May has been a tough month for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. In 19 matches across the season, they have managed only four wins and have suffered 14 defeats, leaving them battling to stay alive as the tournament moves into its closing phase. On Monday, May 18, RR host Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur, with the Royals still holding on to playoffs possibilities and needing a strong finish against an LSG side that, despite being under pressure, has started to look more competitive.
Key takeaways
- Rajasthan Royals are sixth in the standings with 12 points after 19 games, having won four and lost 14 in their May stretch.
- RR can reach 16 points with two more wins, a tally that may be enough for a direct qualification if only one of SRH or CSK crosses that mark.
- In the last three matches at home, Rajasthan have lost all three, adding to the strain after a run of defeats.
- Lucknow’s recent improvement has been driven heavily by Mitchell Marsh, including a 111-ball 56 effort versus RCB and a 90 off 38 against CSK.
- The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has produced first-innings totals of 220-plus in all three IPL matches this season, with two chases successfully completed by visiting teams.
Playoff scenarios and what both teams need
Rajasthan’s current position keeps their qualification hopes alive, but it is far from secure. With fixtures remaining against LSG and Mumbai Indians, the Royals are in a position where results elsewhere could play a major role. If they win both of their next two games, they would finish on 16 points, which should be sufficient to clinch a playoff berth without depending on other outcomes—provided just one of Sunrisers Hyderabad or Chennai Super Kings reaches 16.
However, the path becomes more complicated if CSK win both of their remaining matches and SRH beat RCB. In that situation, the equation could narrow down to net run rate. There is also a slim alternative route for RR: they could still sneak into the playoffs with 14 points, but only if several other results fall in their favour.
Rajasthan’s slump at the business end
Before this fixture, Rajasthan head into the game on the back of a hat-trick of defeats, with two of those losses coming against Delhi Capitals. Their slide has been particularly costly at home, where they have lost their last three matches. Several factors have contributed to the downturn: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dip in returns, a lower middle order that has not been providing enough runs, and difficulties with the ball during the Powerplay.
The contrast is stark. After winning five of their first seven matches earlier in the campaign, RR have managed only one victory across their last five outings. With the back end of the tournament approaching, they will want to stop the bleeding quickly and build momentum, starting with a must-win type of contest against Lucknow.
Lucknow’s recent lift and the Marsh impact
Even though Lucknow are not in the same immediate playoff spotlight as RR, their form in recent games has shown a clear positive shift. Mitchell Marsh has been central to that improvement. The Australian T20 captain has produced a dominant 111 off 56 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, followed by an explosive 90 off 38 versus CSK. Josh Inglis also made an impact in the other CSK match, which strengthens the outlook for LSG’s top order.
The bowling has also played its part, with Lucknow winning two of their last three matches. The turnaround may have arrived slightly late, but it still gives LSG confidence that they can challenge opponents and take points from this stage of the season.
Match details: RR vs LSG, Match 63
When: RR vs LSG, Match 63 – Monday, May 18
Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
What to expect: High-scoring contests have been the pattern at this venue this season, with first-innings totals over 220 in all three matches. Visiting sides have successfully chased in two of those games, including wins by SRH and DC, while RR were the only team to fall short in a chase—against Gujarat Titans—making their record here 0-3 for successful target chases this season.
Overall, six of the 10 IPL matches at the ground since 2025 have been won by the team chasing. Four of those chases have crossed the 200-run mark, so another batting-heavy encounter is a realistic possibility.
Head-to-head and venue edge
When these two sides meet, Rajasthan hold the upper hand in the overall head-to-head, leading 5-2 in encounters between RR and LSG. Yet Lucknow have had the better of the matchup in Jaipur, where they have won two of the three games played there.
Team watch: Rajasthan Royals
Injury/unavailability: Ravindra Jadeja missed the previous game against DC due to a knee niggle, as batting coach Vikram Rathour explained. Rathour added that the time away was meant to help manage the issue, and Jadeja is expected to be available for the LSG match.
Tactics & Matchups: Jadeja may be a key matchup option against Mitchell Marsh. In T20 cricket, Marsh has been dismissed twice by Jadeja in six innings, and his strike rate against him stands at 97.22. On the other hand, Jofra Archer has a favourable contest against Nicholas Pooran, having dismissed him three times in nine innings.
Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja
Team watch: Lucknow Super Giants
Injury/unavailability: There is still no clarity on Mohsin Khan. He has missed several recent games due to injury.
Tactics & Matchups: Mohammed Shami has a strong record against Riyan Parag, with three dismissals in six innings. Shami has also found success against Dhruv Jurel, taking him twice in three innings.
Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav
Did you know?
- Rajasthan’s Powerplay run-rate of 11.73 is the highest among all teams in this IPL.
- LSG’s run-rate in the middle overs is the lowest at 7.78, while RR have the second-lowest death-overs run-rate at 9.78.
- Rishabh Pant has scored 403 runs in 13 IPL innings against Rajasthan, averaging 40.30 with a strike rate of 154.40, including four half-centuries.
- Uncapped bowlers have taken 40 wickets for Lucknow, the most by any team in IPL 2026.
- Lucknow’s bowling has also been efficient on average (26.1) and economy (8.92), the best among all teams.
What Riyan Parag said
Riyan Parag, after the loss to Delhi Capitals, suggested the group feels it is stronger than what it has shown over the last four or five matches. He added that if the team fails to qualify, it would be their own responsibility.
