RR vs LSG Dream11 Prediction, IPL Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Updates for Match 26 of IPL 2023

Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 26th game of the Indian Premier League 2023 on Wednesday (April 19) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The Royals have won four out of five games so far in the tournament and are placed in the first position in the points table. They are coming into this game after winning their previous game against Gujarat Titans. The Titans made 177 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs while batting first. Shubman Gill and David Miller made 40+ runs for the team. Sandeep Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for the Royals as he picked two wickets for 25 runs in four overs. Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer played crucial roles for the Royals with the bat. Samson scored 60 runs off 32 deliveries, while Hetmyer made 56 runs off 26 deliveries and won the Player of the Match award.

Super Giants have won three out of five games and are in second place in the points tally. They lost their previous game against Punjab Kings. The Super Giants could make only 159 runs on the back of a half-century from KL Rahul. Sam Curran picked up three wickets for 31 runs in four overs and was the most successful bowler for the team. Sikandar Raza scored his maiden IPL half-century to guide the team to a victory by two wickets. Raza won the Player of the Match award for this performance.

Rajasthan Royals will be playing the Lucknow Super Giants in their first home game of the season. Sanju Samson played a fine knock at number 4 scoring 60 off 32 balls taking RR to their 3rd consecutive win.

LSG failed to continue their winning run after their batting failed in Lucknow in sticky conditions. Rahul’s 74 off 56 helped LSG finish with 159 runs batting first against Punjab. 

It may not look like a big total, but it would have been enough and there were chances that LSG failed to capitalize in the second innings of the match. KL Rahul suggested they were 10 runs short, but we reckon it was just the failure to execute the bowling plans at the death.

Nevertheless, he does have some batting concerns to address. They cannot always depend on Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran to rescue them and need the likes of Rahul, Pandya, and Hooda to step up and deliver.

Sanju Samson is definitely knocking on the door for the World Cup selections. The RR skipper was out for a duck in two consecutive matches before he led the comeback in the last game against GT.

Rajasthan Royals found themselves at 55 for 4 in the 11th over while chasing 178 runs in Ahmedabad. Samson and Hetmyer together added 59 off 27 balls for the 5th wicket. 

In the 19th Over, R Ashwin also played a handy knock scoring 10 off the 3 balls ensuring that RR were comfortably placed to chase down the target in the last over.

Hetmyer played a key role after Samson’s departure with his 56 off 26 balls making sure the Royals’ chase wasn't derailed. Jos Buttler is a key player in this batting lineup but Samson and Hetmyer’s ability to stage a comeback shows that RR aren’t completely dependent on him.

And that allows for more freedom for the England batsman at the top. Yashaswi Jaiswal also looked in good touch in previous outings and will be eager to get RR off to another flying start.

Trent Boult who’s been expensive lately, can be a key bowler for RR given the playing conditions here in Jaipur. The spinners would also enjoy a good time and that makes Chahal and Zampa key players to watch out for.

Lucknow Super Giants lost a close game at home while defending a par score against Punjab Kings. KL Rahul and co. had their chances in the game and if the bowling and fielding were a little better at the death, they could have ended as the winning side.

Coming to Jaipur, Mark Wood and Jaydev Unadkat will be ones to watch out for in the LSG squad. Unadkat has played here before while Wood can get some help from the surface if Giants win the toss and bowl first. KL Rahul looks in good touch and needs to improve his strike rate at the top.

But before he can shift the gears, the skipper needs to be confident in his middle order’s abilities. While Krunal Pandya did play a handy knock in the chase against SRH, he hasn’t been that impactful.

And moreover, Deepak Hooda also seems to have lost his way. This is a growing concern in the LSG camp as they seem to be growingly dependent on Marcus Stoinis and particularly Nicholas Pooran in the lower order.

These two are quality finishers but if tasked with bigger roles every time, their failure can then cost Lucknow dearly. But if the two get going and Ayush Badoni also comes to the party, LSG can finish on a high and successfully chase a total.