Match 36 of the 2025 IPL season will see Rajasthan Royals (RR) face off against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This will be the eighth match for both teams in IPL 2025.
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Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Preview
It would be an understatement to say things haven’t gone according to plan for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. Aside from Yashasvi Jaiswal, their top order has faltered, their bowlers have struggled consistently, and they find themselves in the lower half of the points table. To make matters worse, they are now concerned about the fitness of captain Sanju Samson ahead of their clash with a rejuvenated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Samson was forced to retire hurt during RR’s last game against Delhi Capitals (DC) after injuring his side. At the pre-match press conference, Rahul Dravid confirmed that Samson had “experienced a bit of pain in the abdominal area” and mentioned that scans had been conducted. The decision on his availability will depend on the results of those scans.
Should Samson fail to recover in time, Riyan Parag is likely to step in as captain. Parag had led RR in the first three matches of the season while Samson was recovering from a finger injury. However, during that period, Samson played as an Impact Player and did not keep wickets.
If Samson is unavailable, the question arises: who will replace him? Shubham Dubey, who has featured as an Impact Player for RR, could step in, though he isn’t a top-order batter. Another option is Kunal Singh Rathore, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter. Alternatively, Parag, Nitish Rana, or even Dhruv Jurel could open the batting with Dubey shifting to the middle order.
RR does have a ready-made opener in Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but at just 14 years old, the decision to risk such a young player in a crucial game could be a tough one. With only two wins from seven matches so far, a loss in this game could severely derail their season, leaving them with a lot of ground to make up for a playoff spot. Would RR take the gamble on a teenager in such a high-stakes situation?
It has been a season of more lows than highs for Rajasthan Royals, who have accumulated only four points from their seven games so far. Coming off a Super Over loss to Delhi Capitals, which arguably should never have reached that point, their fortunes haven’t improved, and an uphill task awaits them for the remainder of the season.
Frequent changes in the batting order and poor death bowling have defined RR’s season up to this point. Riyan Parag, who had an impressive 573-run season last year, has been a shadow of his former self. However, the one bright spot for them has been Yashasvi Jaiswal, who seems to be regaining his form with two successive fifties in his last two games.
Unfortunately, RR’s bowling hasn’t been much better either. Aside from Jofra Archer, who has claimed five wickets in the PowerPlay, the rest of their bowlers have struggled in this phase, picking up only two wickets combined. Their bowlers have also conceded the most extras (83 runs) among all teams. Against the Capitals, RR’s bowlers were on target until the 15th over, but their death bowling once again let them down. This season, they’ve conceded at an alarming rate of 12.3 runs per over in the death overs, a problem they’ll need to address, especially on a larger ground in Jaipur.
Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, have been a pleasant surprise this season. Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran have arguably been the standout batters of the tournament, while Rishabh Pant’s timely half-century against CSK adds another positive note for the franchise. While LSG’s pacers have been slightly off the mark, their spinners, particularly Digvesh Singh Rathi, who has taken nine wickets so far, will provide confidence going forward.
With the tournament nearing its halfway point, both teams will be looking to secure the two points, as the race for the playoffs starts to take shape.
LSG, who began the season without key players like Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav, and Avesh Khan, have performed admirably. After seven games, they’ve secured four wins and three losses, and a victory in this match will take them to ten points. With Mayank back in the squad, their bowling unit is now nearly at full strength.
While things didn’t look promising at the start of the season, LSG now find themselves in a strong position to make a playoff push. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh have accumulated a combined total of 652 runs, while the middle order has proven to be reliable. Spinners Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi have also been a formidable presence so far.
Coming off a loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home, LSG will be eager to bounce back and capitalize on the opportunity against a struggling RR side.
Yudhvir Singh, who was part of LSG in IPL 2024, is now with RR. Meanwhile, Avesh Khan, the leader of LSG’s fast bowling attack this season, was with RR last year.
In 12 T20 innings in 2025, Sanju Samson has struggled, averaging only 25.00, with just one fifty to his name.
On the other hand, Nicholas Pooran has set a remarkable record with a strike rate of 272 against spin, the highest by any batter in IPL history for those who have faced more than 50 balls of spin.
Nicholas Pooran is just one run away from reaching 9000 T20 runs, but he has struggled against Jofra Archer, having been dismissed by him three times in seven T20 innings. Pooran averages just 13 with a strike rate of 108 against the fast bowler.
Nitish Rana, on the other hand, has been dismissed by Avesh Khan twice in five IPL innings.
LSG’s Ravi Bishnoi has had the upper hand over Shimron Hetmyer in T20s, dismissing him three times in six innings. Hetmyer has a low average of 8.00 and a strike rate of 65 against the legspinner.
As for RR, they boast the third-best run rate in the powerplay (9.69) but struggle in the middle overs, with the third-worst run rate (7.39) in IPL 2025.
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Recent Form
Rajasthan Royals LLLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants LWWWL
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Head-to-Head
RR leads 4-1 against LSG, with the latter’s only win over the Royals coming at the same venue in 2023.
- Matches Played: 5
- Won by Rajasthan Royals: 4
- Won by Lucknow Super Giants: 1
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: April 10, 2022
- Most-recent Fixture: April 27, 2024
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
So far this season, there has been one match played in Jaipur—a day game—where the home side was defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by nine wickets. The pitch appeared slightly two-paced at the start but became easier to play on as the evening went on. Historically, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium isn’t known for producing high scores. Since IPL 2023, the average first innings total here has been 179 for 5. While there is an excessive heat warning in Jaipur, temperatures are expected to drop by the time the match begins, though dew could come into play later in the evening.
It’s forecasted to be another hot day with temperatures reaching up to 39°C, with no rain expected. In the first game at this venue, the pitch was slightly slower during the first innings of the day game, so it’s likely that the team winning the toss will opt to field first.
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Team News and Predicted XI
Rajasthan Royals – Team News
RR may consider replacing Tushar Deshpande with either Akash Madhwal or Yudhvir, as Deshpande has failed to inspire confidence this season. If Sanju Samson is unable to play due to his injury, Dhruv Jurel is expected to take over the wicketkeeping duties. Kumar Kartikeya is likely to be named as the impact sub. Samson injured his side while attempting a cut shot in the Royals’ previous match against Delhi Capitals on April 16, forcing him to retire hurt. In a post-match interview, he mentioned feeling okay, but the full extent of the injury is still unknown.
One of the major questions this season has been how to stop Nicholas Pooran, and Rajasthan Royals may have a solution. Jofra Archer has had success against Pooran in T20s, dismissing him three times in 36 balls for just 39 runs. If this matchup comes to pass, it could prove to be an exciting contest.
Rajasthan Royals – Predicted XI
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sanju Samson (capt, wk)/Vaibhav Suryavanshi/Shubham Dubey
- Nitish Rana
- Riyan Parag
- Dhruv Jurel
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Sandeep Sharma
- Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal
- Kumar Kartikeya
Lucknow Super Giants – Team News
Following their loss to CSK, LSG are expected to make minimal changes to their starting XI. Mayank is set to make his IPL 2025 debut, likely replacing Akash Deep, who has struggled since returning from a back injury. Marsh has consistently been LSG’s Impact Player, with Bishnoi coming in as his replacement, and that rotation is expected to continue. Mayank Yadav, the fast-bowling prodigy, has joined the Super Giants squad, but it remains to be seen whether he will be cleared to play against the Royals.
Riyan Parag has been dismissed by pace in four out of six innings this season, a stat that Lucknow will likely keep an eye on when he steps up to bat. While his strike rate against pace has improved since last season, this trend could still pose a challenge for Parag.
Lucknow Super Giants – Predicted XI
- Aiden Markram
- Mitchell Marsh
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (capt, wk)
- Ayush Badoni
- David Miller
- Abdul Samad
- Shardul Thakur
- Avesh Khan
- Mayank Yadav
- Digvesh Rathi
- Ravi Bishnoi
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Players To Watch Out For
Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s form has always been pivotal to RR’s success, but with the top order failing, his performance has become even more vital. After a slow start to the season with scores of 1, 29, and 4, Jaiswal has found his rhythm, scoring three fifties in his last four innings.
His most recent outing in Jaipur saw him score 75 on a challenging surface. Jaiswal has a strong record at this venue, with two fifties and a hundred in 11 IPL innings. As RR finds themselves in a tough spot at the halfway point, Jaiswal will be eager to step up and lead from the front.
Mayank Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants)
Mayank Yadav had a breakout IPL 2024, where he reached a speed of 156.7 kph and consistently clocked over 150 kph. In just four matches, he won back-to-back Player of the Match awards in his first two games and claimed seven wickets. His pace left a lasting impression, earning him a debut for India against Bangladesh in October.
Since then, injuries—a back issue followed by a toe injury—have sidelined him. However, he’s now back and is expected to play a key role in LSG’s playoff push. Having joined the team on Tuesday, his express pace brings a new dimension to an already impressive bowling attack.
Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Rajasthan Royals win the toss and opt to bowl
- Powerplay Score: 50-60
- Lucknow Super Giants Total: 190-210
- Match Result: Rajasthan Royals win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and bat
- Powerplay Score: 45-55
- Rajasthan Royals Total: 185-205
- Match Result: Lucknow Super Giants win the match
When and Where To Watch Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday, April 19, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
Read More: IPL 2025: GT vs DC – Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE
FAQs
What is the current form of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025?
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have struggled in IPL 2025, with only two wins from seven matches so far. Their top order has faltered, and they are facing issues with their bowlers, especially in death overs.
How has Yashasvi Jaiswal performed in IPL 2025?
Yashasvi Jaiswal had a slow start to the season but has regained form, scoring three fifties in his last four innings. His performances are crucial for RR, especially with the top order struggling.
What changes might LSG make in their playing XI for their next match?
LSG are likely to make minimal changes, with Mayank Yadav expected to make his IPL 2025 debut in place of Akash Deep. Marsh and Bishnoi will likely continue to alternate as the Impact Player.
How has Mayank Yadav’s pace bowling impacted LSG’s attack?
Mayank Yadav’s express pace, which reached 156.7 kph in IPL 2024, has made a significant impact for LSG. After recovering from injuries, he is expected to play a key role in their push for the playoffs.
What is Nicholas Pooran’s record against spin in IPL?
Nicholas Pooran has set a remarkable record with a strike rate of 272 against spin, the highest for any batter in IPL history who has faced more than 50 balls of spin.
