Match 36 of the 2025 Indian Premier League is going to be exciting as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) face off against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur this Saturday. Both teams are coming in after tough losses and will be eager to grab a win to get back on track. The Royals had a rough game against the Delhi Capitals, while LSG lost a close one to the Chennai Super Kings by five wickets.
Let’s break down some exciting player matchups to look out for in this game.
Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Shardul Thakur

First up is Yashasvi Jaiswal going against Shardul Thakur. Jaiswal has really found his rhythm, scoring three fifties in his last four matches, and he’s surely feeling confident. He’s been a tough opponent, especially in the powerplay overs, and he’ll be looking to challenge Thakur, who has earned himself a reputation for picking up key wickets. Over the IPL season so far, Jaiswal’s strike rate has been impressive at 139.32 during those early overs, with only three dismissals out of seven innings. Meanwhile, Thakur has taken five wickets during this stage of the game, but he’s also been hit for runs with an economy rate of 10.53.
Nicholas Pooran vs Wanindu Hasaranga

Next, let’s focus on Nicholas Pooran going up against Wanindu Hasaranga. Pooran is crucial for LSG, especially in the middle overs, and he’s got the Orange Cap in his sights with a whopping 357 runs and a strike rate of 208.77. This is where he’ll need to navigate past Hasaranga’s tricky bowling, who may not have as many wickets (only seven so far) but has shown he can be a handful with his 9.77 economy rate. Interestingly, Pooran has faced Hasaranga before and has been dismissed twice in their past meetings across T20 games, even though he still has a solid strike rate of 155 against him.
Mitchell Marsh vs Jofra Archer

Moving on, we have the matchup of Mitchell Marsh against Jofra Archer. Marsh has been unstoppable this season with a strike rate of 171.51, and he opens the batting for LSG. His duel with Archer will be fun to watch, as Archer is always gunning for wickets with his fast deliveries. So far this season, five out of Archer’s seven wickets have come during the powerplay, making this clash even more intriguing.
Nitish Rana vs Digvesh Singh Rathi

Then, there’s the battle of Nitish Rana and Digvesh Singh Rathi. Rathi has made quite a name for himself with his economical bowling and amusing celebrations. Rana just scored a fifty and will be looking to put Rathi under some pressure. He hasn’t shied away from attacking spinners either, boasting a strike rate of 193.02 against them this season, while Rathi has impressed with nine dismissals and a fantastic economy of 7.42.
Rishabh Pant vs Mahesh Theekshana

Lastly, we look at Rishabh Pant versus Maheesh Theekshana. Pant loves playing against spinners, but he’ll need to watch out for Theekshana’s mystery deliveries that can catch him off guard in the middle part of the innings. Finally, David Miller faces Sandeep Sharma. Miller’s aggressive batting in the death overs can be decisive, but Sandeep’s clever variations might prove challenging. This type of matchup often turns the tide in tight games like this.
This match has all the makings for a thrilling showdown, as both teams are eager to turn their fortunes around. Fans can expect some nail-biting moments as these players go head-to-head on the field!