LSG Host RR in Must-Win Clash
Rajasthan Royals chased 196 here two years back with Sanju Samson’s 71* anchoring a chase that crushed LSG hearts. Now, with Rishabh Pant’s side desperate after four losses in six, they eye payback on this tricky Ekana deck where their spinners could finally click.
Match Info At A Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament | IPL 2026 |
| Match | 32nd |
| Teams | Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals |
| Date | 22/04/2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Toss Advantage | Bat first |
| Weather | Clear, 20°C |
Head to Head Record
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 6 |
| Lucknow Super Giants Wins | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals Wins | 4 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Last 5 Meetings | L W L W L (LSG perspective) |
| Last Match | LSG won by 2 runs (Jaipur, Apr 2025) |
RR hold the whip hand at 66% win rate, thriving in close chases—three of six decided by 3-20 runs. LSG stole the latest thriller, but Royals own Ekana’s lone clash.
Pitch Report & Conditions
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced (bowler-friendly) |
| Avg 1st Innings Score | 155-165 |
| Dew Factor | Moderate |
| Best Strategy | Bat first |
| LSG record here | 6-4 (11 IPL games) |
| RR record here | 1-0 |
This black-soil surface grips for spinners post-Powerplay, curbing free scoring—par stays under 165 despite one 235 outlier. Teams batting first win 60% at Ekana; pacers snag early swing, but dew nudges chases later. LSG’s home edge (55% wins) faces RR’s perfect Ekana record, where they gunned 199 chasing. Bowlers dictating middle overs will own this.
Team 1 Preview — Lucknow Super Giants
Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Marsh | Opener/All-rounder |
| 2 | Ayush Badoni | Opener |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant (c/wk) | Middle-order |
| 4 | Aiden Markram | Middle-order |
| 5 | Nicholas Pooran | Middle-order |
| 6 | Mukul Choudhary | All-rounder |
| 7 | Mohammed Shami | Pacer |
| 8 | Avesh Khan | Pacer |
| 9 | Prince Yadav | Pacer |
| 10 | M Siddharth | Spinner |
| 11 | Mohsin Khan | Pacer |
Strengths
Pant leads a pace battery with Shami’s experience (early wickets gold) and Avesh-Mohsin death precision; they’ve restricted foes under 160 thrice at home. Markram-Pooran add overseas stability, with Badoni’s Ekana nous (200+ runs here).
Weakness/Concern
Middle order folds under spin—Pooran averages 10.25 this IPL, striking 122 max; four losses expose batting fragility away, now home pressure mounts. Injury-prone quicks like Mayank sidelined risk overload.
Key Player To Watch
Mukul Choudhary. The rookie’s last-ball 54* vs KKR lifted LSG to 5th temporarily; at home, his all-round bite (pace + lower-order cameos) exploits RR’s recent top-order wobbles post their 4-0 start.
Team 2 Preview — Rajasthan Royals
Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Opener |
| 2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Opener |
| 3 | Dhruv Jurel (wk) | Middle-order |
| 4 | Riyan Parag (c) | Middle-order/All-rounder |
| 5 | Shimron Hetmyer | Finisher |
| 6 | Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder |
| 7 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| 8 | Jofra Archer | Pacer |
| 9 | Nandre Burger | Pacer |
| 10 | Brijesh Sharma | Spinner |
| 11 | Ravi Bishnoi | Spinner |
Strengths
Top order fires: Suryavanshi’s 246 runs lead IPL powerplays; Jaiswal-Jurel back it, fueling 4 early wins. Jadeja-Bishnoi spin duo perfect for Ekana grip, Archer’s pace adds X-factor.
Weakness/Concern
Back-to-back losses (KKR last) after 4-0 start reveal chase jitters; Curran out injured weakens all-round depth, middle reliant on Parag amid dew risks.
Key Player To Watch
Vaibhav Suryavanshi. IPL’s powerplay king with 246 runs, his aggression shreds LSG pacers (economy 9+ middle overs); Ekana’s slow start suits his sweep-heavy game.
Key Battles To Watch
Marsh vs Archer: Aussie opener’s 140+ strike vs Archer’s pace (12 wickets, econ 7.8) sets Powerplay tone—Archer dismissed him twice historically.
Pant vs Bishnoi: LSG skipper’s 150 SR vs leg-spin crumbles here (dismissed thrice); Bishnoi’s Ekana economy 6.2 could trap Pant lbw early.
Pooran vs Jadeja: Pooran’s meager 41 runs this season meets Jadeja’s arm-ball mastery (15 wickets middle overs); this mismatch decides LSG acceleration.
Our Match Prediction
LSG pip RR by 8-12 runs defending 162. Home spinners (Siddharth-Khan) exploit Ekana grip—RR middle order averaged 18 post-Powerplay in losses. Pant’s venue savvy (6 wins) trumps Royals’ slide; dew minimal favors first bat. Shami-Avesh snag 5-6 top-order scalps.
The Bottom Line
Ekana’s spin trap hands desperate LSG the edge—RR’s flyer stalls here.
Q: Who will win Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 Match 32?
A: Rajasthan Royals by 8-12 runs—top order firepower trumps LSG middles on chase-friendly Ekana.
Q: What is the head to head record between Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals?
A: 6 matches, RR 4 wins, LSG 2 wins, no results.
Q: What time does Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals start today?
A: 7:30 PM IST on April 22, 2026.
Q: What is the pitch report for Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium today?
A: Balanced, bowling-friendly black soil, avg 1st inns 160-170. Dew favors chasing (14/24 wins).
Q: Who are the key players to watch in Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals?
A: Mohammed Shami (LSG pacer, powerplay king); Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR opener, IPL top PP batter); Rishabh Pant (LSG capt, home ton man).
References
Cricbuzz — Match Facts — https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-match-facts/151867/lsg-vs-rr-32nd-match-indian-premier-league-2026
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