Rajasthan Royals (RR) are slight favourites against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 32 of IPL 2026 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Wednesday, April 22. RR are priced around 1.80-1.88 odds (implied win probability of ~53-56%).
Vs
Ekana Cricket Stadium
22 April 2026 07:30 PM
Both teams enter this contest on the back of losing streaks. RR sit 3rd with 4 wins from 6 matches but have lost their last 2 games. LSG are 9th with 2 wins from 6 and are on a painful 3-match losing run.
Clear weather with no rain threat is expected in Lucknow. This article covers odds, predicted XIs, pitch report, weather, and the match prediction for LSG vs RR Match 32.
How LSG and RR Enter This Clash
LSG are in deep trouble. Three consecutive losses (to GT, RCB, and PBKS) have dropped them to 9th on the points table.
The loss to PBKS was particularly brutal. Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly powered PBKS to 254/7, the highest total of IPL 2026, resulting in a 54-run defeat.
What makes it worse is that LSG have lost both home matches at Ekana this season. Rishabh Pant is striking at a modest 122 this season.
Nicholas Pooran has been a bigger concern, managing just 41 runs at 10.25 average in 5 innings. On the bright side, Mukul Choudhary (127 runs at SR 149) has been LSG’s most reliable finisher.
Prince Yadav leads their bowling charts with 12 wickets in 7 matches, including key death-overs spells. Mohammed Shami brings IPL experience and has 20 wickets in 15 career matches against RR.
RR started IPL 2026 with 4 consecutive wins but have since lost back-to-back. SRH crushed them by 57 runs (a dramatic collapse of 5 wickets for 9 runs). Then KKR beat them as Rinku Singh engineered a late turnaround.
Captain Riyan Parag has been a major worry. Three single-digit scores in 6 innings with a highest of just 20 is hardly captain’s stuff.
However, RR’s top order remains the most destructive in the tournament. Vaibhav Suryavanshi leads the Orange Cap race with 200+ runs at a staggering strike rate of 263. Yashasvi Jaiswal has 184+ runs at SR 157 and remains RR’s most complete batter.
Ravi Bishnoi (10 wickets) has been outstanding. Jofra Archer has taken a wicket on the first ball in 3 matches this season. Ravindra Jadeja adds spin depth and lower-order batting.
LSG vs RR Match Details
Here are the key details for Match 32 of IPL 2026.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | LSG vs RR, 32nd Match |
| Tournament | Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, April 22, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST (evening game) |
| Venue | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Live Streaming | Star Sports Network / JioHotstar |
| Weather Alert | Clear skies. No rain expected. Hot conditions (~41°C). |
LSG vs RR Betting Odds Comparison
RR hold a slight edge despite their 2-match losing streak, thanks to superior batting firepower and a stronger overall squad. LSG’s home advantage at Ekana keeps the odds competitive.
| Platform | LSG Win Odds | RR Win Odds | Implied RR Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stake | 2.10 | 1.80 | ~56% |
| Bet365 | 2.05 | 1.82 | ~55% |
| 1xBet | 2.15 | 1.75 | ~57% |
| Betfair | 2.08 | 1.88 | ~53% |
RR at 53-57% implied win probability. Despite both teams on losing streaks, RR’s batting depth (Suryavanshi, Jaiswal, Hetmyer) gives them the edge. However, Ekana’s spin-friendly surface could neutralise RR’s aggressive approach, making this closer than the odds suggest.
Disclaimer: Odds are indicative and sourced from publicly available platforms at the time of writing. They may change closer to match time.
LSG vs RR Predicted Playing XIs
Both teams may consider changes given their recent results. However, wholesale changes are unlikely at this stage of the tournament.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Predicted XI
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Mohsin Khan.
Pant needs to fire. His strike rate of 122 is well below what LSG need from their captain in the middle overs. On the positive side, Markram (120 runs at SR 151) has provided consistency.
Mukul Choudhary has been their find of the season, 127 runs including a match-winning 54* off 27 balls against KKR. If LSG post a competitive total, it will likely be because of him.
The bowling relies heavily on Prince Yadav (12 wickets) and Shami‘s experience. Mohsin Khan‘s left-arm pace adds variety. Ekana’s spin-friendly surface should help Siddharth and Markram‘s part-time off-spin.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Predicted XI
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma. Impact: Sandeep Sharma.
Suryavanshi and Jaiswal form IPL 2026’s most dangerous opening pair. Between them, they have scored 400+ runs at combined strike rates above 200. If LSG don’t separate them early, this game could be over in the powerplay.
Bishnoi on Ekana’s gripping surface is a mouth-watering prospect. His 10 wickets at economy 9.31 make him the joint-leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026. Leg-spin on black soil with variable bounce is a nightmare for any batting lineup.
Archer‘s first-ball wickets (3 times this season) could rattle LSG’s struggling top order. Jadeja adds all-round balance, and his 2/8 against KKR showed what he can do on turning tracks.
Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Ekana pitch is one of the slowest surfaces in IPL 2026. A total of 26 T20 matches have been played here. The average first-innings score is around 173.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | Black soil. Starts reasonable, slows significantly after the 8th over. Spinners grip and turn. |
| Batting Conditions | Challenging. Batters need time to adjust. Anything above 170 is competitive. |
| Bowling Conditions | Pacers get early movement. Spinners dominate middle overs. Death bowling is key. |
| Matches at Venue (IPL History) | 26 (avg 1st innings score: ~173) |
| Bat First vs Chase | 16 out of 26 matches won by chasing team. Dew helps in second innings. |
| Key Stat | LSG have lost both home matches here in IPL 2026. Totals above 180 put chasers under real pressure. |
Weather Forecast for LSG vs RR
Live weather data for Lucknow on April 22 shows clear skies with 0% rain probability. No weather interruptions expected, unlike the SRH vs DC game that had 90% rain risk.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 38-41°C during the day, easing to ~32-35°C by match time |
| Weather | Clear and sunny. No rain threat. |
| Rain Probability | 0% (Full match guaranteed) |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Wind | Light to moderate |
| Dew Factor | Moderate dew expected in the second innings. Favours chasing team slightly. |
| Impact | Heat could tire fielding side. Dew may assist batters in the chase. |
The extreme heat (41°C) will test the fitness of players, especially fast bowlers running in repeatedly. Teams may prefer chasing to take advantage of the dew factor that typically kicks in during the second innings at Ekana.
LSG vs RR Head-to-Head Record in IPL
This is a relatively young rivalry, with just 6 meetings since 2022. RR lead 4-2 but LSG’s most recent win (a 2-run thriller in 2025) proves they can compete.
| Statistic | Result |
|---|---|
| Total IPL Matches | 6 |
| RR Wins | 4 |
| LSG Wins | 2 |
| No Result | 0 |
| RR Win % | 66.7% |
| Last Result | LSG won by 2 runs (April 2025, Jaipur) |
| RR Record at Ekana | Won by 7 wickets chasing 196 (IPL 2024) |
| LSG 2026 Form | 2W 4L (9th, 3 consecutive losses) |
| RR 2026 Form | 4W 2L (3rd, 2 consecutive losses) |
RR’s Dominance in This Young Rivalry
RR won both encounters in 2022 and both in 2024, including that famous 199/3 chase at Ekana where Sanju Samson (71* off 33) and Dhruv Jurel (52* off 34) added an unbeaten 121.
LSG’s 2 wins have both been nail-biters. In 2023, they won a low-scoring contest at Jaipur by 10 runs. In 2025, Avesh Khan defended 9 off the final over to win by just 2 runs.
The pattern is clear. When RR’s top order fires, they dominate. When it fails, LSG have the bowling to squeeze them. That makes Suryavanshi and Jaiswal‘s powerplay performance the single biggest factor in this match.
Key Players to Watch
Both teams need individual match-winners to step up. Here are the 7 players who could decide this contest on Wednesday evening.
| Player | Team | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | RR | Orange Cap leader with 200+ runs at an absurd SR of 263. Has hit 18 fours and 18 sixes already. Despite a golden duck against SRH, he remains the most destructive opener in IPL 2026. If he gets going on Ekana’s powerplay-friendly surface, LSG could be chasing shadows. |
| Rishabh Pant | LSG | LSG captain striking at just 122 this season. Has historically been excellent against RR (403 career runs at SR 156 vs them). Desperately needs a captain’s knock to revive LSG’s season and his own form. The crowd at Ekana will be behind him. |
| Ravi Bishnoi | RR | Joint-leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026 with 10 wickets. Ekana’s black soil surface is tailor-made for his leg-spin. His wrong-uns against LSG’s struggling middle order could be devastating in the 7-15 over phase. |
| Prince Yadav | LSG | LSG’s leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets in 7 matches. His death-overs variations are crucial. If he dismisses Suryavanshi or Jaiswal early, LSG’s entire match plan comes alive. |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | 184+ runs at SR 157 and average 61.33. The second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2026. Unlike Suryavanshi’s explosive style, Jaiswal anchors and accelerates. His ability to rotate strike on slow surfaces makes him RR’s most dependable batter for Ekana. |
| Mohammed Shami | LSG | 20 wickets in 15 career matches against RR. His experience on the Ekana surface and ability to extract movement with the new ball makes him LSG’s biggest weapon in the powerplay. |
| Jofra Archer | RR | Has taken a first-ball wicket in 3 matches this IPL. Raw pace and bounce on Ekana’s surface could trouble LSG’s top order. Archer with the new ball against Marsh and Markram is a fascinating contest. |
Toss Prediction
Ekana has historically favoured chasing teams. Out of 26 T20 matches here, 16 have been won by the team bowling first.
The dew factor plays a significant role at Ekana in evening matches. Fielding and gripping the ball becomes harder in the second innings, giving batters a slight advantage.
However, the pitch also slows down as the match progresses. Totals above 170 are genuinely difficult to chase here, especially against a spin-heavy attack.
The toss winner is likely to bowl first, banking on dew to ease the chase. Both Pant and Parag will want to chase. If forced to bat first, the team needs to target at least 175-180 to feel safe.
Match Prediction
Two teams on losing streaks, a slow Ekana surface, and high stakes for both. This has all the ingredients for a tense, low-scoring contest.
Where RR Holds the Edge
Batting firepower is RR’s trump card. Suryavanshi (200+ runs, SR 263) and Jaiswal (184+ runs, SR 157) form the most lethal opening pair in IPL 2026. Even on Ekana’s slow surface, these two can take the game away in 6 overs.
Bowling variety gives RR options. Archer (pace), Bishnoi (leg-spin), Jadeja (left-arm spin), and Burger (seam) cover all phases. On a surface that assists spin, Bishnoi and Jadeja could dominate the middle overs.
Head-to-head dominance (4-2) and a successful 196 chase at this very ground in 2024 give RR confidence. They know they can win at Ekana, which matters against a mentally fragile LSG side.
Where LSG Holds the Edge
Home conditions are LSG’s biggest advantage. The Ekana surface is spin-friendly, and Prince Yadav (12 wickets), Siddharth, and Markram‘s off-spin could exploit it. If the pitch breaks up further, batting second becomes increasingly difficult.
Shami vs RR is a proven matchup. 20 wickets in 15 career matches against the Royals suggests Shami knows how to trouble their batting lineup. An early Suryavanshi dismissal changes the entire equation.
Desperation can be a weapon. LSG are at 9th on the points table with their playoff hopes fading fast. A loss here effectively ends their campaign. That backs-against-the-wall mentality could spark a performance, especially from Pant (career SR of 156 against RR).
Key Concerns for Both Teams
LSG’s concern is their batting depth. Pant (SR 122), Pooran (41 runs at avg 10.25), and Abdul Samad (72 runs at SR 111) have all underperformed. If LSG’s top 3 don’t fire, the middle order has shown no ability to rescue innings.
Their bowling was also demolished by PBKS (254/7). Conceding the highest total of the season right before facing RR’s explosive batting is terrible timing.
RR’s concern is Parag‘s wretched form. Three single-digit scores in 6 innings from the captain is alarming. The middle order (Hetmyer, Ferreira) hasn’t been tested enough because the top order usually dominates.
Their fielding has also slipped. Nandre Burger dropped Rinku Singh on 8 in the KKR match, a lapse that cost them the game. On a slow Ekana surface where every run counts, sloppy fielding could be fatal.
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Final Verdict
RR hold a narrow edge at around 53-57% if the full match is played. Their batting firepower (Suryavanshi, Jaiswal), bowling variety (Bishnoi, Archer, Jadeja), and head-to-head record (4-2) all favour them.
However, Ekana is the great equaliser. The slow, spin-friendly surface neutralises batting power and rewards discipline. LSG’s spin options (Prince Yadav, Siddharth) could exploit conditions, and Shami’s record against RR is a genuine weapon.
Expect a par score of around 165-175 on this surface. The average first-innings score of 173 at Ekana suggests anything above 175 will be tough to chase, even with dew assistance. The Suryavanshi vs Prince Yadav powerplay battle and Bishnoi vs Pant middle-overs duel could decide this match.
Both teams need a win desperately. RR want to stop the slide and consolidate their top-4 position. LSG are fighting for survival. When two desperate teams meet on a tricky surface, expect drama.
