IPL 2025 RR vs LSG | Avesh swings it Super Giants’ way

Lucknow Super Giants’ Avesh Khan appeals successfully for the wicket of Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag during the IPL match between Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 19, 2025
| Photo Credit: AP

It was another so-near-yet-so far moment for Rajasthan Royals as it suffered a two-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 52-ball-74 and teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s promising innings on debut in the IPL on Saturday.

Chasing 181 on a sluggish Sawai Mansingh Stadium surface, the 14 year-and-23 day-old Suryavanshi, who became the youngest player to make his debut in the tournament, did not look under pressure as he hit Shardul Thakur for a six and followed it up with a six and a boundary off Avesh Khan, en route his 20-ball-34.

In the absence of captain Sanju Samson, who is yet to recover from his lower abdomen injury, Suryavanshi forged an 85-run opening stand with Jaiswal before being stumped off Aiden Markram.

However, with the seasoned Jaiswal bringing up his fourth half-century of the season, and adding 62 runs with stand-in captain Riyan Parag, Royals looked on course for a much-needed win, before Avesh (three for 37) turned things around, dismissing both in a span of five deliveries.

Royals needed only nine runs off the final over, but Avesh came up with a brilliant performance. Dhruv Jurel and Shubham Dubey struggled as the home team fell short.

Earlier, Parag shuffled his bowlers well. It was a disciplined show by the bowling unit, led by Jofra Archer, going into the 20th over despite fifties by Markram and Ayush Badoni.

But Abdul Samad hit four sixes off Sandeep Sharma to help his side add 27 off the last six balls. It was the joint-most Sandeep has conceded in an over in IPL. In the end, that cost the Royals dear.