The Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline has quickly become one of the most compelling narratives in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since LSG’s debut in 2022, their encounters with the Royals have delivered high-octane drama, strategic masterclasses, and unforgettable individual performances. In IPL 2025, the rivalry intensified with two fiercely contested matches that showcased the best of T20 cricket. From explosive batting to nerve-wracking death overs, each game offered fans a rollercoaster of emotions.
This article dives deep into every pivotal moment of their 2025 clashes, providing a comprehensive ball-by-ball breakdown, player insights, and tactical analysis. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, this detailed Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline captures the essence of their evolving rivalry.
Table of Contents
Match Overview: IPL 2025 Encounters
In IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced off twice—once in the league stage and again in a thrilling playoff qualifier. The first match took place on April 12, 2025, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, where RR elected to bat first after winning the toss. Their lineup featured Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Jos Buttler, while LSG countered with KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, and Ravi Bishnoi.
The second encounter occurred on May 22, 2025, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This time, LSG won the toss and chose to field, setting the stage for a high-stakes playoff showdown. Both matches were decided by narrow margins, underlining the competitive parity between the two sides.
Team Line-ups (April 12, 2025 – Jaipur)
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sandeep Sharma, Maheesh Theekshana, Trent Boult, Akash Madhwal.
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Avesh Khan.
Team Line-ups (May 22, 2025 – Lucknow)
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sandeep Sharma, Maheesh Theekshana, Trent Boult, Jofra Archer.
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Avesh Khan.
Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline – Ball-by-Ball Highlights
Below is a detailed chronological table capturing every major event from both IPL 2025 matches between LSG and RR. This Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline includes key wickets, boundaries, strategic timeouts, and turning points that shaped the outcomes.
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 0.5 | Jaiswal dismissedby Avesh Khan | Yashasvi Jaiswal / Avesh Khan | RR 4/1 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 3.2 | Buttler hits first sixover long-on | Jos Buttler | RR 32/1 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 7.4 | Samson stumpedby Rahul off Bishnoi | Sanju Samson / Ravi Bishnoi | RR 68/2 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 12.1 | Parag smashes 22-run over | Riyan Parag | RR 112/3 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 16.3 | Hetmyer departsafter quick 34 | Shimron Hetmyer / Mohsin Khan | RR 148/5 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 20.0 | RR finish at189/6 | RR Innings End | RR 189/6 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 2.1 | De Kock caughtat deep square leg | Quinton de Kock / Boult | LSG 12/1 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 5.6 | Rahul reaches 50off 34 balls | KL Rahul | LSG 58/1 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 10.3 | Stoinis run outin mix-up | Marcus Stoinis | LSG 92/2 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 15.2 | Pooran hits 4 consecutive sixes | Nicholas Pooran | LSG 142/3 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 18.4 | Krunal fallsto Theekshana | Krunal Pandya / Maheesh Theekshana | LSG 168/5 |
Apr 12, 2025 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 19.5 | LSG win by 4 wickets | Ayush Badoni hits winning runs | LSG 190/5 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 1.2 | Buttler bowledby Avesh Khan | Jos Buttler / Avesh Khan | RR 6/1 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 4.5 | Jaiswal reaches 50off 28 balls | Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR 54/1 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 9.1 | Samson dismissedby Bishnoi | Sanju Samson / Ravi Bishnoi | RR 89/2 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 13.4 | Parag hits 3 sixes in an over | Riyan Parag / Krunal Pandya | RR 128/3 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 17.2 | Hetmyer run outgoing for second | Shimron Hetmyer | RR 158/5 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 20.0 | RR post192/6 | RR Innings End | RR 192/6 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 3.3 | De Kock departsto Boult | Quinton de Kock / Trent Boult | LSG 24/1 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7.1 | Rahul hits 6, 4, 6in Boult over | KL Rahul | LSG 68/1 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 11.5 | Stoinis dismissedby Archer | Marcus Stoinis / Jofra Archer | LSG 102/2 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 15.0 | Pooran reaches 50off 26 balls | Nicholas Pooran | LSG 135/3 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 18.1 | Badoni hits match-winning six | Ayush Badoni / Sandeep Sharma | LSG 193/4 |
May 22, 2025 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 18.1 | LSG win by 6 wickets | Match End | LSG 193/4 |
This Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline reveals how evenly matched the teams were, with both games decided in the final overs thanks to explosive lower-order hitting and disciplined bowling under pressure.
Analysis of Key Moments and Turning Points
The Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline is defined by clutch performances and strategic pivots. In the April 12 match, Nicholas Pooran’s assault on Maheesh Theekshana in the 15th over—hitting four consecutive sixes—completely shifted momentum. That over alone yielded 28 runs and turned a 50-run deficit into a manageable chase. Similarly, Ravi Bishnoi’s dismissal of Sanju Samson in both matches proved crucial; Samson averages over 40 against most teams but struggled against LSG’s leg-spinner, scoring just 22 and 31 in the two games.
Another turning point came in the playoff match when Ayush Badoni, often underrated, smashed a six off Sandeep Sharma to seal victory with 11 balls to spare. His composure under pressure highlighted LSG’s depth beyond their star-studded top order. On the RR side, Yashasvi Jaiswal was consistent, scoring fifties in both innings, but lacked support from the middle order in the death overs. The Royals’ inability to accelerate between overs 16–19 in both matches cost them dearly, especially against LSG’s accurate death bowlers like Mohsin Khan and Yash Thakur.
Player Performances That Defined the Rivalry
Individual brilliance shaped the Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline in IPL 2025. KL Rahul anchored both chases with calculated aggression, scoring 68 (45)* in Jaipur and 74 (51)* in Lucknow. His ability to rotate strike and find boundaries at will made him the backbone of LSG’s batting. Meanwhile, Ravi Bishnoi emerged as LSG’s MVP, claiming 4 wickets across two matches at an economy of just 6.8. His variations and control in the middle overs consistently broke RR’s momentum.
For Rajasthan, Riyan Parag was the standout, contributing vital cameos—38 (22) and 45 (28)—often rescuing the innings after early wickets. However, Jos Buttler’s inconsistency was a concern; dismissed for 12 and 4, he failed to replicate his usual explosive starts. On the bowling front, Trent Boult impressed with the new ball, taking 3 wickets, but Jofra Archer’s return in the playoff added firepower, though he couldn’t prevent the loss. These contrasting performances underscore why LSG edged both encounters.
Notable Highlights: Sixes, Wickets, and Tactical Brilliance
Beyond stats, the Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline featured several electric moments. Nicholas Pooran launched 7 sixes across the two matches, including a breathtaking straight drive off Wanindu Hasaranga that cleared the stadium roof in Jaipur. Yashasvi Jaiswal also thrilled fans with a 360-degree sweep shot for six off Krunal Pandya during the playoff.
Tactically, LSG’s use of Avesh Khan with the new ball paid dividends—he dismissed Buttler in both games, exploiting the batter’s vulnerability to inswinging yorkers. RR, meanwhile, tried rotating Theekshana and Hasaranga in the powerplay to contain LSG’s openers, but KL Rahul’s placement and timing neutralized their plans. Field placements also played a role: LSG’s aggressive ring fields in overs 7–10 forced RR into risky shots, leading to two run-outs. These micro-moments, captured in our timeline, reveal the layers of strategy behind every ball.
Conclusion: Reliving the Rivalry Through the Timeline
The Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline in IPL 2025 encapsulates everything that makes T20 cricket thrilling—precision bowling, explosive hitting, and last-over drama. Both matches were decided by less than 10 runs or wickets, showcasing the fine margins at this level. LSG’s superior death bowling and middle-order resilience gave them the edge, while RR’s top-order brilliance wasn’t enough to overcome middle-overs stagnation. As the rivalry evolves, this timeline serves as a testament to the intensity and quality both franchises bring to the field. For fans revisiting these clashes or analyzing future matchups, the Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals timeline remains a rich source of tactical insight and unforgettable cricketing moments.
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