Kamal Ghorui
April 22 has turned into a strangely special date for the Rajasthan Royals, especially when it comes to centuries. Over the years, this very day has repeatedly produced big hundreds from RR batters, creating a remarkable pattern.It began with Shane Watson, who smashed 101 against Chennai Super Kings on April 22, 2013. Six years later, Ajinkya Rahane added his name to the list with an unbeaten 105 against Delhi Capitals on the same date in 2019. The trend continued in 2022 when Jos Buttler hammered 116, again against Delhi. Most recently, Yashasvi Jaiswal carried the legacy forward with a stunning 104* against Mumbai Indians on April 22, 2024.Four different batters, four different seasons, one identical date. It is the kind of coincidence that naturally builds intrigue around this fixture every year.Now, on April 22, 2026, Rajasthan are back in action, this time against Lucknow Super Giants. With Lucknow winning the toss and opting to field, the spotlight once again shifts to the RR batting unit. All eyes will be on Jaiswal and young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to see if the curious ‘April 22 century trend’ continues.Beyond the numbers and coincidences, this is also a crucial game for both sides. Rajasthan began their campaign in dominant fashion with four consecutive wins but have since slipped, losing their last two matches. Lucknow’s situation is even more concerning, with three straight defeats putting them under pressure.The contest could well be shaped in the opening phase. Rajasthan arguably possess one of the most dangerous opening combinations in the tournament, capable of taking the game away early. Teams:Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre BurgerLucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mayank YadavWith form, pressure and a quirky historical trend all coming together, the stage is set in Lucknow. The question now is simple: will April 22 produce yet another Rajasthan Royals century?
