LSG vs RR, 44th Match at Lucknow, IPL, Apr 27 2024 - Match Result

11:40pm That will be all from us for tonight. Tomorrow, we have another double-header day lined up. The Gujarat Titans get things underway by hosting the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the afternoon, before the Chennai Super Kings take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Do join us for those games too. Until then, this is goodbye from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo. Goodnight and take care!

Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan Royals captain, is also the Player of the Match: (On the pitch) There was purchase with the new ball and when the ball got old, it was a nice wicket to bat on. (On their bowling) It was a very good team effort. The guys who come in and bowl the crucial overs, that is also important. They know what to do each ball, there is a lot of planning going on behind the scenes and we are doing well. At the start and at the end (we bowled well). In the middle overs, they took the game a little away from us. (On Jurel) Form is temporary and batting at No.5 is the toughest job in T20 cricket. A youngster like him, he has the composure as we have seen in Tests. We believed in him, he has been batting in the nets for one or two hours and we knew it was a matter of time (before he delivered). (On their perfect away record) We have been doing well. We have been a little lucky as well. We have to stick to the right processes. Mistakes are supposed to happen in T20 cricket, and we reiterate to stick to the process. The results are coming our way, so it is clear that we are doing something right. (On the next box he wants to tick) Next game, one game at a time (smiles).

KL Rahul, Lucknow Super Giants captain: We left about 20 runs out there. We did not get off to an ideal start but the partnership me and Hooda had…more crucial for the set batters to make their 50-60s into hundreds. They bowled well in the last couple of overs. We were in a good position and should have capitalised more, and got 20-25 runs more. (On RR hitting more sixes) It has become clearer that the team that hits more sixes wins the game. The ball has been travelling and it has been hard on them (the bowlers). Not much chat about it (hitting sixes). Before the game, the ball will be flying all over the place and everyone loves their range hitting. Every team does it and we are no different. We try to clear the boundaries and get used to hitting big sixes. In our team, the big hitters are Stoinis and Pooran, and we rely on them to clear these big boundaries. The other guys, like us, we try to time it and pick our spots. I felt hitting fours and picking up twos was better (for me at that stage). (On holding Bishnoi back) We were hoping to use Bishnoi in the later half. They kept putting us under pressure, and could not find a time to bring him on and by the time I brought him on, it was late. Plan was to keep him (Bishnoi) for late, and keep him for when Rovman and Hetmyer come out to bat.

Dhruv Jurel: I wanted to finish off the game whenever I got a chance. It is a curse and a blessing to be batting in this position. I was just trying to stay till the end and back my shots. In the middle overs, when the fielders are back, you have to pick your shots (and use the angles). At the start, my shots were hitting the fielders. Then I talked to Sanju bhai, and he told me to not pre-meditate and play the ball according to its merit. Then it (the shots) started flowing. (On his salute celebration) I do it for my father, did that in the Test matches also for him. Got an opportunity today to do the salute in front of him and that (celebration) was for him.

11:10pm Classy and clinical. That sums up this run-chase. It was set up by Buttler and Jaiswal in the powerplay, but the Royals lost their way just a bit once the field restrictions were lifted. Samson, though, had it all worked out in his head. He absorbed the pressure at that juncture and when he got along with Jurel, moved through the gears seamlessly.

Jurel deserves his share of credit too, rattling along to 52 off 34 and ensuring that RR never allowed the hosts a sniff. This night, though, belongs to the RR skipper and how he, almost without breaking sweat, got RR past the finish line and has now taken them up to 16 points after just nine matches.

Plenty to ponder for LSG. Their bowling plans and execution left a bit to be desired. Rahul's usage (or lack thereof) of Bishnoi was also puzzling. The leg-spinner bowled just one over (the 16th), even as the others went for runs. The decision to bring Mishra in as an Impact Player worked initially, although that meant LSG then ended up with too many bowlers. Stoinis, despite picking up a wicket in the one over he bowled, did not get a go again, further reiterating how LSG got a few things wrong on the field.

Just 11 needed off 12 now. Jurel on strike. Surely RR will not make a mess of it from here? Thakur to bowl the 19th

Pranav Suri: "It's going to be a Super Over tonight. You heard it here first. " -- LSG will have to do very well, and RR will have to do very badly from here for that to happen

Mohsin is back. RR need 27 off 18

The final time-out is done, and this is the Royals' game to lose. 37 needed off 24, and they have seven wickets in hand. Can Thakur sway it LSG's way?

Praneel: "Can someone explain why Bishnoi wasnt brought in earlier? I mean I know Mishra is highly experience but Bishnoi is a top contender for a place in India's T20 squad and he wont even bowl 3 overs??" -- Does feel a strange call, and after what happened in the last over, he might only end up bowling one over tonight...