On Sunday, the match between KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants and Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals at the Brabourne Stadium had a lot riding on it (May 15). If LSG had won the match, they would have accumulated 18 points, and no team below them would have been able to match them; they would have been assured a top-two finish.

However, due to another poor showing with the bat, they could not chase down 179, finishing with only 154 for 8, allowing the Royals to tie for second place on points and move up to second place due to a higher net run rate.

With both teams on 16 points, their next matches will determine who finishes second, and following their loss to the Royals, LSG is at risk of not having two direct opportunities to make the final. After losing two games in a row for the first time, Rahul stated that his squad is under pressure to keep going.

“Yes, there is some pressure, I won’t lie. We’ve all learned that nothing in this sport comes easy, and no point comes easy. We could have easily qualified today and gone into the last game with an open mind, trying to enjoy our cricket.” After the 24-run defeat, Rahul stated in the post-match news conference.

“However, we are clearly in a position where we must win the next game. I believe it’s a terrific idea; we all know how important each game is, how each game has its own set of pressures and challenges, and this is yet another game for us to test ourselves as a team to win, take that momentum ahead, and gain confidence for the next game “he continued.

In the PowerPlay, LSG lost early wickets and were reduced to 29/3 in the sixth over of the chase. Despite Deepak Hooda’s 39-ball 50 and Marcus Stoinis’ 17-ball 27, Rahul pinned the responsibility on the top order’s failure, which left the middle order with too much work to do. When asked about Stoinis batting down the order, Rahul stated the team’s objective was to make the most of his finishing ability, but he blamed the top order for not making their jobs simpler.

Meanwhile, the Royals wanted to bounce back quickly after losing to the Delhi Capitals in the previous game, and they did it by focusing on playing fearless cricket and not placing any pressure on themselves, according to Samson.