Rajasthan Royals (RR) bundled out Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for 119 in 160-run chase to notch a stunning 40-run win in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Ekana stadium on April 22. This was LSG's fifth win in the ongoing season, which propelled them to the second spot in IPL 2026 points table.
RR bulldoze LSG
RR rode on Ravindra Jadeja's sedate 29-ball 43 to post 159/6. In reply, Jofra Archer broke LSG's back with his fiery three-fer which saw the hosts getting bundled out for mere 119.
RR’s bowling attack was clinical in this encounter, with speedsters Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, and Brijesh Sharma combining to scalp eight wickets. Jofra Archer was the standout performer, claiming three wickets to become the franchise's all-time leading wicket-taker with 68 scalps, surpassing Shane Watson’s previous record of 67.
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LSG's shoddy chase
Facing a target of 160, LSG struggled to find rhythm. While Mitchell Marsh fought as a lone warrior, scoring a gritty half-century, the rest of the batting lineup faltered under intense pressure. The chase began on a shaky note when Ayush Badoni was dismissed via an unfortunate run-out. Nandre Burger piled on the misery by removing Rishabh Pant for a duck, and Archer compounded the trouble by dismissing Aiden Markram for a six-ball duck, leaving the LSG top order in tatters.
Jofra Archer rips apart LSG's batting line-up
Marsh and Nicholas Pooran briefly steadied the ship, constructing a 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, Pooran eventually fell to Ravindra Jadeja for 22, and the arrival of impact substitute Himmat Singh failed to spark a revival, with Himmat departing for 15 off the bowling of Ravi Bishnoi in the 15th over.
As the innings reached its climax, Marsh reached his well-deserved fifty before Nandre Burger struck back to remove him for 55. The final collapse was swift, as Brijesh Sharma accounted for both Mukul Choudhary and Mohammed Shami in a single over. Archer returned to seal the deal, dismissing Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan to secure a comprehensive 40-run victory for the Royals. With this win, Rajasthan climbs to the second spot on the IPL points table with 10 points from seven fixtures, while Lucknow Super Giants remain in ninth place, still searching for crucial points.
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Ravindra Jadeja's calculated knock in RR's win
Earlier, a clinical bowling display from LSG’ pace attack, led by Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, and Mohsin Khan, effectively stifled the Rajasthan Royals, limiting them to 159/6 in their allotted 20 overs. While the Royals struggled against the precision of the LSG bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja anchored the innings with a crucial 43 off 29 balls, providing a late flourish to give his side a competitive total. LSG’s dominance was characterized by their ability to strike at key intervals, with Shami, Prince Yadav, and Mohsin Khan all claiming two wickets each, while Mayank Yadav and Digvesh Rathi provided tight support despite going wicketless.
The Royals began the innings with aggressive intent as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi raced to 20 runs in just two overs. However, the momentum shifted abruptly when Mohammed Shami turned the tide with a spectacular double strike; he removed Jaiswal for 22, followed immediately by the dismissal of Dhruv Jurel for a golden duck. Mohsin Khan further tightened the screws, building immense pressure with five consecutive dot balls before dismissing the dangerous Sooryavanshi for 8, leaving the Royals reeling early in their pursuit.
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In an effort to stabilize, skipper Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer joined forces to rebuild the innings. The pair worked to rotate the strike and find boundaries, though Parag, struggling to find consistency this season, was eventually dismissed for 20 by Prince Yadav at the end of the ninth over. Hetmyer briefly shifted gears, taking on Mayank Yadav for 14 runs, but Mohsin Khan struck again in the following over to dismiss Hetmyer for 22, leaving the Royals in a precarious position.
As the innings neared its conclusion, a 33-run partnership began to take shape between Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja. The stability was interrupted when Prince Yadav removed Ferreira for 20, bringing Impact Player Shubham Dubey to the crease. Dubey managed to break the shackles with a few boundaries, but it was Jadeja who truly capitalised in the final over. Attacking the bowling with precision, Jadeja smashed 20 runs off the last over, effectively powering RR to a fighting total of 159.