With the IPL 2025 season gathering momentum, the battle between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 36 is set to be an enthralling contest. Both teams are loaded with firepower and are desperate for precious points on the board. With match-winners present on both sides, the match could turn in either direction based on a couple of decisive face-offs. These are the top 4 player battles to watch out for. Top 4 Key Player Battles to Watch in RR vs LSG Sno Players 1 Nitish Rana vs Avesh Khan 2 Shimron Hetmyer vs Ravi Bishnoi 3 Sandeep Sharma vs Nicholas Pooran 4 Wanindu Hasaranga vs David Miller Nitish Rana vs Avesh Khan Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 5 4 1 2 1 0 125.0 5.0 2021 4 6 0 2 0 0 66.7 - 2022 20 13 1 8 5 0 153.8 20.0 Total 29 23 2 12 6 0 126.1 14.5 This contest between RR left-hander Nitish Rana and LSG pacer Avesh Khan can be extremely crucial in the powerplay. They have faced each other a couple of times in the IPL, and Avesh has dominated so far. In three encounters over various seasons, Rana has managed only 29 runs off 23 balls and has fallen twice. Though he has scored six boundaries off Avesh, his strike rate remains at 126, indicating that Avesh has maintained a tight grip. In 2018, Avesh had sent him packing early for only 5. The same scenario played out in 2022 when Nitish made a 20 in no time but once again lost his wicket. If Avesh is able to make the ball swing early, it would be a big ask for Rana to stabilize RR's innings. Also Read | RR vs LSG IPL 2025 Match 36: Key Stats & Milestones to Watch Shimron Hetmyer vs Ravi Bishnoi Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2022 4 7 0 3 0 0 57.1 - 2024 0 2 1 2 0 0 0.0 0.0 Total 4 9 1 5 0 0 44.4 4.0 Rajasthan Royals often look to Shimron Hetmyer to finish games in style, but he faces a tricky test in the form of Ravi Bishnoi’s leg spin. So far, Hetmyer has looked very uncomfortable against Bishnoi. Across two seasons, the Caribbean left-hander has only managed 4 runs from 9 deliveries and has already been dismissed once. In 2022, Hetmyer struggled to time the ball, and in 2024, Bishnoi got the better of him for a duck. Hetmyer’s strike rate in this matchup is a low 44.4, and he hasn’t hit a single boundary. Bishnoi’s tight lines and variations have clearly troubled him, making this one of the most crucial matchups if RR needs quick runs in the middle overs. Sandeep Sharma vs Nicholas Pooran Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2020 4 4 0 0 0 0 100.0 - 2021 7 3 1 1 0 1 233.3 7.0 2023 6 5 0 1 0 0 120.0 - 2024 16 11 1 4 3 0 145.5 16.0 Total 33 23 2 6 3 1 143.5 16.5 Sandeep Sharma's bowling with new ball and at the death overs has established him as an important bowler for RR. But he'll be under scrutiny when he faces LSG's big boy Nicholas Pooran. These two have had a relatively even battle till now. In their last encounters, Pooran has scored 33 runs off 23 balls with two fallouts. The left-handed hitter hit Sandeep for a six-pack in 2021 but got out in the same over. In 2024, Pooran did an impressive 16 off 11 but again couldn't continue. His strike rate in this game is also very good, about 143, but Sandeep has also developed a way to get him out when his team needs him to. If Pooran is present at the death, look for this rivalry to be a game-changer. Also Read | Emotional Rohit reacts to stand named after him at Wankhede Wanindu Hasaranga vs David Miller Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2022 18 14 1 5 1 1 128.6 18.0 Total 18 14 1 5 1 1 128.6 18.0 One more thrilling encounter to look out for will be between veteran David Miller and RR's ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. These two clashed in the 2022 IPL season, and Hasaranga edged him narrowly. He bowled out Miller after giving away 18 runs from 14 deliveries. The South African hard-hitter tends to enthrall spinners, but Hasaranga's spin variations made it difficult for him. With only one four and one six against the Sri Lankan, Miller's strike rate stands at a humble 128.6 in this head-to-head. With Miller now playing a more defensive role within the middle order of LSG, how he navigates Hasaranga's spell might determine if LSG puts up a large total or fails to do so.