IPL 2024, Match 4: RR vs LSG - IPL Records & Stats at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

24th March 2024 will mark the second doubleheader of the opening weekend of IPL 2024. Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur. The two teams finished fifth and third respectively in last year's edition of the marquee T20 tournament after the league stage. 

Both teams have made significant moves ahead of the 17th edition of the tournament. The most eye-catching being a trade between these two teams where they exchanged Avesh Khan and Devdutt Padikkal into each other's rosters. RR also signed Caribbean all-rounder Rovman Powell in their other major signing. LSG did not make any major moves at the auction but added Shivam Mavi and David Willey among others to their team. 

Both teams will be hoping that they can do better than last year, especially LSG who have lost the eliminator two years in a row. RR won the inaugural IPL title and finished runners-up in IPL 2022, but have blown hot and cold throughout their IPL history.

Sawai Mansingh Stadium Pitch Report

The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is rather unpredictable, although like everywhere in India, it will be more helpful to spin rather than pace and will provide the basis for a healthy total and a cracking game. 

IPL Stats & Records at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur 

A total of 52 matches have been played at this stadium. As many as 34 of these matches have been won while batting second. The number of no results at this ground is nil. The average first innings total is just 160.

RR vs LSG Strategies and Match-ups

RR's opening pair is very dangerous and can take the game away from the opposition. If Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal can fire, then RR might as well walk away with the game in the powerplay especially when bolstered by the finishing of Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell. 

LSG's success is very dependent on their star batters like Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran. Trent Boult will be looking to neutralise LSG's top-heavy batting in the powerplay. The important matchups for this match are R Ashwin vs Quinton de Kock, Trent Boult vs KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal vs KL Rahul. 

Also Check: RR vs LSG Dream11 Prediction

RR vs LSG Player Battles to Watch Out For:

R Ashwin vs Quinton de Kock:

Quinton de Kock's struggles against off-spin aren't particularly a secret. This is reflected in his head-to-head record against R Ashwin in the IPL. In ten innings, these two have faced each other for as many as 75 deliveries. Ashwin has dismissed the southpaw four times with an average of 21 and a strike rate of just 112.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Purple Cap

Ravi Bishnoi vs Rovman Powell:

These two players have faced each other in 11 balls in three innings. Powell has gotten out to Bishnoi twice in this period while scoring only three runs. An average of 1.5 with a strike rate of 27.27 does not bode well for Powell in case he is to come up against Bishnoi in the encounter. 

Also Check: IPL 2024 Orange Cap

X-Factors for RR vs LSG:

Rajasthan Royals: 

It is hard to look past Jos Buttler among RR's key players. He had a hard time in 2023, especially at the business end of the tournament which ended up costing RR a place in the playoffs. But, the flamboyant batter is expected to come good this time around. 

Lucknow Super Giants: 

Nicholas Pooran's big-hitting prowess makes him a key player with the bat at any point in the game. He can turn any situation around on its head, especially in a high-run chase. Nicholas Pooran is a very important player for LSG  and might just become the difference between the two sides.