Rajasthan Royals (RR) are under the pump. Just two wins from seven games and now, their skipper Sanju Samson has been ruled out after picking up a side strain in the last match. That leaves Riyan Parag leading a struggling outfit against a Lucknow team that’s played bold, brave cricket. LSG too are coming off a loss to CSK, but with Rishabh Pant rediscovering form and Pooran firing, they’re better placed. The Royals were gut-punched by a Super Over defeat two nights ago. Now, with the playoffs slowly slipping away, they must regroup fast — because Lucknow won’t make it easy.
Match Details: RR vs LSG
- Fixture: Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants, Match 36
- Date: April 19, 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Pitch Report: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Good batting deck, gets better under lights |
| Average 1st Innings | 182 (2023 season) |
| Ground Dimensions | 62m & 69m square, 74m straight |
| Toss Impact | Chasing preferred – batting eases up |
| Weather | Hot (39°C), no rain expected |
Expect the surface to play truer in the second half. Slower balls and wrist spin still hold value on this slightly two-paced surface, especially early on.
Probable Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals
Injury update: Sanju Samson ruled out
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal
Lucknow Super Giants
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), David Miller, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi/Prince Yadav
RR vs LSG Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Tips
Wicket Keepers
- Nicholas Pooran (C/VC) – 357 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 208. Has been destructive, and the Royals bowling lacks discipline.
- Rishabh Pant – Found rhythm with a 63 against CSK. Averages 50 vs RR at SR of 160+.
- (Sanju Samson) – Injured and unavailable for this match.
Batters
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (C/VC) – Two fifties in last two games, Royals’ best batter this season.
- Aiden Markram – Good against pace, handy part-time off-spin vs RR’s left-handers.
- Nitish Rana – In good touch, 182 SR, could be vital in the middle overs.
All-Rounders
- Mitchell Marsh (C/VC) – Scores of 72, 52, 60, 81, 30 this season. Bowls, bats high up, and is in golden form.
- Riyan Parag – Now captain, solid numbers at Jaipur (avg 39.87, SR 150+).
- Wanindu Hasaranga – Key matchup vs Markram and Pooran. Could be a game-breaker.
Bowlers
- Jofra Archer – 5 wickets in PowerPlay, dominates Pooran (3 dismissals in 36 balls) and Miller (2 in 4 innings).
- Digvesh Singh Rathi – 9 wickets in 7 games, economy under 7.5, loves bowling to lefties.
- Ravi Bishnoi (if plays) – Has the wood over Hetmyer: 3 dismissals, 63% dots, avg 8.
Key Matchups to Watch
| Matchup | Stats |
|---|---|
| Pooran vs Archer | 39 runs off 36 balls, 3 dismissals |
| Hetmyer vs Bishnoi | 24 runs off 37 balls, 3 dismissals, SR 64.86 |
| Markram vs Hasaranga | 17 runs off 24 balls, 2 dismissals, SR 70.8 |
| Parag vs Pace | 4 dismissals in 6 innings vs pacers (2025) |
Captaincy Options
- Mitchell Marsh – Form + dual role
- Nicholas Pooran – If Royals miss lengths, he’ll punish
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Back in touch, opens the innings
Fantasy Tips
- Pick at least 5 top-order batters from both sides; this is a venue that suits batters once set.
- Keep Hasaranga and Archer for match-ups.
- Avoid picking both Hetmyer and Bishnoi together – one will cancel the other out.
