On Saturday, April 19, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Lucknow Super Kings (LSG) squared off in Match 36 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. After winning the toss, LSG decided to bat first.
LSG got off to a poor start when Shimron Hetmyer made a sensational catch and Mitchell Marsh (4 off 6) fell early. Since LSG’s powerplay was not very good, Rishabh Pant (3 off 9) was also unable to get going. Ayush Badoni (50 off 34) and Aiden Markram (66 off 45) gave the bottom order the much-needed solidity and drive they needed to hammer their way to a manageable total in the closing stages. Abdul Samad accomplished this by hitting four sixes in the final over and scoring 30* runs off 10 balls. LSG’s final score was 180/5.
With an 85-run partnership between Vaibhav Suryavanshi (34 off 20) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (74 off 52), RR got the chase off to a spectacular start. The game was Rajasthan’s to lose with this kind of start, and they did. Despite the best efforts of Shimron Hetmyer (12 off 7) and captain Riyan Parag (39 off 26), RR was ultimately unable to win easily due to a lack of momentum following the departure of the opening pair. LSG won by a slim margin of two runs thanks to an outstanding last over from Avesh Khan (3/37).
Talking Points
1. Rishabh Pant fails again
Although Rishabh Pant played an innings-defining knock in the last match against CSK (63 off 49) it was back to single digits for the highest-paid player. The left-hander came in at no. 4 when the score was 46/2 after 5.2 overs. The situation demanded an upliftment of the run rate. However, Pant could not get going and was dismissed for 3(9) courtesy a good catch by Dhruv Jurel off Wanindu Hasaranga.
Pant has had scores of 0, 15, 2, 2, DNB, 21, 63, 3 respectively in IPL 2025 so far, totalling to 107 runs in seven innings. The Southpaw, who is known for his power hitting, has a strike rate of 98.14 only. Though Pant is not able to create an impact with the bat he is definitely doing so as captain. LSG, with tonight’s win, go to fourth with 10 points.
2. Abdul Samad smashes Sandeep Kumar for four sixes in the last over
In the first innings, LSG were 153/5 at the end of the 19th over. It looked like the total they would be getting would be under-par. However, Abdul Samad changed the equation completely in the next few minutes with Sandeep Kumar bowling the last over. David Miller took a single off the first ball which gave Samad the strike. He then struck two consecutive sixes.
Off the fourth ball, Samad picked up two runs. The pressure was on Sandeep Kumar for the last two balls and he did flounder. Samad hit the remaining balls for big sixes to give LSG something to bowl at. The last over yielded 27 important runs which proved decisive in the end.
3. Vaibhav Suryavanshi takes the limelight with magnificent debut innings
The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest to play the IPL. The youngster did not show any nerves whatsoever as he smashed the first ball he faced for an emphatic maximum over covers off Shardul Thakur. The teenager did not look back as he expressed himself with confident strokeplay.
The Southpaw continued to find boundaries as he and Yashasvi Jaiswal formed a platform-setting 85-run partnership off 52 balls. Suryavanshi finished with two fours and three sixes. The striking feature of the young man’s innings was his aggressive mindset even against some established bowlers.
Who Said What?
Riyan Parag, RR Skipper
Feeling a little hard to process the emotions, not sure what we did wrong. We were in the game till the 18-19th over. I probably should have finished it in the 19th over, I blame myself. We just have to put one game together collectively for 40 overs, only then can we win. We did really well (with the ball), the last over was unfortunate, thought that we would stop them for 165-170. Sandy (Sandeep Sharma) bhai is trusted, he’s only had one bad game. Samad batted really well. We should’ve chased that down. Today was perfect, no complaints about the wicket. We were right in it, just a few balls can cost you an IPL game.
Rishabh Pant, LSG Skipper
(Relief or happy?) I think both. These kind of matches build character. It was an amazing win. As a team, this is going to take us to a different level. These are the positive things we always talk about. We are going to do better as a team. All the credit to the bowlers holding their nerves at the right time. It’s not easy, especially when we’re always behind the game. They played brilliantly but our bowlers kept their nerve, especially Avesh who was fantastic. The idea was to take your own time, execute the plan with a clear mindset, taking one ball at a time. We are moving in a positive direction. Just enjoying the win as of now.
Avesh Khan, Player of the Match
My hand is good, hit my bone, I couldn’t celebrate. I don’t want to become Mitchell Starc, I just want to become a good Avesh Khan. Yorker is my strength and I try to execute it. I don’t bowl looking at the scorecard. (On Miller’s drop) I felt he would take it for sure. Just 4 were needed, there were a few doubts in my mind, one outside or inside edge could go for a boundary. I told myself to bowl a yorker on middle-leg. I think about the team. We won this. This is a big tournament, I will try to bowl the same way in the remaining matches.
India
