In the 32nd match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to play first. RR got off to a good start after being invited to bat first. However, Mohammed Shami set the team back after picking two wickets in two consecutive balls.

However, for Yashasvi Jaiswal’s first wicket, it was more of a Rishabh Pant wicket as he took a brilliant one-handed catch behind the stumps to dismiss his India teammate. Pant went flying with one hand above his head as Shami bowled a bouncer, which Jaiswal gloved, and Pant did the rest to give the team the first breakthrough.

Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Shami combine for two wickets

Mohammed Shami is back on his feet after a poor last game as he bowled at the right crease, and after being hit for three consecutive fours, he came back strongly against Jaiswal, and in the next ball, Dhruv Jurel also clipped one off Rishabh Pant.

Mohammed Shami has put LSG on top 💪

PS: How about that first catch of Rishabh Pant? #LSGvsRR #IPL2026pic.twitter.com/TxjfTyGTtE

– Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 22, 2026

Rishabh Pant has not had the best time with the bat as he has scored just one fifty in the tournament, and his captaincy has also been called into question, with a lot of experimentation in the top order.

Top RR order returns early

After the first two wickets in the next over, Mohsin Khan dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the left-hander was under pressure playing five-point balls and played a rash shot with Digvesh Rathi taking a good catch. With RR now in trouble at 32/3 as their top order once again returned early.

Rajasthan have relied on their top 3 as their middle order has not managed many runs in the IPL so far. Captain Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer are run-less in the tournament and this will be a big test for both of them as they are in the crease and score runs for the franchise to take the team into the game.

Parag was unsure and was happy to lose the toss because he didn’t know what to do. RR come into this match after two heavy defeats against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). RR played against the same team that played against KKR. RR got off to a good start winning the first four games and have now lost two in a row.

Riyan Parag said: “I was trying to lose the toss because I was very confused and I managed it well. The second batting has slowed down here. So we hope that happens again.” [On the two losses] We batted quite well, we made some miscalculations against KKR. A few mistakes here and there, I hope we play a good 40 overs. “The same team.”

Also Read: IPL 2026 Mid-Season Report: Each Team’s Worst Performing Batsman So Far