Jaipur: Avesh Khan emerged as the game-changer for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), claiming three crucial wickets in the death overs to secure a nail-biting 2-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a gripping IPL 2025 encounter. His late spell dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer, halting RR’s momentum during a tense chase.
Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored for the Royals with a fluent 74, but his effort went in vain as his side stumbled once again in a close finish. Rajasthan’s chase had started on a promising note, with 14-year-old debutant Vaibhav Suryavanshi making headlines by smashing a six off his very first delivery in the IPL. However, quick dismissals of Raghuvanshi and Nitish Rana put the Royals under pressure.
Earlier, LSG posted a competitive total of 180/5 after being put in to bat by stand-in RR skipper. Half-centuries from Aiden Markram (66) and Ayush Badoni (50) formed the backbone of the innings. The duo stitched a 76-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Abdul Samad’s explosive cameo — an unbeaten 30 off just 10 balls — added valuable runs in the death overs. For RR, Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2 for 31.
The match had its share of early fireworks, with Jofra Archer dismissing Mitchell Marsh for just four. Sandeep Sharma later struck in the final over of the powerplay, removing Nicholas Pooran for 11.
Key Highlights:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal led RR’s chase with a 74-run knock but couldn’t finish the game.
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi, aged 14, made an impactful debut by hitting a six off his first IPL ball.
- LSG’s innings was anchored by half-centuries from Markram (66) and Badoni (50).
- Abdul Samad finished strong with a fiery 30* off 10 balls.
- Avesh Khan picked up three vital wickets in the final two overs to swing the game in LSG’s favour.
- Sanju Samson missed the match due to a side strain, adding to RR’s woes.
Rajasthan Royals, already under pressure after three consecutive defeats, now find themselves in a must-win situation as the tournament progresses. With just two wins in the first half of the league, their chances of playoff qualification hang by a thread. Tactical decisions, injury concerns around Samson, and underwhelming performances in crunch moments continue to haunt the Royals.
Meanwhile, LSG remains in the top half of the table with four wins out of seven, despite a recent loss to Chennai Super Kings. Skipper Rishabh Pant’s return to form and Mayank Yadav’s recovery from injury are positive signs as the team looks to build consistency in the second half of the season.