Rajasthan Royals are under significant pressure as they prepare to host in-form Lucknow Super Giants in their upcoming IPL match on Saturday at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. With just two wins from their opening seven games, RR find themselves struggling both in the batting department and with fitness concerns over their captain, Sanju Samson. 

One of the major issues facing Rajasthan this season has been the inconsistent performances from their top order. Barring their young opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, no other batter has managed to fire consistently. The failure of their middle order has put immense pressure on the side to find a solid start. As the Royals look to build momentum, they will need more than just one player standing tall. 

Adding to RR’s worries is the uncertain fitness of their captain, Samson, who was forced to retire after hurting himself in RR's last game. His availability for the upcoming clash against LSG remains in doubt. If Samson is not available to play, then Riyan Parag is expected to lead the side. Parag also led RR in the first three games of the season, with Samson playing as a proper batter.

On the other hand, LSG have been steadily building momentum, winning four of their first seven games. Their form has been impressive, and they have been able to adapt to different situations and opponents. Moreover, LSG have been bolstered by the inclusion of tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav, whose return to the squad adds a much-needed weapon to their bowling attack.

Head-to-head

Matches - 5

RR won - 4

LSG won - 1

Rajasthan Royals probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson/Vaibhav Suryavanshi (c&wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya

Lucknow Super Giants probable XII: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c&wk) , Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi