Who will end the losing streak?
With back-to-back losses to struggling clubs, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have unexpectedly found themselves in turbulent waters after blazing to four victories. Additionally, they recognise this pattern uncannily.
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are coming off three straight losses. However, LSG has struggled to get going, finishing as the second-lowest-scoring club (8.7) in this phase, in contrast to RR, whose top order has been in raiding form, as evidenced by their powerplay run rate of 12.1 (the highest of the season).
Apr 22, 2026, 4:54 PM
The Parag dilemma
Struggling as a batter yet impressive as captain. Shashank Kishore on the captain of RR, who has now amassed 61 runs in six IPL innings, with a maximum of 20.Apr 22, 2026, 6:54 PM
Lucknow is engulfed in Vaibhav frenzy
Despite the temperature being around 40 degrees Celsius, a large number of onlookers had shown up. Prince Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohsin Khan of LSG have currently marked their bowling run-ups, while Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma of RR have done the same. Although he hasn't yet marked it, Brijesh Sharma did approach his run-up.While the rest of the RR team is playing football in a circle, Sooryavanshi is sprinting a few laps around the ground. I can see Matthew Breetzke using his wicketkeeping gloves to practice behind the wicket at the side wicket from LSG. Could he take Pooran's spot in the LSG XII?Apr 22, 2026, 7:01 PM
It's time to toss!
LSG chooses to bowl against RRLSG decided to bowl against an unchanged Rajasthan Royals, who are hoping to recover from double losses, after Rishabh Pant won the toss.
LSG made two changes: Avesh Khan was replaced by express fast Mayank Yadav in his first game of the season, while legspinner Digvesh Rathi took the place of left-arm spinner M Siddharth.
Despite managing just 51 runs in six innings, LSG persisted in supporting Nicholas Pooran. Among batters who have faced at least 50 balls this season, he has the lowest strike rate.
Pant described Pooran as "a player who has shown so much potential, you want to trust him regardless."
Batting didn't bother RR skipper Riyan Parag because he was "confused."Although we batted effectively against KKR, we made a few mistakes in the middle overs. The message is that we must play quality cricket for forty overs. Hopefully, we'll accomplish it.
Rajasthan Royals bat-first XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre Burger
Lucknow Super Giants bowl-first XI: Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (capt,wk), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mayank Yadav
Apr 22, 2026, 7:41 PM
A fresh record
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the fastest player in the IPL, taking 227 balls to get 500 runs. Glenn Maxwell set the previous record with a score of 260 balls.
With two boundaries off his first two deliveries off Prince Yadav in the second over, he is off the mark as usual.
Apr 22, 2026, 7:44 PM
Jaiswal rises into Shami, who returns with a swift bumper so that he can glove an attempted hook to a jumping Pant. But Jurel is the only one who gets to see the blockbuster. A little movement away from the seam, test-match length, a nibble, and Pant takes care of the rest. In three overs, RR 32/2.
Apr 22, 2026, 7:51 PM
Then came the tiny variations: deliveries that straightened, others that brushed the top and raced away late; hard lengths held him back, denying him room. Additionally, he was forced onto his back foot by an uncomfortable and probing lift.
Five dots in a row built the pressure to a breaking point. In an attempt to find a way out, Sooryavanshi hoicks over the line and ultimately slices it to cover. Digvesh Rathi made an incredible catch while running back.
In four overs, RR 32/3
Apr 22, 2026, 8:07 PM
Apr 22, 2026, 8:23 PM
Parag would have intended to profit from a lifeline on 8. However, it is not going to happen. He can only helicopter as far as long-on when Prince Yadav sends him back with a length ball into the pitch. Another average knock, Parag gone for twenty. In nine overs, RR 62/4.
Apr 22, 2026, 8:39 PM
Apr 22, 2026, 9:11 PM
With two boundaries off his first two deliveries off Prince Yadav in the second over, he is off the mark as usual.
Apr 22, 2026, 7:44 PM
Shami's return
0 4 4 4 W WJaiswal rises into Shami, who returns with a swift bumper so that he can glove an attempted hook to a jumping Pant. But Jurel is the only one who gets to see the blockbuster. A little movement away from the seam, test-match length, a nibble, and Pant takes care of the rest. In three overs, RR 32/2.
Apr 22, 2026, 7:51 PM
Mohsin delivers a powerful bowl
A maiden over, but the wonder kid's wicket is the cherry on top.Then came the tiny variations: deliveries that straightened, others that brushed the top and raced away late; hard lengths held him back, denying him room. Additionally, he was forced onto his back foot by an uncomfortable and probing lift.
Five dots in a row built the pressure to a breaking point. In an attempt to find a way out, Sooryavanshi hoicks over the line and ultimately slices it to cover. Digvesh Rathi made an incredible catch while running back.
In four overs, RR 32/3
Apr 22, 2026, 8:07 PM
Hi there, Mayank Yadav
141, 143, 147, 136, 145, Slower ball, 137 (kph). The remainder of the over is excellent, with the exception of the final ball, which is dismissively flicked for six. RR 54/3 in seven overs, ultimately reaching 10.Apr 22, 2026, 8:23 PM
The influence of Prince Yadav
Prince Yadav made a stunning save at the third man boundary to an uppercut from Riyan Parag in the sixth over. He caught the ball, but his leap was controlled enough to return it to the playing field.Parag would have intended to profit from a lifeline on 8. However, it is not going to happen. He can only helicopter as far as long-on when Prince Yadav sends him back with a length ball into the pitch. Another average knock, Parag gone for twenty. In nine overs, RR 62/4.
Apr 22, 2026, 8:39 PM
The descent keeps going
Shimron Hetmyer was starting to perform at his best. Mayank's 149kph thunderbolt was some kind of benchmark, a whip over deep square for six. He gets a leading edge to mid-off, but a slower ball undermines him. Once more, it's Prince Yadav with the catch, and he's everywhere. In the thirteenth, a chance off Donovan Fereira is dismissed at fine leg by RR 88/5.Apr 22, 2026, 9:11 PM
RR's battle for momentum
3 The Royals have hit 12–18 boundaries in between overs. They also had to call in Shubham Dubey as an Impact Sub for Jaiswal after losing Donovan Ferreira in the 16th. In their justification, this implies that they will be a bowler light.Apr 22, 2026, 9:18 PM
RR's strong finish
0 4 1 2 1lb 4 4 2 4 2 2 6In a 20th over that costs 20, Jadeja smashes Mayank for two fours and a six. RR finishes with 159. Jadeja 43*, a helpful hand from Dubey (19* off 11). At the 15-over threshold, it's significantly more than RR appeared to be. Play the game.
Apr 22, 2026, 9:54 PM
LSG in collapse mode
The Rajasthan Royals scored early despite Jofra Archer's lack of first-ball drama thanks to a superb fielding move that stopped Ayush Badoni short of his ground.However, Archer didn't have to wait long to establish himself. He dialled it up with a brutal bumper in his subsequent over, forcing Aiden Markram to pull at the worst moment. It only discovered a top edge that looped securely inside Jurel's gloves.
Nandre Burger entered the fray in between. In an attempt to free himself, Rishabh Pant was only able to toe-end a furious slog to Jurel. LSG is 12/3, and Mitchell Marsh and an out-of-form Nicholas Pooran are now responsible for rebuilding.
Apr 22, 2026, 10:05 PM
The fire of the archer
0 0 0 0 0 0As he battles furious bouncers, one of whom reached a speed of 151 kph, Pooran is constantly on the go. The archer is in ferocious form. In five overs, LSG scored 22/3.
Apr 22, 2026, 10:15 PM
Nicky P exhibits symptoms
He started off with a beautiful flick off his opening ball. Then Brijesh Sharma produced a beautiful cover drive back-to-back, followed by a draw behind square off a short ball. He now has an LSH 40/3 in 7 overs with a run-a-ball of 14.Apr 22, 2026, 10:28 PM
Apr 22, 2026, 10:53 PM
In the meantime, Mitch Marsh had reached his half-century by flat-batting a short ball from Burger over long-off. However, two balls later, he is caught sprinting back from cover for a slower ball.
With LSG 105/6 in the 16th, the Royals have this under control.
Apr 22, 2026, 11:09 PM
Apr 22, 2026, 11:17 PM
Ravindra Jadeja, who top scored with an undefeated 43 off 29, was responsible for the Royals' batting boost. RR's total increased to 159 thanks to his undefeated 49-run partnership with impact substitute Shubham Dubey, whose arrival in the 16th over left them without an additional bowler. For LSG, this turned out to be forty too many.
False dawn
Pooran misses a heave that goes straight down Long-on's throat, while Jadeja defies match-ups by bowling one across him. LSG 54/4 on the tenth. Pooran's highest score of the event, 22 off 25, has been reached.Apr 22, 2026, 10:53 PM
Time for Mukul Choudhary
Playing in his second game, Himmat Singh, an Impact Sub for LSG, was feeling the pressure. He was able to clear the ropes once, but ultimately succumbs to the burden of the asking rate. Rathi watches as Ravi Bishnoi, who sends him back, looks at the LSG that has been dug out and writes a fictitious check.In the meantime, Mitch Marsh had reached his half-century by flat-batting a short ball from Burger over long-off. However, two balls later, he is caught sprinting back from cover for a slower ball.
With LSG 105/6 in the 16th, the Royals have this under control.
Apr 22, 2026, 11:09 PM
Brijesh returns the favour
Despite a lacklustre performance in the previous game, they maintained him in the lineup ahead of Sandeep Sharma, and he reacted by taking the huge wicket of Mukul Choudhary with a hard-length effort ball he skews to Parag at cover. Then he uses a full, quick late-tailing yorker to flatten Shami's leg-stump.Apr 22, 2026, 11:17 PM
LSG continues to decline as RR ends a two-match run
Particularly with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi there, it wasn't a high-scoring, action-packed show that people came to see. However, this did not lessen the contest's appeal. The Lucknow Super Giants suffered their fourth consecutive loss of the season and their third in three home games as the Rajasthan Royals protected 159 points.Ravindra Jadeja, who top scored with an undefeated 43 off 29, was responsible for the Royals' batting boost. RR's total increased to 159 thanks to his undefeated 49-run partnership with impact substitute Shubham Dubey, whose arrival in the 16th over left them without an additional bowler. For LSG, this turned out to be forty too many.
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