Match overview
Lucknow Super Giants beat Rajasthan Royals by 2 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 19 April 2025. LSG posted 180/5 after winning the toss and choosing to bat, then held on through a tense final over as Rajasthan finished on 178/5. Avesh Khan was named Player of the Match for his death-overs bowling, which restricted Rajasthan to just 43 runs in the last phase after they had threatened to overhaul the target comfortably. It was the kind of finish that turns on individual deliveries.
Rajasthan's chase started in the best possible way. They scored 61 without loss in the powerplay, the joint-highest powerplay score of the match and well above the venue average. That platform made them clear favourites midway through the chase. The middle overs slowed them, though: 74 runs from overs seven to sixteen at the cost of two wickets kept LSG in it. When three wickets fell in the death phase for 43 runs, Rajasthan ran out of time.
For Lucknow, the win arrests a two-match losing run. Their own innings was built steadily: 46 in the powerplay, 75 for one wicket through the middle, and 59 in the final four overs. That shape gave their bowlers something to defend. For Rajasthan, a third successive defeat in 2025 will sting harder given how close they came.
Venue and conditions
Sawai Mansingh Stadium has staged 97 T20 matches. The average first-innings score sits at 165, making LSG's 180 a above-par effort, though not dramatically so. Teams chasing have won 64% of games here, which means Rajasthan were statistical favourites once they got that powerplay platform. The average powerplay score at the ground is 46 runs; Rajasthan hit exactly that in their first six overs of the first innings and comfortably exceeded it when batting.
Death-overs conditions at Sawai Mansingh tend to reward bowlers who can hold their nerve. The average death score across matches here is 39 runs in that phase. LSG conceded 59 in their own death overs when batting, which initially looked potentially costly. Rajasthan's 43 in the equivalent phase, however, came in below that average and cost them the match. Toss-winners have preferred to field at this venue 60% of the time, so LSG's decision to bat after winning the toss was a slight departure from the norm.
How to watch
IPL 2025 matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Live streaming is available through Sky Go for existing subscribers or via a NOW TV day pass for those without a Sky subscription. Coverage of evening fixtures in India typically begins in the late afternoon UK time, with most matches starting around 14:30 or 19:30 BST depending on the schedule slot.
Highlights and clips from IPL matches are also available on the Sky Sports app and website for subscribers. For fans travelling or outside a standard coverage zone, the IPL's official broadcaster arrangements vary by territory.
Recent form
Lucknow Super Giants came into this match with a mixed run: three wins over Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians were bookended by losses to Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings. Three wins from five in 2025 left them in reasonable shape, and this narrow victory in Jaipur extends that sequence.
Rajasthan Royals' form was considerably more concerning before kick-off. They had lost to Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans in three straight matches, with wins only against Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings offering any comfort. A third successive defeat here leaves Rajasthan in a difficult position in the 2025 standings, and their next fixtures will need to bring a sharper edge in the death overs if they are to turn the season around.
