Rajasthan Royals’ nightmare continued in the IPL 2025 season as they fell to their fourth straight defeat—this time by a slender margin of two runs—against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a nail-biting encounter held on April 19. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stellar knock of 74 runs, the Royals couldn’t chase down a target of 181, finishing agonizingly close at the end.

As the Royals continue to slide down the points table, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi took the opportunity to poke fun at the franchise. Reacting to RR’s string of close defeats, Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Something wrong with @rajasthanroyals this season in the @IPL They would be prime for a #Chokers trophy if we had one.”

Something wrong with @rajasthanroyals this season in the @IPL They would be prime for a #Chokers trophy if we had one ????????????????????

— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 19, 2025

Avesh Khan’s brilliance stuns Royals

The Rajasthan Royals appeared to be cruising in the chase, thanks to a blazing 85-run stand between Jaiswal and teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The duo gave RR a powerful platform within just nine overs. Skipper Riyan Parag added momentum with a brisk 39, keeping the Royals ahead on the required rate.

However, the match took a sharp turn in the 18th over when Avesh Khan dismissed both Jaiswal and Parag in quick succession. Rajasthan’s lower order failed to recover from the blow, collapsing under pressure in the final over. Avesh, entrusted with defending nine runs in the last six balls, delivered a sensational over and bagged three wickets to seal the win for Lucknow.

Also READ: List of players to hit a six on their first ball in the IPL ft. Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Avesh’s heroics in the death overs have drawn comparisons to Mitchell Starc’s clutch performance against RR earlier this season. The pacer’s calm under pressure and precision bowling proved decisive, earning him the Player of the Match award.

Earlier in the game, LSG posted a competitive 180/5, anchored by a fluent 66 from Aiden Markram and a composed 50 from Ayush Badoni. The pair added 76 valuable runs in the middle overs. Abdul Samad’s explosive finish—30 off just 10 balls—lifted Lucknow’s total, with his four sixes in the final over turning the momentum.

Also WATCH: Sanju Samson reacts astonishingly as Vaibhav Suryavanshi hits his first ball for a six in IPL 2025