Lucknow, April 22, 2026 — Rajasthan Royals (RR) snapped their two-match losing streak in style, securing a dominant 40-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. On a surface that proved difficult for stroke-making in the second half, RR successfully defended the lowest total of the season so far, propelling themselves to second place in the IPL 2026 standings.

Jadeja’s All-Round Heroics Steady the Royals

After being put in to bat, Rajasthan faced an early collapse, slipping to 32/3 within the powerplay. Experienced campaigner Ravindra Jadeja turned the tide with a composed, unbeaten 43 off 29 balls. His late-inning flourish, aided by a brisk 19 from Impact Player Shubham Dubey, helped RR reach a competitive 159/6.

Lucknow's pacers, led by Mohammed Shami (2/30) and Mohsin Khan (2/17), initially stifled the Royals' top order, but Mayank Yadav’s expensive final over (leaking 20 runs) shifted the momentum back to the visitors.

Archer and Burger Dismantle LSG Chase

Lucknow’s response never found its rhythm. While Mitchell Marsh waged a lone battle with a gritty 55 off 41 balls, the rest of the batting lineup crumbled. Key players like Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram fell for ducks, as LSG’s middle-order woes continued.

Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers, tearing through the lineup with figures of 3/20, while Nandre Burger chipped in with two crucial wickets. Jadeja capped off a Player of the Match performance by dismissing Nicholas Pooran, as LSG were eventually bundled out for 119 in 18 overs.

The 12th match of the IPL will be played today between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM at KKR's home ground, the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, while the toss will take place at 7:00 PM.

This will be the third match of the season for both teams. While Kolkata has suffered defeats in both of its matches so far, Punjab has won both of its opening encounters. The team defeated Gujarat in their first match and Chennai in their second.

**KKR's Impressive Record Against PBKS**

The Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings have faced each other 35 times to date. During this period, Kolkata has registered victories in 21 matches, while Punjab has won 13. One match also ended without a result. The two teams have clashed 14 times at Eden Gardens; on their home turf, Kolkata has won 9 matches, while Punjab has won 4. One match at this venue produced no result.

**Angkrish Scores Half-Centuries in Both Matches**

For Kolkata, several players have delivered stellar performances this season. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has scored 103 runs across two matches so far. He has maintained a strike rate of 177.58 and has scored two half-centuries, a testament to his excellent form. In the bowling department, Blessing Muzarabani has claimed 4 wickets in two matches. His best performance stands at 2/27, although his economy rate is on the higher side at 10.71.

**Vyshak Takes 5 Wickets in 2 Matches**

For Punjab, Cooper Connolly has appeared in magnificent form with the bat. He has scored 108 runs in two matches, batting at an impressive strike rate of 163.63. In terms of bowling, Vijaykumar Vyshak has played a pivotal role, having claimed 5 wickets across two matches.