While not the longest established of rivalries in the Indian Premier League (IPL), fans have witnessed exhilarating matches, nail-biting finishes and individual brilliance between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). The two sides have obviously developed a fierce rivalry ever since Lucknow was introduced in the IPL four seasons back.
The head-to-head is currently in favor of the Rajasthan Royals who have won most encounters against the two sides. Nonetheless, Lucknow Super Giants have also produced some remarkable wins which has kept the unpredictability of every match.
Overview of the Rivalry
- First Meeting: IPL 2022
- Total Matches Played: 7
- Rajasthan Royals Wins: 5
- Lucknow Super Giants Wins: 2
- Largest RR Victory: 40 runs (IPL 2026)
- Narrowest LSG Victory: 2 runs (IPL 2025)
There have been some close finishes and top class individual performances too from Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran and Avesh Khan.
IPL 2022: The Beginning
Match 1 – Rajasthan Royals Won by 3 Runs
The two franchises had their first-ever IPL match-up in IPL 2022. Rajasthan Royals scored what seemed a competitive total and then successfully defended it.
Key highlights:
- Good start by RR’s top-order batters
- Excellent death bowling
- LSG fell short by just 3 runs
In the close finish, it was immediately apparent that contests between these teams would seldom be easy.
Match 2 – Rajasthan Royals Won by 24 Runs
RR thrashed LSG in the very next match of the same season.
Highlights:
- Consistent batting performance
- Disciplined bowling attack
- Rajasthan secured a double over Lucknow for the season
With two wins after the first two matches in this rivalry, Rajasthan Royals were 2-0 up.
IPL 2023: Lucknow’s First Victory
Match result – Lucknow Super Giants Won by 10 Runs
IPL 2023: Lucknow end Rajasthan’s winning run
Important moments:
- LSG posted a defendable score
- Bowlers kept RR under pressure
- The sub-par score put tremendous pressure on the middle order of Rajasthan during the chase.
With this win, Lucknow had a morale booster as it showed that they can match one of the strongest teams in the league.
IPL 2024: Rajasthan Dominates Again
Match 1 – Rajasthan Royals Won by 20 Runs
Match 1 IPL 2024 – Rajasthan beats up on Chennai27th March 2024
Key performances:
- Strong top-order batting
- Effective spin bowling
- LSG could not keep up with the run-rate
RR would continue to show why they must be one of the strongest sides in this competition.
Match 2 – Rajasthan Royals defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 Wickets
One of the greatest matches in this historic rivalry occurred in the second clash of the season.
Highlights:
- LSG scored a massive 196
- RR responded brilliantly
- Rajasthan made 199 runs in pursuit with swashbuckling batting
The chase had secured an unlikely high point in one of cricket’s most storied rivalries and also revealed the batting depth of a well-rounded Rajasthan Royals unit.
At the conclusion of IPL 2024, RR had a 4-1 head-to-head record.
IPL 2025: A Thrilling Encounter
Lucknow Super Giants by 2 runs
One of the most thrilling matches between the two sides came in IPL 2025.
Lucknow posted:
- 180/5 in 20 overs
Rajasthan finished:
- 178/5 in 20 overs
Top performers included:
- Aiden Markram for LSG
- Yashasvi Jaiswal for RR
- Similarly, Avesh Khan bowled an even more influential role towards the end as he returned with commendable figures of 4-0-15-2.
The contest came to the last over when Lucknow maintained their nerve for a thrilling two-run win.
It also brought down the margin in the rivalry for Rajasthan and gave fans a wake-up call that LSG could win under pressure.
IPL 2026: Rajasthan Strikes Back
Match in Lucknow, RR Won by 40 runs
Another defining moment in the rivalry came when IPL 2026 got underway.
Rajasthan Royals:
- 159/6
Lucknow Super Giants:
- 119 all out
Major talking points:
- RR’s bowlers dominated
- LSG’s batting lineup collapsed
- But, Rajasthan thumped the Gujarat team with a resounding 40-run victory
The triumph also saw Rajasthan rise in the points table and helped them further even their all-time head-to-head record against Lucknow.
Jaipur – RR Won by 7 Wickets
Then again Rajasthan beat Lucknow, later in the season.
Young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the star of the match, scoring 93 runs off just 38 balls and leading RR to an easy chase.
It was one of the best innings of IPL 2026, and it also ensured that Rajasthan was still in contention for a playoff spot.
Head-to-Head Statistics
| Category | LSG | RR |
| Matches Played | 7 | 7 |
| Wins | 2 | 5 |
| Highest Score | 196 | 199 |
| Lowest Score | 119 | 144 |
| Win Percentage | 28.60% | 71.40% |
In this rivalry, without a doubt ahead of the game is Rajasthan Royals.
Top Players in the Rivalry
Sanju Samson
He has scored well against Lucknow time and again, and is among the highest run-getters in this match up.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Jaiswal has played many match-winning knocks against LSG and is one of the leading run-scorers in rivalries.
KL Rahul
KL Rahul, who was Lucknow captain during his time spent at the IPL franchise, played a number of crucial innings against RR – often holding together their batting.
Avesh Khan
Avesh, who has proved to be one of the best bowlers in LSG v RR clashes with a match-winning spell (2025 victory)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The teenage sensation burst onto the scene in IPL 2026 with a scintillating 93-run knock against Lucknow.
Why This Rivalry Is Special
With that in mind, here are a few reasons why LSG vs RR could shape up to be an exciting IPL contest:
- Close finishes and dramatic endings.
- You can see both teams have a very strong batting line up.
- High-quality spin and pace attacks.
- Young India stars are all about talent.
- Keeping outside of the playoffs hunt in recent years.
This match-up, unlike some of the older IPL rivalries that would probably come to mind since this is such a recognisable rivalry, wasn’t heated very long before it became as it has now gotten its derby status thanks to competitive nature and entertaining cricket.
Read More: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans Timeline | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Timeline | Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report
Conclusion
Timeline of Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals: A young IPL rivalry that has already been a source of memorable moments There has been no shortage of high drama, from Rajasthan’s dominance early in 2022 to Lucknow edging the way with a two-run victory in 2025 to RR bouncing back strong in 2026 and everything else since then.
The head-to-head battle is currently led 5-2 in favour of Rajasthan Royals, who have fared better so far. However, Lucknow Super Giants had enough to worry RR in the next editions. This rivalry has delivered plenty of IPL moments over the years and is sure to do many more as both franchises develop.
Shivani Singh is a cricket author who writes about match updates, player news, schedules, points tables, and cricket records. She shares easy-to-read and accurate content to keep cricket fans updated with the latest happenings from IPL, World Cup, and international cricket.
