Rajasthan Royals caught in a ‘must win’ situation as hosts face LSG in crucial IPL match

Jaipur: The heart-breaking Super Over defeat against Delhi Capitals will have to be forgotten quickly as Rajasthan Royals lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants in the crucial IPL match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Saturday.
The third straight loss have made matters worse for the Royals; their qualification bid has become even tougher. With just a couple of wins to their credit at the halfway stage, the remaining seven matches will all be a must-win ones for the Sanju Samson-led team, who are lying in the eighth spot. To achieve the magic figure of 16 points for making the cut for the play-offs, RR will have to win six matches out of seven.
Lucknow Super Giants are far better placed in fifth spot with eight points under their new skipper Rishabh Pant.
Although LSG were at the receiving end in their last home encounter against Chennai Super Kings on Monday, which Dhoni's boys won by 5 wickets with three balls to spare, they have looked good with three wins in their last four ties.
Samson has a lot to worry about as he braces up to face resurgent LSG. Samson, RR's most successful captain, had to retire hurt after making 31 off 19 balls due to rib cage injury against DC on Wednesday. He is racing against the time to be fit for the LSG clash. According to the sources, Samson will go for a scan later this evening and the team management will then take a decision on his inclusion in the playing XII.
The Royals will be searching for their maiden win in their second home match here after they were outclassed by RCB by 9 wickets last Sunday. After posting a decent total of 173 on board, RR bowlers failed to control RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, who notched up brisk fifties to steer their side to an easy win in the 18th over.
Likely XII
RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C/WK), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey.
LSG: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi.