IPL 2026 delivered another high-voltage day at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) produced a bowler-led show to beat Rajasthan Royals (RR). LSG held Rajasthan to 159/6 in their 20 overs, then dismissed the visitors for just 119 to register a 40-run victory and extend their home success in a season where they have also been under pressure to find consistent batting form.
Key takeaways
- LSG limited Rajasthan Royals to 159/6 in 20 overs at Lucknow.
- All LSG bowlers kept their figures under 7.50 runs per over, except Mayank Yadav who conceded 56 in four overs.
- Rajasthan were bowled out for 119 in reply, handing LSG a 40-run win.
- Mayank Yadav has been returning after being sidelined for the last season and a half due to injuries.
- LSG head coach Justin Langer said the pitch offered extra pace and bounce, making it harder for batters to adjust.
Mayank Yadav’s comeback and the online backlash
After the match, Mayank Yadav found himself at the centre of heavy trolling. The pacer had been away for a long stretch, and his return drew attention not just for his pace but also for what supporters and critics chose to say online.
Mayank arrived onto the IPL stage with genuine impact during IPL 2024, when his pace and threat were impossible to ignore. However, injuries disrupted his momentum and development, with the fast bowler spending the last season and a half on the sidelines.
Speaking to the situation around Mayank, Ian Raphael Bishop posted on X that seeing negative comments about the youngster was “horrifying.” Bishop said the 21-year-old nearly lost his career and livelihood at that age, and added that just watching him play again is a major positive. He also noted that Mayank clocked around 150 kph again, calling it a miracle, and urged fans to hope he stays fit at 23 while his control and consistency come back with time.
Langer on LSG’s Ekana Stadium struggles and Rajasthan’s 119 all out
LSG head coach Justin Langer acknowledged that his batters have struggled to cope and adjust to the additional pace and bounce at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium. He compared the conditions to the style of cricket played at the WACA in Perth, describing the pitch as quite distinct from what players typically encounter across much of India.
He also pointed to the season narrative at LSG’s home venue, admitting that the franchise has not managed to win any of its home games in IPL 2026 so far. The latest setback came on Wednesday, when LSG suffered a 40-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals.
At the postmatch press conference, Langer said the pitch is different, calling it a “brilliant cricket pitch.” In his view, it offered pace and bounce, but LSG’s side had not adjusted properly. He felt they began well with the ball earlier in the contest, yet later found it difficult to handle what the track was asking of them—particularly the short-ball threat that kept showing up against their batters.
Langer explained that while LSG had bowled well in the early phase, the main issue was adaptation. He said the team had repeatedly been caught out by the short ball, and that was the central problem he wanted to highlight.
Turning to the batting side, Langer said the returns at the ground this season have been modest. He referenced scores of 141, 164/8, and 119 to underline that the batters have not been able to “click” consistently. He added that in India, many wickets tend to keep the ball from bouncing very high, but at Ekana the ball rises with real pace and bounce, similar to conditions he associated with the WACA in Perth.
Despite the batting difficulties, Langer praised LSG’s pace group. He singled out young fast bowlers Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav for special mention, noting that last year their numbers were impressive and that LSG had been frustrated by injuries and recovery setbacks—when bowlers were either hurt, returning from knocks, or not yet fully fit.
