39 deliveries. Harnoor Singh also provided a rapid start with 24 from only 10 balls.
That result puts Bathinda second in the current points table with two points, behind Fazilka Falcons on net run rate. Ludhiana Lions, meanwhile, have not yet played and therefore have no points or tournament result. The Lions begin their campaign with Arshdeep Singh as their marquee player and captain, giving them a major new-ball and death-bowling threat from the outset.
The contest is particularly interesting because both teams were assembled for the inaugural franchise-based edition of the tournament. Bathinda have already gained match experience and confidence, while Ludhiana have had additional preparation time before their first competitive fixture.
Bathinda’s batting will enter the game with confidence after the successful 177-plus chase, but Ludhiana possess the type of pace attack that can challenge an aggressive top order. Arshdeep Singh’s presence is the biggest obvious threat, while players such as Krish Bhagat, Arjun Rajput, Madhav Singh Pathania and Kartik Chadha give Ludhiana several ways to balance their XI.
The prediction therefore gives Bathinda a narrow advantage rather than treating the opening-match victory as proof of a large gap between the sides.
Match Details
| Match | Date | Time | Venue | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathinda Royals vs Ludhiana Lions, 4th T20 | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | 1:00 PM IST | Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali | Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 |
The fixture is Match 4 of the inaugural Sher-E-Punjab T20 League and is scheduled for 1:00 PM IST at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
Bathinda Royals Preview
Bathinda Royals made an immediate statement in their opening match by chasing 177 against Mohali Kings in only 17.2 overs. The result was not simply a narrow chase; it showed considerable batting acceleration after the early wickets of Rishabh Gupta, Dev Amritpal Singh and Harnoor Singh.
Gourav Choudhury was the central figure. His unbeaten 76 from 45 balls included five fours and six sixes, giving Bathinda a high-impact middle-order innings when the chase needed stability and acceleration. Ridham Satyawan supported him with an unbeaten 51 from 39 balls.
Harnoor Singh also demonstrated his attacking potential, scoring 24 from 10 balls with three fours and two sixes. That kind of powerplay contribution can be valuable against Ludhiana because it could prevent Arshdeep Singh from dictating the opening phase.
Bathinda’s batting is therefore not dependent on a single player. The squad also contains Uday Saharan, Ashwani Kumar, Dev Amritpal Singh, Abir Kohli and several younger batting options, giving the Royals flexibility depending on the pitch and match situation.
Powerplay
Bathinda should continue their aggressive approach but need to manage the risk of facing Arshdeep Singh with the new ball. Losing two or three wickets inside the first six overs could change the complexion of the match.
Harnoor Singh’s attacking intent can be useful, but the Royals need one top-order batter to remain at the crease long enough to build the innings around the aggressive options.
Middle Overs
The middle overs should favour Bathinda if Gourav Choudhury and Ridham Satyawan can reproduce their opening-match partnership. Both demonstrated the ability to score quickly without sacrificing innings length.
Uday Saharan provides another important batting option. His previous India Under-19 leadership experience adds some tactical maturity to a squad otherwise built heavily around young Punjab talent.
Death Overs
Bathinda’s 181/3 chase against Mohali showed that their batting can accelerate well before the final five overs. The key will be retaining wickets rather than depending entirely on late hitting.
Their bowling also deserves attention. Gourav Choudhury took 3/32 against Mohali, while Ashish Lowrance and Sumit Sharma also contributed wickets. Bathinda dismissed Mohali for 176/9 despite Harpreet Brar and Sohraab Dhaliwal providing late acceleration.
The biggest tactical question is whether Bathinda can maintain the same bowling discipline against a Ludhiana batting order that has not yet been tested in competitive play.
Ludhiana Lions Preview
Ludhiana Lions begin their Sher-E-Punjab T20 League campaign with one of the most recognisable pace bowlers in Indian cricket at the centre of their squad. Arshdeep Singh is the franchise’s marquee player and captain, giving the Lions a proven left-arm option for both the powerplay and death overs.
The Lions have built a squad around pace and versatility. Krish Bhagat, Arjun Rajput, Madhav Singh Pathania, Kartik Chadha, Havneet Singh and Taranveer Singh Randhawa provide a mixture of batting and all-round options, while Jassinder Singh, Yuvi Goyal and Rajvir Jaswal add further bowling depth.
The most obvious advantage for Ludhiana is their bowling ceiling. Arshdeep can create early movement with the new ball and return at the death, while the supporting bowlers can be used to attack Bathinda’s middle order.
Powerplay
The Lions should use Arshdeep aggressively during the first six overs. Bathinda’s opening match showed that their batters are willing to attack immediately, so early wickets could be more valuable than simply restricting boundaries.
A wicket of Harnoor Singh or another aggressive opener inside the first three overs would put Bathinda’s middle order under pressure.
Middle Overs
Ludhiana will need their all-rounders to prevent the run rate from falling after the powerplay. Madhav Singh Pathania and Kartik Chadha could become important because they offer flexibility in both innings.
The key challenge is that Ludhiana have no completed 2026 match to establish which combination works best. The captain may therefore need to make tactical decisions based on the surface rather than relying on tournament form.
Death Overs
Arshdeep Singh is the obvious death-bowling weapon. His ability to bowl yorkers and change pace can be especially valuable if Bathinda enter the final five overs with wickets in hand.
The Lions should also avoid over-relying on Arshdeep. If Bathinda attack the other bowlers successfully, the pressure on the captain’s four overs could become significant.
Batting
Ludhiana’s batting is the less-tested side of the equation. Salil Arora provides a wicketkeeping-batting option, while Krish Bhagat, Abhijeet Garg, Arjun Rajput and Taranveer Singh Randhawa give the Lions several possible top- and middle-order combinations.
The first priority should be partnership building. Against Bathinda’s attack, Ludhiana cannot afford a powerplay collapse and then expect the lower order to rescue the innings.
If their top four can establish a platform of around 70–80 runs after 10 overs, the Lions should have enough batting resources to target a strong finish.
Team Squad & Team News
Bathinda Royals Squad
Gurnoor Brar (c), Uday Saharan, Harnoor Singh, Gourav Choudhary, Abir Kohli, Sumit Sharma, Dev Amritpal Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Ridham Satyawan, Rishabh Gupta, Lovepreet Kamboj, Ashish Lowrance, Imrozpreet Singh, Tavleen Singh, Shahbaz Singh Sandhu, Noorveer Singh, Harshit Parashar, Jatin Sahota and Simranjeet Singh Gharu.
Ludhiana Lions Squad
Arshdeep Singh (c), Krish Bhagat, Abhijeet Garg, Jassinder Singh, Salil Arora, Arjun Rajput, Bikramjeet Singh, Sahil Bhaskar, Madhav Singh Pathania, Lovedeep Singh Kharod, Havneet Singh, Kartik Chadha, Taranveer Singh Randhawa, Yuvi Goyal, Rajvir Jaswal, Gurman Singh, Aseem Kohli, Harish Kumar, Lovekirat Singh and Karteek Sharma.
No confirmed injury, suspension or replacement affecting this fixture has been established in the current squad information.
Bathinda’s opening-match XI gives a useful indication of their preferred combination, while Ludhiana have not yet played a competitive fixture, so their final XI carries greater selection uncertainty.
Probable Playing XI
| Bathinda Royals Probable XI | Ludhiana Lions Probable XI |
|---|---|
| Rishabh Gupta | Salil Arora (wk) |
| Harnoor Singh | Krish Bhagat |
| Dev Amritpal Singh | Abhijeet Garg |
| Gourav Choudhary | Arjun Rajput |
| Ridham Satyawan | Madhav Singh Pathania |
| Noorveer Singh | Kartik Chadha |
| Sumit Sharma | Taranveer Singh Randhawa |
| Abir Kohli | Havneet Singh |
| Ashish Lowrance | Jassinder Singh |
| Shahbaz Singh Sandhu | Rajvir Jaswal |
| Simranjeet Singh Gharu | Arshdeep Singh (c) |
Bathinda’s probable XI closely follows the combination that defeated Mohali Kings. Ludhiana’s XI is more provisional because this will be their first match of the tournament, and the final balance between additional batting and bowling options is not confirmed.
Probable XIs are subject to official team announcements and the toss.
Pitch Report & Venue Stats
The PCA IS Bindra Stadium has a substantial T20 history. Available venue records list 10 T20 matches, with teams batting first winning five and teams bowling first also winning five. The average first-innings score is around 167, while the average second-innings score is around 153.
| Venue Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| T20 Matches Played | 10 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 167 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 153 |
| Highest T20 Total | 211/4 |
| Wins Batting First | 5 |
| Wins Bowling First | 5 |
The ground has historically offered good batting conditions, particularly once batters settle. Cricbuzz’s venue analysis notes that the surface has become slower over time but remains a good wicket for batting, with scores above 180 having been successfully chased in the IPL.
The first two completed matches of this 2026 league also produced high-scoring cricket. Amritsar made 258 before Mohali chased 262, while Jalandhar scored 187 before Fazilka chased 192. Bathinda then chased 177 against Mohali in 17.2 overs.
That recent evidence suggests the surface is capable of producing scores above the historical 167 average.
For this match, a first-innings total around 175–185 should be competitive. Early pace movement can still make the first few overs difficult, while the fast outfield should reward clean hitting once batters settle.
Weather Report
| Weather Factor | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 32–33°C |
| Humidity | Around 60–70% |
| Rain Chance | Moderate; isolated showers/thunderstorms possible |
| Wind | Around 7–13 km/h |
| Conditions | Hot, humid with possible late showers |
The official Chandigarh-Mohali forecast gives September 1 a minimum of around 27°C and maximum of 33°C, with partly cloudy conditions and one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. Other current forecasts also indicate a possibility of afternoon thunderstorms.
The match begins at 1:00 PM, so heat and humidity may influence bowling workload. A shower interruption remains possible, but the current forecast does not make a washout the primary scenario.
Toss Prediction & Strategy
If Bathinda Royals win the toss
Bathinda can bowl first and use their recent familiarity with the surface. They successfully chased 177 against Mohali after bowling first, and their batting showed enough depth to handle a substantial target.
If Ludhiana Lions win the toss
Ludhiana could also consider bowling first, particularly because Arshdeep Singh can attack Bathinda’s aggressive opening pair. A target of 170–180 would give their batting unit a defined chase.
Toss Prediction
Predicted toss winner: Bathinda Royals.
The actual toss is inherently random, so this is a low-confidence prediction. From a tactical perspective, both sides have reasonable reasons to prefer bowling first, especially after the high-scoring opening matches at the venue.
Score Prediction
| Batting-First Scenario | Projected Score |
|---|---|
| Bathinda Royals batting first | 175–190 |
| Ludhiana Lions batting first | 165–180 |
Bathinda Royals vs Ludhiana Lions Winning Chances
| Team | Winning Probability |
|---|---|
| Bathinda Royals | 56% |
| Ludhiana Lions | 44% |
Why the Win Percentage?
| Factor | Bathinda Royals | Ludhiana Lions | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting | Proven opening-match performance | Unproven in tournament | Bathinda |
| Bowling | Took 9 wickets against Mohali | Arshdeep-led attack | Even |
| All-round depth | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Powerplay | Aggressive Harnoor-led approach | Arshdeep new-ball threat | Even |
| Middle overs | Gourav/Ridham showed control | Several versatile options | Bathinda |
| Death overs | Good batting acceleration | Arshdeep major threat | Even |
| Recent form | Won opening match | No match played | Bathinda |
| Venue suitability | Already played and won here | First match here in tournament | Bathinda |
| Pitch suitability | Proven chase on surface | Unknown competitive sample | Bathinda |
| Squad availability | No confirmed issue | No confirmed issue | Even |
| H2H | No previous meeting | No previous meeting | Even |
| Tactical matchup | Strong recent evidence | Arshdeep creates major challenge | Even |
The first major reason behind the 56% figure is Bathinda’s successful chase against Mohali. They reached 181/3 from 17.2 overs, demonstrating both batting depth and acceleration.
The second reason is their immediate familiarity with the venue. Bathinda have already played a full T20 at the same ground, whereas Ludhiana are entering the competition for the first time.
The third reason is Gourav Choudhary’s all-round impact. His 76 not out and three wickets against Mohali gave Bathinda a player who directly influenced both innings.
However, the probability stays below 60% because Arshdeep Singh can change the game in the powerplay or death overs, and Ludhiana’s full squad contains several players capable of filling multiple roles.
Key Player Matchups
| Matchup | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Harnoor Singh vs Arshdeep Singh | Bathinda’s aggressive opener will face Ludhiana’s biggest new-ball weapon. An early wicket could immediately shift the powerplay in Ludhiana’s favour. |
| Gourav Choudhary vs Madhav Singh Pathania | Gourav’s ability to attack through the middle overs could be crucial if Ludhiana use Pathania as a change-up option. |
| Ridham Satyawan vs Ludhiana’s middle-over bowlers | Ridham showed he can bat deep while maintaining a strong scoring rate. Removing him could prevent Bathinda from reaching the 180-plus range. |
These matchups are more important than simple player reputations because each directly connects with a likely phase of the innings.
Match Prediction
Bathinda Royals are predicted to win the 4th T20 against Ludhiana Lions, with a 56% winning probability.
Bathinda have the advantage of a tournament win, a successful chase at the same venue and immediate batting confidence. Gourav Choudhary and Ridham Satyawan are coming off important performances, while their bowling unit also took nine wickets against Mohali.
Ludhiana’s strongest route to victory is through Arshdeep Singh. If he removes Bathinda’s aggressive top order early, the contest could become much closer.
Prediction: Bathinda Royals to win.
Winning probability: Bathinda Royals 56% | Ludhiana Lions 44%.
What Could Prove Us Wrong?
- Arshdeep Singh strikes early: If the Ludhiana captain removes Harnoor Singh and another top-order batter inside the first four overs, Bathinda’s successful chase against Mohali becomes much less relevant.
- Gourav Choudhary fails to repeat his all-round impact: His 76 not out and 3/32 were decisive in the opening match. A quiet performance would remove one of Bathinda’s biggest current advantages.
- Ludhiana’s batting clicks immediately: Because the Lions have not yet played, their actual batting ceiling remains uncertain. A strong opening partnership could make the 44% probability look conservative.
- Bathinda’s bowlers struggle at the death: Mohali reached 176/9, with Harpreet Brar and Sohraab Dhaliwal producing late acceleration. If Ludhiana’s finishers do something similar, Bathinda could face a target above 185.
- Rain changes the match conditions: Current forecasts allow for afternoon showers or thunderstorms. A shortened game would increase the importance of the powerplay and could reduce the relevance of normal 20-over score projections.
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