RR vs LSG Preview: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season approaches its halfway mark, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to clash in a high-stakes encounter at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday. With contrasting fortunes this season, both teams will aim to address critical gaps in their campaigns. Here’s a comprehensive preview of what promises to be a gripping contest.
Team Overviews: Struggles and Resurgence
Rajasthan Royals: A Season of Disarray
RR, finalists in 2022, have faltered in IPL 2025, languishing in the bottom half of the table with just two wins in seven matches. Their batting lineup, barring Yashasvi Jaiswal’s resurgence, has underperformed, while their bowlers have struggled to contain runs, particularly in the death overs. To compound their woes, skipper Sanju Samson is a doubtful starter after retiring hurt with abdominal pain in their previous match against Delhi Capitals. Scans are awaited, and if unfit, Riyan Parag, who led the side earlier this season, may step in as captain.
The Royals’ middle-order fragility has been glaring. Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel have failed to close games, and the absence of a reliable finisher has cost them crucial points. Bowling-wise, Jofra Archer remains their lone consistent threat, while Sandeep Sharma and Tushar Deshpande have leaked runs. Coach Rahul Dravid admitted, “Our death bowling has been a concern. We’re conceding 15-20 extra runs regularly” .
Lucknow Super Giants: Playoffs in Sight
LSG, meanwhile, sit comfortably in the top half with four wins but are coming off a narrow loss to Chennai Super Kings. Under new captain Rishabh Pant, their batting has revolved around Nicholas Pooran (357 runs) and Mitchell Marsh, who have combined for 652 runs this season . The return of pace sensation Mayank Yadav adds firepower to their attack. After recovering from back and toe injuries, Mayank’s express speed (he clocked 156.7 kph in 2024) could unsettle RR’s shaky top order.
LSG’s spin duo of Digvesh Rathi (9 wickets) and Ravi Bishnoi has been instrumental, while Shardul Thakur leads the pace unit with 11 scalps. However, their powerplay bowling remains a work in progress, as skipper Pant noted earlier: “No team has cracked the powerplay yet, but we’re addressing our mistakes” .
Key Player Battles to Watch
- Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Avesh Khan
Jaiswal, RR’s lone bright spot, has smashed three fifties in his last four innings, including a fluent 75 in Jaipur. His aggressive starts (SR 148.98) will be challenged by Avesh Khan, who has dismissed him twice in previous meetings and boasts an economy of 6.92 against RR. - Nicholas Pooran vs Jofra Archer
Pooran, LSG’s leading run-scorer, has a point to prove against Archer. The English speedster has dismissed him thrice in T20s, but Pooran’s strike rate of 230.61 in Hyderabad this season suggests he’s in destructive form. - Riyan Parag vs Digvesh Rathi
Parag, likely to captain RR if Samson sits out, has struggled in 2025 (avg. 28.83) after a stellar 2024. LSG’s rookie spinner Rathi, with nine wickets at 7.42 economy, will target his middle-order vulnerabilities.
Head-to-Head and Venue Dynamics
RR dominate the rivalry, winning four of five encounters, including a 20-run victory in 2024 where Samson’s unbeaten 82 anchored their total. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, however, hasn’t been kind to RR this year, they lost their only home game here by nine wickets to RCB. Historically, the pitch offers a balanced contest, with an average first-innings score of 179. Spinners claim 33.57% of wickets, but dew in the second innings could favor chasing teams.
Probable XIs and Impact Subs
Rajasthan Royals:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sanju Samson (c & wk)/Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- Nitish Rana
- Riyan Parag
- Dhruv Jurel
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Sandeep Sharma
- Akash Madhwal
Impact Sub: Kumar Kartikeya.
Lucknow Super Giants:
- Aiden Markram
- Mitchell Marsh
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (c & wk)
- Ayush Badoni
- David Miller
- Abdul Samad
- Shardul Thakur
- Avesh Khan
- Mayank Yadav
- Digvesh Rathi
Impact Sub: Manimaran Siddharth.
Match Logistics
- Toss Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Match Start: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Streaming: JioHotstar (Digital), Star Sports Network (TV).
Final Word
For RR, this is a must-win game to revive their playoff hopes. Jaiswal’s form and Archer’s pace are critical, but Samson’s fitness looms large. LSG, bolstered by Mayank’s return, will rely on Pooran’s explosiveness and Pant’s leadership. With both teams hungry for redemption, expect a tactical duel under Jaipur’s lights. As Dravid succinctly put it: “It’s about executing skills under pressure” .
Also Read:
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- KKR vs PBKS Playing XI, Toss Update and Match Preview
- KKR vs PBKS Preview: Redemption and Rivalry Collide at Eden Gardens
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