Rajasthan Royals are definitely feeling the heat now! Sanju Samson’s fitness could end up being the tipping point for their season

Yeah — things are unravelling fast for RR, and Samson's injury could be the biggest blow yet. Losing your captain and most in-form batter when you're already struggling for consistency is a nightmare scenario. Especially since their batting has revolved so much around Yashasvi Jaiswal and Samson — without one of them, the middle order's fragility really gets exposed. Riyan Parag stepping in as captain again is interesting too. He’s shown spark with the bat this season, but leading the side in a high-pressure situation, especially against an LSG team that's finding momentum, is a tough ask. And with LSG's top order firing — Pooran, Markram, and Marsh all in good touch — RR's bowlers will need to punch above their weight. Also, it’s worth noting: the pitch in Jaipur hasn’t offered as much help to the RR bowlers this season as it did last year. Boult's powerplay threat hasn't been as sharp, and the spinners have lacked control in the middle overs, which only adds to the problem. Yeah — that’s the real dilemma for RR, isn’t it? If Samson isn’t fit, it leaves them short not just of leadership, but also of batting stability and a reliable wicketkeeper. Kunal Singh Rathore seems the logical replacement on paper, especially because he’s a natural keeper. It would allow RR to maintain their team balance without having to shuffle too many roles. But the risk is whether Rathore’s rawness at this level will hold up in such a crunch game. If they don't trust Rathore yet, the only other real fix is to shuffle the batting order: Riyan Parag or Dhruv Jurel to open — both have decent technique, but neither are natural openers, so it’s a bit of a patch job. Dubey to slide into the middle order — he's shown finishing ability, so keeping him in the lower middle order seems smart, especially in a chase. Nitish Rana could also be pushed up, but his form this season has been scratchy. And about Vaibhav Suryavanshi — yeah, the 14-year-old prodigy is a wild card. RR surely won’t risk that in a must-win game unless the kid has been seriously impressing in the nets. The mental pressure of an IPL debut at that age, in a struggling side, could backfire hard. If I were in the RR camp, I'd lean toward: 1. Jaiswal 2. Parag (if they want aggression upfront) 3. Nitish Rana 4. Dubey 5. Jurel (if keeping) or Rathore (if they want the gloves covered) Meanwhile, LSG look much more settled. With Mayank Yadav back and firing, and Pooran and Marsh holding the batting, they’ve really turned a rocky start into a serious playoff push. Plus their spin attack on a Jaipur pitch could be a real handful for RR if the middle overs become the pressure zone. Love how this match-up’s got some real subplots — almost like old friends turned foes! The Yudhvir-Avesh swap storyline adds a bit of spice, especially since both franchises seem to be figuring out new identities this season. Yudhvir hasn’t had too many headline moments yet, but if RR hand him the new ball against his old side, you can bet there’ll be extra motivation. On the flip side, Avesh has been clutch for LSG this year — especially in the death overs, where his variations have rescued them more than once. And yeah — Jaiswal vs Mayank could actually be the battle of the night. Jaiswal is finally starting to look like himself again after that shaky start, and if the Jaipur pitch is anything like last time — tacky, a bit two-paced — his ability to adapt early will be key. RR badly need him to play anchor-aggressor. But Mayank Yadav’s return is a total game-changer for LSG. When fit, his raw pace can rattle even the best, especially if the pitch offers just a hint of bounce. Given Jaiswal sometimes likes to walk across or make room to target square, Mayank’s speed and short balls will test his instincts early. If Mayank can knock him over in the powerplay, RR's fragile middle order will be under the gun immediately. It’s classic IPL — personal storylines, team struggles, playoff implications, all packed into one game.