Pant Opts to Bowl as LSG Ring Changes Against RR in Lucknow Clash

Lucknow, April 2026 : Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 32 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Both teams entered the contest under pressure, struggling for form in recent matches. LSG came into the game on the back of three consecutive defeats, while RR had lost their previous two encounters. Adding to the stakes, LSG were yet to secure a win at home this season, and RR had not managed a victory in away fixtures, making the clash crucial for both sides.

After winning the toss, Pant explained the decision to bowl first and highlighted key changes in the lineup. LSG brought in Digvesh Rathi and Mayank Yadav, replacing M Siddharth and Avesh Khan in an attempt to strengthen their bowling attack.

“We have been playing in these conditions but are still figuring things out. We want to put runs on the board eventually, but the last few matches have been challenging. Still, we enjoy these situations,” Pant said at the toss. He added that the team is seeking stability and backing its players despite the recent setbacks. Pant also expressed support for Nicholas Pooran, underlining the team’s faith in its core group.

On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag opted to stick with an unchanged playing XI. Interestingly, Parag admitted he preferred losing the toss, suggesting confidence in his team’s ability to adapt.

“I actually told my boys I wanted to lose the toss, so I’m happy with how it turned out. We’ve been batting well, though we made some miscalculations in the middle overs in the last game,” Parag said. He praised the performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling their batting efforts “brilliant.”

Parag emphasised that consistency across all 40 overs remains key to securing victories. “The message is simple — we need to play good cricket throughout the match. Only then can we expect to win,” he added.

LSG’s playing XI features a mix of experience and youth, including international names like Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Mohammed Shami. The inclusion of Mayank Yadav adds pace to the bowling attack, while Digvesh Rathi provides an additional spin option.

Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, boast a strong lineup with players such as Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jofra Archer, giving them balance in both batting and bowling departments.

With both teams eager to break their losing streaks, the match promises to be a high-stakes encounter. For LSG, the focus will be on ending their home drought, while RR will aim to overcome their struggles on the road and return to winning ways in the tournament.

Playing XIs:

Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, and Mayank Yadav

Impact Substitutes: Himmat Singh, George Linde, M Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, and Abdul Samad

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, and Brijesh Sharma

Impact Substitutes: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Yashraj Punja, Shubham Dubey, and Tushar Deshpande