Lucknow Super Giants face Rajasthan Royals in Match 32 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at Lucknow, with both teams looking to bounce back after recent setbacks. LSG will aim to break their losing streak at home, while RR seek to regain early-season momentum.
Match details
Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST | 7:00 PM PKT | 2:30 PM GMT
Team overviews
Lucknow Super Giants are going through a difficult phase, having lost three consecutive matches. Their struggles have been further compounded by poor home form, with defeats in both games played at this venue. Led by Rishabh Pant, LSG will be desperate to turn things around and secure a much-needed win in front of their home crowd.
Rajasthan Royals have also faced a dip in form after a strong start to the season. They have lost their last two away matches, including a recent defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders. Under the leadership of Riyan Parag, RR will be keen to bounce back and strengthen their position on the points table.
Key players
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been a standout performer for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 246 runs in six innings at a remarkable strike rate. His aggressive approach at the top can give RR a flying start.
Prince Yadav has impressed with the ball for Lucknow Super Giants, picking up 11 wickets in six matches. His pace and ability to extract bounce make him a key weapon, especially on slower surfaces.
Head-to-head record
Matches played: 6
Lucknow Super Giants wins: 2
Rajasthan Royals wins: 4
Rajasthan Royals hold the advantage in head-to-head encounters.
Pitch report
The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is known for its slow surface, offering assistance to both spinners and seamers who hit the deck hard. Batting can be challenging initially, with players needing time to settle. Historically, chasing teams have enjoyed more success at this venue.
Probable playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants (Captain: Rishabh Pant)
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Matthew Breetzke, Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Mohsin Khan
Impact Player: Himmat Singh
Rajasthan Royals (Captain: Riyan Parag)
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma
Impact Player: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Probable match scenarios
If Lucknow Super Giants bat first, they are likely to target a total between 165 and 175, considering the slow nature of the pitch. Their bowlers will need to maintain discipline to defend the score.
If Rajasthan Royals bat first, they could aim for 175 to 185, relying on their aggressive top order to capitalize early. Their bowling unit will look to exploit the pitch conditions.
The chasing team may have a slight advantage, given past trends at this venue.
Live streaming and broadcast
India: JioStar Network channels, JioHotstar app and website
Pakistan: Tapmad TV, local sports broadcasters
United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Go app
Australia: Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
Global: Official IPL broadcast partners
Match prediction
Both teams are evenly matched and looking to bounce back, making this a closely contested encounter. Rajasthan Royals have a slight edge due to their stronger head-to-head record and balanced lineup. However, if Lucknow Super Giants can capitalize on home conditions, they could turn things around. Overall, expect a tight contest with the chasing side likely to come out on top.
