LSG Under Real Pressure: Just 4 points from 5 games (2W-3L), ranked 8th on the table with NRR of -0.427. LSG have lost their last 2 matches and face the table-topping Royals at home. Nicholas Pooran scoring at just SR 122 this season. Rishabh Pant confirmed fit. RR just lost to KKR (first loss in 6) — arriving slightly dented but still in excellent shape.
🔵
LSG
Lucknow Super Giants
WLWLL
VS
Match 327:30 PM ISTThu, 23 April 2026Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
Confidence: 60% — RR have the better batting, Bishnoi thrives on slow pitches. But Ekana's home advantage and LSG's desperate need for points makes this very competitive. The spin-heavy pitch could be the equaliser.
📋 Match Overview
Match 32 of Tata IPL 2026 is a high-pressure showdown between a desperate Lucknow Super Giants and a confident, if slightly dented, Rajasthan Royals at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. This is a ground where LSG enjoy one of their most significant home advantages in the entire IPL.
LSG enter this game in genuine crisis mode. Two losses in a row — beaten by RCB at Bengaluru and then again by PBKS at Mullanpur — have left them 8th on the table with just 4 points from 5 matches. The batting has been deeply concerning: Rishabh Pant's strike rate sits at just 122 this season, Nicholas Pooran has managed just 114 runs at poor strike rates across the middle order, and the team looks like they haven't found their best XI yet. The positive news is Rishabh Pant is confirmed fit after his elbow blow, and Mukul Choudhary has been exceptional as a finisher (127 runs, SR 149.41, including a match-winning 54* off 27 vs KKR at Eden Gardens).
Rajasthan Royals, despite their first loss of the season against KKR at Eden Gardens (a thrilling four-wicket defeat), are still in excellent shape — 3rd on the table with 8 points from 6 games. The loss to KKR was slightly unexpected: RR were bowled out for just 155/9 despite Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal's powerplay start, with Rinku Singh's 53* off 34 balls stealing the win for KKR. But RR's overall quality is not in question — Suryavanshi's 26-ball 78 vs RCB, Jaiswal's consistency, Bishnoi's 10 wickets, and Jofra Archer's skill make them the tournament's most complete side.
The crucial wildcard here is Ekana's slow, spin-friendly pitch. The surface grips from around the 8th over and average scores are just 155–165. This heavily favours LSG's spin-heavy attack at home — and could completely neutralise RR's explosive batting. A score of 165 batting first here would be a genuine fortress total. The team that adapts better to the surface wins.
📊 IPL 2026 Points Table
#
Team
P
W
L
Pts
Form
1
🔴 Punjab Kings
6
5
1
10
WWWWW
2
🟥 RCB
7
5
2
10
WLWWL
3
🔴 Rajasthan Royals
6
4
2
8
WWWWL
4
🔵 Gujarat Titans
5
3
2
6
WWWLL
5
🔥 SRH
7
3
4
6
WWWLL
6
💠 Delhi Capitals
7
3
4
6
WWLLL
8
🔵 Lucknow Super Giants
5
2
3
4
WLWLL
9
🔷 Mumbai Indians
6
1
5
2
WLLLL
10
🟣 KKR
8
1
6
2
WLLLL
⚔️ LSG vs RR — Head to Head
LSG Wins~6
RR Wins~6
~12
Total Meetings
3–2
RR last 5
2 runs
LSG win (2025 Ekana)
~165
Ekana avg score
Last 5 Meetings
RRRR wonComfortable win — form year2025
LSGLSG won2-run thriller at EkanaApr 2025
RRRR wonBy 20+ runs2024
LSGLSG wonHome advantage Ekana2024
RRRR wonStrong performance2023
🏠 Ekana Edge: LSG's most famous home result — a 2-run nail-biting win over RR in April 2025 — shows that at Ekana, even the strongest opposition can be pushed to the absolute wire. The slow pitch and packed home crowd create a genuine fortress advantage. RR lead the overall last-5 series 3–2, but LSG have beaten them here twice in recent seasons.
IPL 2026 (recent): 127 runs in 5 matches | Average: 42.33 | SR: 149.41 | Best: 54* off 27 balls vs KKR. LSG's most reliable finisher and highest-impact batter — the only LSG batter scoring at above 140 SR this season. His finishing ability vs spin at Ekana is LSG's biggest batting weapon.
Lucknow Super Giants
🎳
Prince Yadav
IPL 2026: 9 wickets in 5 matches — LSG's leading wicket-taker. The young legspinner will be the key weapon at Ekana's spin-friendly surface. On this slow pitch, his variations and wrist-spin are potentially lethal against RR's aggressive top order.
Lucknow Super Giants
🎳
Mohammed Shami
IPL 2026: 4 wickets | Economy: 6.84 — LSG's best and most economical bowler. Controls both the new ball and death. Shami's discipline at LSG's home ground, where he knows the conditions best, is crucial to keeping RR's top order in check.
Confirmed fit after elbow blow. Has been inconsistent this IPL — SR just 122 — well below his usual standards. LSG desperately need a big Pant knock at home. His best IPL innings have come at Ekana before and a captain-of-the-match performance here could reset the season.
Rajasthan Royals
💣
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
52 off 17 balls vs CSK (joint-3rd fastest 50 in IPL history, SR 305). 26-ball 78 vs RCB — single-handedly winning the match. The most destructive young batter in IPL 2026. If he fires in the powerplay at Ekana, the entire team context changes dramatically.
Rajasthan Royals
🎳
Ravi Bishnoi
IPL 2026: 10 wickets — joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. The wrist-spinner thrives on slow surfaces exactly like Ekana, where the pitch assists his leg-breaks and googlies significantly. Will be RR's most dangerous bowler at this venue.
Rajasthan Royals
🎳
Jofra Archer
England's express pacer back at his best — 2/19 in the opener vs CSK. Archer's ability to swing the ball in the powerplay and mix pace at death is RR's most potent bowling weapon. His new-ball partnership with Nandre Burger has set up multiple RR wins this season.
Rajasthan Royals
🏏
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Consistency personified: 50+ in 3 of 6 games this season, leading from the top for RR. Pairs with Suryavanshi as the most feared opening pair in IPL 2026. Jaiswal's technical ability on slower pitches — unlike Suryavanshi — makes him RR's most dependable batter at Ekana.
⚡ The Critical Battles
LSG's Weapon
Prince Yadav vs Vaibhav Suryavanshi
The pivotal duel. Suryavanshi's explosive powerplay hitting vs Prince Yadav's leg-spin on a slow surface. Suryavanshi has hit joint-most sixes in IPL 2026 (18 alongside Patidar). But on a slow Ekana pitch, Prince Yadav's googly could be just what LSG need to break this dangerous partnership early.
RR's Weapon
Ravi Bishnoi vs Rishabh Pant
Bishnoi on this pitch becomes potentially unplayable. Pant has been struggling for timing (SR 122) and the wrist-spinner's variations on a gripping track could expose Pant's weakness against quality leg-spin in the middle overs — a battle that could define the entire match.
LSG's Weapon
Mohammed Shami vs Jaiswal/Suryavanshi
Shami's 6.84 economy is outstanding this season. His disciplined new-ball bowling and ability to swing in the Lucknow evening air could derail RR's powerplay plans if he nips one back early. A quick double strike in the powerplay would transform the match completely.
RR's Weapon
Ravindra Jadeja vs Nicholas Pooran
Jadeja — who took 2 wickets in a maiden over on his RR debut vs CSK — bowls left-arm spin that grips on slow surfaces. Pooran has been dreadful this season (SR 122). The left-arm angle against Pooran's right-handed aggressive game on this slow surface is a classic spinner vs power-hitter confrontation.
🌱 Pitch Report — Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
Bharat Ratna Ekana Stadium — Lucknow
SurfaceSlow & Spin-Friendly
Avg 1st innings '26155–165 runs
Par score165 — Strong total
Above 180Very rare / pressure
Spin from over8th over onwards
Batting first?Advantage here
Dew factorPossible, not decisive
Toss callUncertain (bat first?)
155–165
Avg First Innings Score
165+
Strong Total Here
180
Match Effectively Over
50,000
Stadium Capacity
🌀
The Spin Trap — This Changes Everything at Ekana
Unlike most IPL venues, Ekana provides genuine assistance to spinners from around the 8th over. The surface grips, slows the ball, and makes shot-making increasingly difficult as the match progresses. The second innings becomes significantly harder to bat in. Unlike dew-affected venues (Hyderabad, Ahmedabad), Ekana's pitch deterioration actually rewards the team batting first if they post 165+. This is one of the few IPL grounds where batting first holds a real tactical edge.
🌙 Weather — Lucknow, April 23
🌡️Temperature: 32–37°C
💧Humidity: 40–55%
🌙Conditions: Clear, Hot Evening
🌧️Rain Risk: Very Low
💨Dew: Possible, not decisive
Lucknow is hot and dry in late April. Unlike Hyderabad or Ahmedabad, Ekana does not suffer heavy dew — the pitch itself is the more dominant factor here. The toss winner's decision will be influenced more by the surface than by weather. Both teams are likely to want to bat first given the pitch's deteriorating nature.
🧠 Team Analysis
🔵 LSG — Backs Against the Wall
LSG are in crisis but their home ground Ekana is genuinely their fortress. The slow pitch suits their spin-heavy bowling attack — Prince Yadav's 9 wickets, Shami's 6.84 economy, Digvesh Rathi's options, and Mohsin Khan's pace. Mukul Choudhary's stunning 54* vs KKR shows LSG have a match-winning finisher. The batting concern is real — Pant (SR 122), Pooran's poor form — but the pressure of a must-win home game can also ignite performances.
🚨 Must Win: A third straight loss essentially ends LSG's playoff hopes. Backed into a corner — which can either produce desperation or determination.
🔴 RR — Quality Side, Slight Wobble
Despite the first loss of the season to KKR (a somewhat unlucky defeat where Rinku's 53* stole the game), RR are still the tournament's most complete unit. Suryavanshi is the most dangerous powerplay batter in cricket right now. Bishnoi's 10 wickets at the top of the Purple Cap race will be amplified further on a slow Ekana pitch. Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravindra Jadeja — this bowling attack is built for all conditions.
✅ Advantage: Better batting depth, better bowling options. 3–2 in last 5 H2H. Bishnoi on this surface is potentially unplayable.
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Match Winner
🔴 Rajasthan Royals
Favs ~1.70–1.90
Better batting depth. Bishnoi thrives on slow pitches. Table-toppers vs bottom-half. 3-2 H2H advantage.
Top RR Batter
Yashasvi Jaiswal
~3.50–4.50
3 fifties in 6 games. Better suited to slow pitch than Suryavanshi. Consistent and technically excellent against spin.
Top LSG Batter
Mukul Choudhary
~5.00–7.00
54* vs KKR. SR 149. LSG's most reliable finisher. Exceptional value odds for the form player in LSG's batting lineup.
Top Wicket-Taker
Ravi Bishnoi (RR)
~3.50–4.50
10 wickets — Purple Cap. This slow Ekana surface is PERFECT for his wrist-spin. Best odds-to-performance pick of this match.
1st Innings Total
Under 165.5
~1.75
Ekana avg 155–165. Low-scoring venue. Spin dominance from over 8. Rarely produces 200+ totals unlike other venues.
Player of Match
Ravi Bishnoi
~10.00–14.00
Slow pitch specialist. 10 wickets already. On Ekana's slow track, a 4-wicket haul is possible. Premium value pick.
🎯 365CBTF Final Verdict
LSG Predicted Score
155–170
Batting first or chasing
RR Predicted Score
160–175
Batting first or chasing
🏆 Our Verdict
We back Rajasthan Royals to win Match 32 — but with the lowest confidence of any RR prediction this season at just 60%. RR have the better batting depth (Jaiswal and Suryavanshi), better bowling options for the conditions (Bishnoi is tailor-made for this surface), and the stronger overall squad.
However, Ekana is LSG's home fortress and the slow pitch is the great leveller. If LSG's bowling — particularly Prince Yadav (9 wickets) and Mohammed Shami — can restrict RR to 155–165, any total becomes chaseable with Mukul Choudhary and Pant at their best. The 2-run thriller in April 2025 proves this venue can produce extraordinary results for the home side. Expect a low-scoring, nail-biting finish.
WIN PREDICTION: 🔴 RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Confidence: 60%
📺 Where to Watch LSG vs RR Live
📱 Live Streaming
JioHotstar App & Website jiohotstar.com
📺 TV Broadcast
Star Sports 1 · Star Sports 1 Hindi Regional Star Sports HD channels
⏰ Match Timing
7:30 PM IST Toss: 7:00 PM IST
🎯 Bet on LSG vs RR
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❓ LSG vs RR — FAQ
Rajasthan Royals are slight favourites (60% confidence) with better batting depth and Bishnoi's slow-pitch mastery. However, LSG's home advantage at Ekana, their spin-friendly bowling attack (Prince Yadav 9 wickets), and a desperate must-win mentality make this genuinely competitive. The 2-run thriller in April 2025 at the same venue proves LSG can beat RR at Ekana.
LSG vs RR IPL 2026 Match 32 starts at 7:30 PM IST on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Toss at 7:00 PM IST. Live on JioHotstar and Star Sports.
The Bharat Ratna Ekana Stadium has one of the slowest pitches in the IPL. The surface is balanced in the powerplay but grips significantly from around the 8th over, with spinners becoming increasingly dominant. Average first innings score is 155–165 runs. Anything above 165 is a competitive total; 180+ puts the chasing team under extreme pressure. Unlike other venues, teams batting FIRST may have an advantage here.
Yes — LSG bowling coach Bharat Arun confirmed Pant was "perfectly alright, fit enough to play" before the PBKS match (Match 29). Pant had suffered a blow to his left elbow against RCB but recovered in time. He is expected to be fully available and playing as both captain and wicketkeeper for LSG vs RR Match 32.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been electrifying in IPL 2026. He hit 52 off just 17 balls against CSK — the joint-3rd fastest fifty in IPL history at a SR of 305.88. He then smashed 26-ball 78 vs RCB in another match-winning powerplay innings, scoring 97/1 in the powerplay — RR's highest ever powerplay score. He has hit joint-most sixes in IPL 2026 (18, alongside Rajat Patidar). The teenager's only concern is whether he'll score on a slow Ekana surface where his big-hitting style may be tempered.
Rajasthan Royals suffered their first defeat of the IPL 2026 campaign against KKR at Eden Gardens in Match 28. RR posted 155/9 — disappointing after a solid start. KKR chased it down in a thrilling finish with Rinku Singh's 53* off 34 balls and Anukul Roy's unbeaten 29 guiding them over the line by 4 wickets. Despite the loss, RR remain 3rd in the table with 8 points from 6 games.
LSG vs RR IPL 2026 will be available live on JioHotstar (streaming) and Star Sports (TV broadcast). Match starts at 7:30 PM IST on Thursday, April 23, 2026 from the Bharat Ratna Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
LSG vs RRIPL 2026 Match 32Lucknow vs RajasthanEkana Stadium pitchRishabh Pant LSGVaibhav SuryavanshiRavi Bishnoi IPL 2026IPL 2026 Today Match
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