LSG suffered their fourth consecutive loss in IPL 2026 as they went down tamely by 40 runs in Lucknow. Both teams came into this contest on a losing streak, but RR found a way to post a competitive total on a slow pitch and then bowled really well to climb upwards to 2nd in the points table. LSG are currently in 9th place and has some work to do going forward. There were areas where LSG faltered, and we will try to analyse them for you here.
Conceding 49 runs off 25 balls in the backend of the innings shifted the momentum
LSG started well with the ball as they removed the fame top 3 of RR very quickly inside the power play. They kept chipping away at the wickets even in the middle phase and had the measure of RR for the majority of the innings. They chipped away at the wickets to have RR in a spot of bother at 110/6 in 15.5 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was out there in the middle and was joined by Impact player Shubham Dubey. The feeling was that RR would get a maximum score of around 140. But things started to fall apart at LSG.
Shubham Dubey came in as an Impact Player and played a nice hand. But it was Ravindra Jadeja who stood out and played the perfect role of a finisher. He played the situation perfectly and accelerated when it mattered. They took full toll of Mayank Yadav and got the advantage from loose bowling. LSG should have restricted RR to 130-140 after having them at 77/5 at one stage. But they let the Men In Pink off the hook through bad bowling in the death overs phase.
LSG just needs to iron out their flaws in the death overs and be more clinical when they have their opponents on the ropes. They need to bowl good lines and lengths in the death overs. This is an area they need to iron out because the Super Giants are running out of time this season and must get their act together in all facets of the game. If they can do that, they may make a comeback.
Losing 3 wickets early inside 3 overs of power play dented LSG’s confidenceÂ
LSG had a gettable target of 160 to chase in 20 overs despite the death bowling woes. 160 should have been chased even on a slow pitch. But for that, LSG needed a strong, solid start at the top. But they got the opposite. They lost early wickets as Ayush Badoni fell for a golden duck to a runout. Rishabh Pant, batting at 3, fell for a bronze duck while Aiden Markram fell for a 6-ball duck. The LSG team was reduced to 11/3 inside 3 overs, and there was no way back for a team that lacks batting depth.
Mitchell Marsh tried and scored a valiant 55 while Nicholas Pooran struggled for fluency and scored at less than a run a ball, where he scored 22 off 25 balls. But the home team was always playing catch-up cricket and never found the mojo to do well. Yes, Marsh and Pooran added 43 runs to show some resistance for the 4th wicket, but Pooran fell at the wrong time. Himmat Singh came and hung about for a bit with Marsh, but they were always battling the run rate on a slow pitch. In the end, on a slow pitch, they capitulated to be bowled out for 119 in 18 overs.
The batting is the major concern for LSG, and they have more questions than answers at the moment. They have messed up the opening pair, which they should not have, and now are paying the price for a dysfunctional middle order. There is no depth despite the impact player rule being there. It just shows where they stand, and they deserve to be in 9th place after 4 consecutive losses this season.
Mayank Yadav’s rustiness with the ball dented LSG’s chances
The other notable thing to witness in this match was the return of Mayank Yadav, as he was out of competitive cricket for over a year. He returned, but looked very rusty out there. While the other pace bowlers bowled their hearts out and contained their batters and kept taking wickets, Mayank had an awful day with the ball that allowed RR to stay in the contest.
Mayank showed rustiness and gave away free runs to the RR batters, who enjoyed his pace in the end overs. He just had pace and no line and length control. RR took full advantage of it and scored a lot of runs in the death overs phase. The other bowlers bowled 12 overs and picked up 6 wickets for 76 runs for the pacers. Mayank alone gave away 56 runs in 4 overs and allowed RR in. He never looked like taking a wicket. With Pant not using any other bowler, like Badoni or Markram, to at least fill in and reduce Mayank’s workload for the day, it meant disaster for LSG.
Mayank needs to be up for it and improve his game by leaps and bounds. Time is running out for him and LSG in this tournament. If he continues bowling the way he is, then the day will not be far when he is sidelined from the team totally. Because LSG do not have time on their hands. They need results and quickly, as another underwhelming season awaits them again.
What Lies Ahead
RR, with this win, has climbed to 2nd in the points table for the time being, while LSG are languishing in 9th place. Both teams are set to face off again next in the reverse fixture in Jaipur. Let’s see if LSG are able to get revenge on RR at the Pink City. We are all set for Cricket’s El Clásico as MI takes on CSK later tonight. It’s 7th vs 8th in the points table. Who will have bragging rights in this clash? Only time will tell.
Also Read: LSG vs RR: Ravindra Jadeja’s All-Round Show Stuns LSG