RAJASTHAN ROYALS have named Yashasvi Jaiswal as their stand-in captain for their IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday. Jaiswal won the toss and chose to bowl first, while confirming that Riyan Parag misses the match due to a hamstring problem. At the other end, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant said his side feels confident about the pitch and outlined the changes to their XI, including the return of Mohsin Khan after a late availability update.
Jaiswal wins the toss and explains RR’s selection calls
At the toss, Jaiswal said the team decided to bowl first and backed the surface for the opening spell. He also pointed to the possibility of dew later in the game, indicating Rajasthan intend to chase. The youngster added that captaining the franchise is meaningful to him and that he is proud to represent Rajasthan Royals.
Jaiswal also addressed why Riyan Parag is not part of the playing group. He said Parag has a hamstring issue and is expected to be fine soon, which is why he was left out for this encounter.
Sharing the squad adjustments, Jaiswal noted that three players have come into the XI: Sandeep Sharma? (not in changes list), Sandy, Sushant Mishra, and Lhuan-dre Pretorious. He then spoke about the mindset the group is aiming to bring to the field—staying engaged, talking to one another, and enjoying the match rather than getting weighed down by outcomes.
When asked about Rajasthan’s record in Jaipur, Jaiswal responded with optimism, saying he will “smile and enjoy the game” and that the day presents an opportunity to play good cricket. He concluded with an update on Ravindra Jadeja, stating that “Jadu bhai” is recovering from niggles and should be back soon.
LSG captain Pant: confident about the wicket, options to bat or bowl
LSG skipper Rishabh Pant said his team is “pretty confident” ahead of the contest and believes the pitch suits batting. He added that LSG are comfortable either chasing or setting a target, depending on the toss result, and reiterated that the group has plenty to play for in the tournament.
Pant stressed that the team takes pride in showing up for their supporters each time and wants to put its best foot forward. He also provided injury and availability updates affecting the XI.
- Aiden Markram is unavailable because he has gone home for personal reasons.
- Shami is not playing.
- Mohsin Khan is playing.
- Ayush Badoni comes into the team in place of Aiden Markram.
Confirmed playing XIs for Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI)
- Mitchell Marsh
- Josh Inglis
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (w/c)
- Ayush Badoni
- Abdul Samad
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Mohsin Khan
- Mayank Yadav
- Akash Maharaj Singh
- Prince Yadav
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (c)
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius
- Dhruv Jurel (w)
- Donovan Ferreira
- Shubham Dubey
- Dasun Shanaka
- Jofra Archer
- Sushant Mishra
- Sandeep Sharma
- Brijesh Sharma
- Yash Raj Punja
What the toss decision suggests for the match
With Rajasthan opting to bowl first, Jaiswal’s comments point to an early-game plan built around using the conditions at Jaipur before the dew becomes a factor. Meanwhile, Pant’s confidence that the surface is good to bat on sets up a contest where LSG will aim to make the most of the opening overs, while RR look to stay tight and control the innings before chasing under lights.
