The 63rd match of the Indian Premier League 2022 will have RR take on LSG with the playoff spots on the line. The two teams will go head to head at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in the evening fixture on May 15.
The Super Giants are placed second on the table with 16 points from 12 matches, having won eight matches, with a net run-rate of 0.385. They are almost through to the playoffs, but a victory here would confirm their berth. Their four-match winning streak came to an end in the last game, where they were hammered by 62 runs against Gujarat Titans.
On a tricky deck, the Super Giants bowlers did a decent job to restrict the Titans to 144/4 in 20 overs, with Avesh Khan picking two for 26. Chasing the target, LSG lost both their openers inside five overs. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually folded for just 82.
The Royals, meanwhile, have 14 points to their name from 12 matches with a net run-rate of 0.228. They have won six games in the competition and desperately need one more win to qualify for the playoffs. Form, however, isn’t on their side as they’ve lost three out of the last four matches. RR suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Capitals in their most recent fixture.
Rajasthan Royals’ big guns failed, but Ravichandran Ashwin’s 50 off 38 and Devdutt Padikkal’s 30-ball 48 propelled them to a fighting total of 160/6. Trent Boult struck on the second ball, but then a 144-run partnership for second wicket from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh completely took the game away from the Royals.
The last time LSG and RR met, the Royals had come out victorious by just three runs in a last-ball thriller, with Yuzvendra Chahal claiming a four-fer.
Key players
RR opener Jos Buttler is currently holding the orange cap for most runs in the IPL 2022. The Englishman has smashed 625 runs from 12 matches at an average of 57 while striking at nearly 150.
Buttler has blasted three hundreds and three fifties in the competition. His ability to construct the innings and take on the weak links makes him a key player.
GT captain KL Rahul has been very consistent in the last five seasons. The right-hand batter has succumbed to new ball movement on occasions but has managed to produce impactful performances. He has scored 459 runs in IPL 2022 at an average of 46 and strike rate of 140. Rahul has smashed two hundreds and as many fifties in the competition.
Mohsin Khan has pace and has displayed great control with the new ball. He has only played six matches but has claimed 10 wickets at an incredible economy of 5.19. Mohsin’s best bowling figures reads 4 for 10. The left-arm pacer will have the task of making the new ball talk against Rajasthan Royals.
Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing edition of the IPL. The wiley leg-spinner has scalped 23 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 7.54 while striking at every 12.5 balls. He has claimed one five-wicket haul and a four-for in the competition. Chahal has the ability to change the entire game on its head in one over and remains a key for the Royals.
Prediction
RR have struggled to find the right balance throughout the IPL 2022. Their middle and lower middle order looks in complete disarray. Buttler’s form has dipped a bit, and the Royals would be hoping for him to fire. Shimron Hetmyer could be back for this game, and that should bolster their batting. The bowling unit could see a change with Kuldeep Sen going for plenty in recent games.
LSG are heavily dependent on their top three KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda to get runs. The rest of the unit needs to step up. The bowling attack looks as potent as ever, with the likes of Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Jason Holder and Dushmantha Chameera in good form. Ravi Bishnoi’s exclusion, however, was head-scratching.
Overall, LSG look a lot solid on paper. The contest could well boil down to the two bowling attacks and Buttler- Rahul. The Super Giants, who have a slight edge, should win this clash.
