IPL 2022: Match 20 - Predicted Rajasthan Royals Playing XI vs Lucknow Super Giants

The Rajasthan Royals will be up against the Lucknow Super Giants in Match 20 of IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 10. After having won their first two games convincingly, RR faced their first defeat of the season at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore and would be eager to get back to winning ways.

However, it would not be easy for the 2008 champions as they are challenging Lucknow, who have been on a roll so far. After their five-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in the season opener, LSG have staged a strong comeback and have got the better of CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Delhi Capitals respectively. Therefore, an interesting contest is expected between two of these consistent sides.

While RR lost to RCB in their previous encounter, they would not be making too many chopping and changes but, instead, make only one change in their playing XI by roping in South African batter Rassie Van der Dussen and benching an underfire Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Here’s a look at the Rajasthan Royals’ Probable Playing XI against Lucknow Super Giants

Openers: Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal

Jos Buttler has been ensuring brisk starts for the Rajasthan Royals and he came to the fore by scoring the first century of IPL 2022 against the Mumbai Indians. The Englishman has so far amassed 205 runs from three matches averaging 102.50 and a strike rate of 143.36 and he would be expected to continue his outstanding run against LSG’s lethal bowling attack.

Devdutt Padikkal is yet to fire all cylinders having donned the new jersey. He has got starts on a couple of occasions but, failed to convert them into big scores. The southpaw has so far managed 85 runs including 41 and 37. The emerging batter would be looking forward to making a statement against LSG.

Middle Order: Rassie van der Dussen, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sanju Samson (c and wk)

RR have a rock-solid middle-order that comprises skipper Sanju Samson and the Caribbean power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer. Samson has scored 93 runs from three outings including a half-century against SRH in the opener. Hetmyer on the other hand has been consistent with the bat having amassed 109 runs. He remained unbeaten on 42 runs from 31 deliveries against RCB in the last game and would be hoping to play another impactful knock.

South African middle-order sensation Rassie Van der Dussen would be given a chance ahead of youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal has not made a statement having only managed scores of 20, 1, and 4 respectively. The Proteas limited-overs sensation is currently ranked seventh in the ICC T20I batters rankings.

All-Rounders: Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin

Riyan Parag has been one of RR’s promising all-rounders for the past few years. The youngster has not been in the best of form this season and has only managed 17 runs from two games and went wicketless in the only game that he got to bowl against Hyderabad. He would be hoping to rediscover his rhythm with both bat and ball at the earliest.

Ravichandran Ashwin on the other hand is a seasoned off-spinner and can also manage some big hits lower down the order. While the Tamil Nadu cricketer has not yet got a chance to showcase his batting abilities, he is also yet to make the ball do the talking having registered a solitary scalp from three games. Rajasthan would be hoping for him to come out with all guns blazing against LSG.

Bowlers: Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna Yuzvendra Chahal, and Navdeep Saini

The Rajasthan Royals bowling line-up has been promising so far. While they have a good pace attack, wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been the pick of the bowlers. Chahal has registered seven scalps to his name with his best figures of 3/22 coming against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and two each against MI and RCB respectively.

New Zealand speedster Trent Boult has picked up five wickets including two wickets each against RCB and SRH respectively. His pace bowling partners Prasidh Krishna and Navdeep Saini have taken three wickets apiece. In the absence of Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, the onus will be on these two to work in tandem with Boult to provide vital breakthroughs for the Royals.

RR Predicted XI: Jos Buttler,Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jimmy Neesham, Navdeep Saini, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal