On April 19, 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pulled off a sensational 2-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a last-ball thriller at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, for IPL 2025 Match 36. LSG posted 180/5, powered by Aiden Markram’s 66 off 45 and Abdul Samad’s 30* off 10, with Wanindu Hasaranga’s 2/31 keeping RR in the hunt. Chasing 181, RR cruised at 156/2 after 17 overs, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 74 off 52, but Avesh Khan’s 3/37, including a nerveless final over defending 9 runs, sparked a collapse. LSG climbed to fourth with 10 points (5-3), while RR slumped to their fourth straight loss, staying eighth with 4 points (2-6). This heart-stopping clash had Jaipur stunned—here’s how it unfolded
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Toss and Lineups
LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bat, citing a dry pitch with no dew expected. RR, without injured captain Sanju Samson (abdominal strain), saw Riyan Parag take the helm, handing a debut to 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest IPL debutant ever. LSG replaced Akash Deep with Prince Yadav, while RR swapped Samson for Suryavanshi. LSG XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), David Miller, Abdul Samad, Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan. Impact Sub: Ayush Badoni.
RR XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande. Impact Sub: Shubham Dubey.
Pitch and Conditions: Balanced and Breezy
Sawai Mansingh’s pitch, with even grass cover, offered pace and bounce, as per Shane Watson and Simon Katich, with a par score of 185. The 67m and 63m square boundaries and a breeze made one side feel larger. No dew aided bowlers, and at 32°C, conditions were ideal for a high-scoring game. Chasing teams have won 38 of 58 IPL matches here, but LSG’s death bowling defied the trend.
LSG’s Innings: Markram’s Anchor, Samad’s Blitz
LSG started shakily—Mitchell Marsh’s 16 off 12 ended with a stunning sprinting catch by Shimron Hetmyer off Jofra Archer (1/36) at deep backward square, leaving them at 46/2 in 5.2 overs. Nicholas Pooran (4 off 4) and Pant (15 off 11) fell to Hasaranga’s 2/31, reducing LSG to 54/3 in 7.4 overs. Aiden Markram’s 66 off 45 (6 fours, 2 sixes), including a 33-ball fifty, and Ayush Badoni’s 50 off 34 (4 fours, 1 six), subbed in for Marsh, rebuilt with a 76-run stand, taking LSG to 130/4 by the 16-over timeout. Abdul Samad’s 30* off 10 (4 sixes), smashing Sandeep Sharma for 27 runs in the 20th over, powered LSG to 180/5. RR’s bowlers struggled late, with Tushar Deshpande’s 1/40 leaking runs, but Hasaranga’s spin kept things tight.
RR’s Chase: Jaiswal’s 74, Avesh’s Heist
RR’s chase roared to life with 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fearless debut—smashing his first ball for a six off Shardul Thakur (0/33), he raced to 34 off 20 (3 fours, 2 sixes), adding 85 off 52 with Yashasvi Jaiswal (74 off 52 6 fours, 3 sixes). Avesh Khan’s dropped catch of Suryavanshi at mid-wicket cost 4 runs, but he dismissed him at 92/1 in 8.4 overs, caught by Badoni. Jaiswal and Riyan Parag’s 62 off 43 took RR to 156/2 after 17 overs, needing 25 off 18. Avesh’s 18th over (2 wickets, 5 runs) turned the game—Jaiswal holed out to point, and Parag was lbw attempting a scoop. Prince Yadav’s fiery 19th over (11 runs) left RR needing 9 off the last over. Avesh’s pinpoint yorkers, despite Shardul Thakur’s fumble at third man, conceded only 6, with Shubham Dubey’s final-ball shot caught by Avesh, sealing 178/5. RR collapsed, losing 3/22 in the last 3 overs.
Standout Stars
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Avesh Khan (LSG): 3/37—Player of the Match for his ice-cold final over, defending 9 runs.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): 74 off 52—valiant but in vain.
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Aiden Markram (LSG): 66 off 45—set up LSG’s total.
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Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR): 34 off 20—fearless debut at 14.
Head-to-Head: LSG Tighten Grip
RR lead LSG 4-2 in six IPL clashes, but LSG’s second win, first in Jaipur, narrows the gap. RR’s last home win vs LSG was in 2023. Jaiswal’s third fifty in a row pushed him to fourth on the Orange Cap list, per ESPNcricinfo.
What’s Next?
LSG (5-3) face Kolkata Knight Riders on April 21, eyeing a top-two spot. RR (2-6) take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 20, desperate to end their losing streak.
Match 36 was a Jaipur classic—Jaiswal’s fire and Suryavanshi’s debut spark weren’t enough as Avesh’s yorkers stole the show. X exploded with “Avesh is clutch!” and “RR’s choke hurts!”. A gut-wrenching loss for RR—what’s your moment? Share below!
