Lucknow Super Giants’ chase fell apart under pressure as Rajasthan Royals capitalised on an error-strewn innings to seal a comprehensive 40-run victory in an IPL contest on Wednesday. Chasing 160, LSG could only manage 119 in 18 overs, with the collapse gathering pace after Rishabh Pant—captain and linchpin of the chase—lost momentum with a poorly timed sweep-and-hoick attempt that swung the game away from Lucknow. The defeat extended LSG’s rough run, while Royals moved up to the second spot despite their own batting being far from fluent.
What happened in the match
- Rajasthan Royals set a target of 160 after restricting Lucknow’s opponents to 159 for 6 in their innings.
- Lucknow began the chase but struggled to convert starts into sustained partnerships.
- Rishabh Pant’s dismissal triggered a major shift in momentum, and LSG’s batting disintegrated further as the innings progressed.
- LSG were eventually bowled out for 119 in 18 overs, handing Royals a 40-run win.
Royals’ triumph was heavily underpinned by the bowling impact of Mohammed Shami, supported by Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav. Still, the day’s standout narrative was the way Shami’s spell and the fielding moments around it shaped the match, even as LSG’s batting effort left plenty to be desired.
One decision is likely to remain a talking point for a long time: the use of Himmat Singh as an Impact Sub. The player’s domestic record has not featured a SMAT title success for Delhi across nearly a decade, and his strike rate around the tournament level—listed here at 135 with fewer than one six per game—was not the profile that would typically be expected to swing a high-pressure chase.
With the win, Rajasthan climbed to second place in the points table, collecting 10 points from seven matches, even though their batting had been uneven. Lucknow, meanwhile, slid to ninth after suffering their fourth straight loss.
Royals’ all-round edge
Ravindra Jadeja played a key role for Royals with a crucial 43 not out from 29 balls, alongside figures of 1/29 with the ball. His unbeaten knock helped stabilise the innings and push the total towards a defendable range. After that, he continued the influence with the ball, including a dismissal that removed Nicholas Pooran and helped Royals maintain control.
Royals’ bowling also struck at the right moments. Pant was out for 6, dismissed by Nandre Burger who finished with 2/27. Jofra Archer then accounted for Aiden Markram with a delivery that rose at the batter. Earlier in the innings, Ayush Badoni suffered an unfortunate run-out, compounding Lucknow’s problems.
Mitchell Marsh carried the weight of the chase for Lucknow, scoring 55 off 41 balls. But while Marsh held one end up, Pooran and Himmat Singh struggled to make meaningful contributions, falling into the trap of poor shot selection as the required run rate climbed.
The chase eventually left Lucknow with few options. Mukul Choudhary, still in the phase of development, appeared to struggle with bouncers that grab off the surface and can unsettle batters who have not yet mastered those deliveries.
Earlier: Shami and Mohsin set up 159 for 6
Before Royals turned the screw with the batters chasing 160, Shami and Mohsin ensured the innings began to go wrong for the visitors. After Royals won the toss and chose to bat first, Shami delivered a couple of sharp spells while Mohsin kept control and removed teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, ultimately restricting Royals to 159 for 6.
This was the third time in three matches that Royals’ top order had collapsed, and the pattern continued here. Shami’s experience and class were evident as he returned 2/30 in four overs. Mohsin, meanwhile, was extremely disciplined, ending with 2/17 in four overs, consistently making the ball seam and rise from awkward lengths.
Together, the pair removed four of Royals’ most important batters. Shami struck twice in succession, getting Yashasvi Jaiswal for 22 and Dhruv Jurel for 0 off consecutive deliveries. Mohsin then produced two dismissals in different phases—first removing Sooryavanshi (8 off 11 balls) and later getting Shimron Hetmyer (22 off 18 balls).
Prince Yadav added another dimension to the attack with 2/29 in four overs, using movement off the pitch and delivering dismissals at timely intervals. Mayank Yadav, returning from a long rehabilitation, finished with 0/56 in four overs and appeared to be the only bowler out of rhythm.
Riyan Parag, captaining in a role that has been debated on cricketing merit, had a sequence of scores reading 14 not out, 8, 20, 3, 4, 12, and 20. In this match, those numbers reflected more liability than leadership for Royals.
Dot ball pressure was a decisive factor. Shami produced 15 dot balls and Mohsin added 11, combining for 26 deliveries that yielded no runs. Even Prince Yadav contributed 13 dot balls, further tightening the contest and preventing Royals from building momentum.
Fielding moments and bowling artistry
The match will also be remembered for the skill on display from Shami across both red- and white-ball cricket. He bowled a bouncer to Jaiswal that rose sharply as the left-hander tried to hook it awkwardly. Captain Rishabh Pant timed his jump brilliantly and took a one-handed catch.
That was not the only catch Pant took. On another occasion, Shami bowled a full, peach of a delivery on the middle-stump line, drawing Jurel forward. The ball deviated late, brushing the outside edge, and Pant again snapped it up.
Mohsin’s work against Sooryavanshi was built through pressure. He set up the teenager with five successive dot balls—hitters were either pitched on a hard length or slightly fuller. In the sixth delivery of his second over, Mohsin bowled a fast leg-cutter clocked at 142, forcing Sooryavanshi to throw the bat. The ball ballooned up off the leading edge, and Digvesh Rathi, retreating from cover, completed a well-judged catch.
Royals never found a rhythm in their chase of runs, and Parag repeatedly tried to use the MS Dhoni-style “helicopter” shot. But in pressure situations, his success rate has been described as poor, and the attempt didn’t provide the breakthrough Royals needed.
Even so, Jadeja ensured Royals avoided an even larger collapse. He ended unbeaten on 43 off 29 balls, doing enough to stop the rot and keep the innings from falling short of the 150-run mark.
