Lucknow Super Giants slipped to a fourth straight loss, as Rajasthan Royals secured a 40-run win in TATA IPL 2026. Speaking on Star Sports and JioHotstar shows, RR all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar assessed Jadeja's innings, Rishabh Pant's form, and the key MI-CSK clash.
Jadeja said batting was difficult against LSG's fast bowlers on red soil. He noted extra bounce and seam, and repeated loss of wickets. He and Donovan decided to bat deep, while still taking selective risks, to push RR towards a competitive total in tough conditions.
Jadeja described planning for Mayank Yadav's expected final over. He wanted to use Mayank's pace, with a short leg-side boundary, and mid-off and mid-on inside. Three balls were short, then
one full as a bluff. Jadeja still found a boundary, adding vital 20 runs.
RR all-rounder on bowling slower and role flexibility
On bowling, Jadeja observed Digvesh Rathi's balls sometimes stopped in the wicket. That encouraged him to bowl slower on the same pitch. He aimed to deny pace to Mitch Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, both powerful hitters, while varying his speed to avoid becoming predictable.
Jadeja said he leaves personal ego at the hotel. He focuses only on the role asked by the team. He stressed that getting out early would have cost 20-25 runs. That, he felt, could have made LSG's chase easier on this particular surface.
He accepted not always bowling his full quota in previous games. Jadeja said each T20 match, surface, and situation is different. If the team thinks he has a negative match-up against a batter, he accepts it. Sometimes such calls work, sometimes they do not.
Bangar critiques Pant's shot selection and mindset
Sanjay Bangar felt Rishabh Pant's early shots did not look right. He highlighted Pant's first three balls, all attempted across the line. For a top-order batter with international runs, Bangar said this would disappoint him, adding that Pant's body language showed clear self-awareness.
Bangar felt early-innings clarity would help Pant gain better returns. He suggested Pant refine his starting approach, rather than rely on risky swings. According to Bangar, a clear method in the first few balls would allow Pant to use his experience, and stabilise Delhi's top order.
MI form, Rohit's role, and build-up to MI-CSK
On the MI vs CSK rivalry, Bangar said confidence was not an issue for Mumbai Indians. He pointed to recent hundreds by Quinton de Kock and Tilak Varma. Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball, plus spin support from Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner, pleased the expert.
Bangar said Will Jacks' availability helped MI approach their best combination. On Rohit Sharma, he advised using him even as a pure batter. Strong starts were crucial, he added. A solid Rohit-de Kock stand could ease pressure on Suryakumar Yadav and the middle order.
Bangar suggested MI consider a calculated risk on Rohit's fitness. He backed using Rohit as an impact substitute if needed. He noted that teams succeeding this season had both batting and bowling units performing together, and said MI were moving closer to that balance now.
