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Rajasthan have consolidated their position at the top of the points table at the end of another double-header day in the IPL 2024. Tomorrow will be an one more important day with GT taking on RCB in the afternoon followed by SRH going toe to toe against CSK. We will be there with all the action, make sure you join us, for now, this is Sourabh, Maanas and Soorya wishing you a good night from Sportskeeda, ciao!
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals captain and Player of the Match, 71* off 33): (Batting on that surface) To be honest I think I was very lucky to be behind the wicket during that game. With the new ball there was some purchase for the bowlers but once the ball got older, it became good to bat on. It was a very good team effort. They (Sandeep and Boult) bowled a couple of overs each and the guys coming in and bowling one over each was very crucial. They know what to do each ball, what the team requires in which over. Our team is sticking to that and we're doing well. We started off really well and in their own conditions, they batted well and picked up the singles and doubles. Then we had to finish well and we did that. (On Jurel) Form is temporary but the position he bats at, number 5, it's tough in T20s. You can come in at the later stage and score just 10 or 20 runs and that doesn't give you much confidence. Credit has to go to the team management. He's been batting for an hour in the nets and we knew it was a matter of time before he came good. I think we've been doing well. This IPL has been really good to us. We've been a bit lucky also, the momentum has been with us. It's important to stick to the processes. The result can go here and there. In the team meetings we discuss that we have to stick to the process. There is something we are doing well. We've recognized that and we want to stick to that each and every game. (Any more boxes to tick?) Next game, one game at a time (grins).
Dhruv Jurel (Rajasthan Royals) - I wanted to make use of the opportunities I get. Specially in this position I bat, it can be a hit or miss sometimes but I want to keep doing well. When the ball is new, it is easier to hit with the fielders up but at 5-6 you need to go for the big shots, so you need to practice those shots. I had a chat with Sanju bhai, he asked me to remain calm and back my game. The one big over off 20 runs helped. The salute is for my father, did it in the test match as well, he was there in the stands today so it was extra special.
KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants captain): (Frustrating fielding the reason behind the loss?) That too and I think we left about 20 runs behind. We obviously didn't get off to an ideal start but the partnership me and Hooda had - we're seeing with more games that are being played that the set batter needs his 50s and 60s into a hundred. They bowled really well in the last couple of overs but we were about 150 for two or three after the 15th over so we should have capitalized and got some more. It's becoming more and more clear that the team that hits more sixes wins the game. We lost a couple of wickets early but Hooda did really well in the partnership with me. He was really crucial. Once we were set, if Hooda could have pushed on and got 20 more runs and if I could have pushed on and got 20 more runs, we could have finished with 220. It's important for the batters to make sure they give the bowlers that extra cushion of runs. Not much chat about it but you see players training before the game and the ball keeps flying all over the place. Everyone does range hitting and it's a big part of your prep. We'll try and clear these boundaries as much as possible and get used to hitting big sixes. Our big hitters are Stoin and Nicholas Pooran and they look to hit big sixes on this ground. We are the guys who try to time the ball for six. I felt hitting fours on that side was much easier and could run twos. But I'll go back to the same point that we left about 20 runs out there. (On his usage of the leggies) Obviously there was a bit of chat before the game. We look at numbers and see how each person matches up against the opposition and certain batters. Mishra is an experienced player and we've been thinking of using him from the first game. Today was the day we felt we could use him against their batters with how slow he bowls and the longer boundaries. We were hoping to use Bishnoi in the later half but once the runs kept flowing...even when they lost wickets they put pressure on our bowlers. There was a period where Krunal bowled really well and we squeezed them hard. But once the fast-bowlers came on they (the batters) kept putting pressure. I couldn't bring Bishnoi on and it was a bit late by the time I brought him on. With Rovman and Hetmyer to come, he has done well against them so that was the thinking we had.
MATCH SUMMARY
Rajasthan Royals won by 7 wickets with an over to spare
Clinical, comprehensive and what not from the Rajasthan Royals. They are at the top of the table and yet again they have put on a performance like the top team.
The questions were asked, it was not all smooth sailing but the Royals have come up with all the answers as they make it 4 out of 4 wins away from home and overall an 8th in 9 matches. While they have not yet qualified, they have all but qualified by making it 16 points with 5 games to spare.
Chasing 197, RR got off to a solid start thanks to the opening duo of Jaiswal and Buttler, getting them to 60 inside the powerplay. But then, they stuttered, both the openers got out and Parag fell to the impact player Amit Mishra as well making it 78/3 inside 9 overs. The pressure was on at that time but then it was when captain Sanju and Dhruv Jurel gained control.
Jurel started off as the aggressive one while Sanju remained calm, the roles reversed towards the end and it ended up being a smooth sail for the Royals and both the keeper-batters finished with uneaten half-centuries next to their name.
LSG, on the other hand, will be bitterly disappointed with the fact that they left a few out in the middle when they were batting. They got off to a poor start with the ball swinging around all corners and Boult and Sandeep made use of that nipping out 2 wickets early.
Rahul and Hooda consolidated for them and brought the innings back on track. But then, they did not big unlike their counterparts and got out at the wrong times. That led to LSG not getting the big finish they should have and ended up falling short of 200.
For the bowlers, Sandeep Sharma stood out with 2 wickets to his name giving away 29 runs in his quota of 4 overs and proved to be the pick of the men with the ball.
19
overs
199/3score
1
1
0
1
4
6
runs
Sanju Samson*
71(33)
Dhruv Jurel
52(34)
Yash Thakur
1/50
18.6 Yash Thakur to Sanju Samson, SAMSON FINISHES IT IN STYLE! Cometh the hour, cometh the captain! A low full toss at the stumps and he walks across before staying low and picking it up over fine leg. Just uses the pace and puts Thakur out of his misery with an effortless six and this has been one heck of a captain's knock by the Royals skipper. Is it one that seals his boarding pass for the T20 World Cup? We will find out soon but for now, Rajasthan Royals make it eight wins in nine with a 7-wicket win!
Just one hit away now..
18.5 Yash Thakur to Sanju Samson, FOUR MORE! Pace off and too short outside the off stump. Samson clears his front leg and heaves a pull over mid-wicket with nobody manning the ropes. On the bounce for four and the Royals are one similar strike away from sealing an eighth win!
18.4 Yash Thakur to Dhruv Jurel, backs away as Thakur dishes out a full toss upon following him. Jurel mistimes his swipe to long leg as it hits the inner half of his bat
18.3 Yash Thakur to Dhruv Jurel, slower back of a length delivery outside the off stump. Jurel waits and brings out the short-arm jab to short mid-wicket
18.2 Yash Thakur to Sanju Samson, into the block hole around the off stump. Samson makes room, opens the face and squeezes it towards deep third man
18.1 Yash Thakur to Dhruv Jurel, banged in short outside the off stump. Pace off again as Jurel swivels and controls a pull behind square for a run
It is just a matter of time now, both the batters have got to their fifties and will be looking to finish it off rather quickly. Another home loss loading for LSG..
18
overs
186/3score
2
0
6
1
1
6
runs
Sanju Samson*
60(30)
Dhruv Jurel
50(31)
Mohsin Khan
0/52
17.6 Mohsin Khan to Sanju Samson, UP, UP AND AWAYYY! Another off-pace delivery but on the pads as it sits up off a length. Samson just clears his front leg a touch and picks it up and over deep square leg who pedals back only to watch the ball clear him comfortably. RR are coasting home here!
Jurel follows his skipper to a half-century of his own, this has been such an important innings in the context of the game
17.5 Mohsin Khan to Dhruv Jurel, FIFTY FOR JUREL! His first in the IPL! And what a time to get it as well. Mohsin goes for the yorker outside the off stump. Comes out as a low full toss which Jurel leans into and pushes into the covers for a run
17.4 Mohsin Khan to Sanju Samson, length delivery at the stumps. Samson steadily works it to deep mid-wicket and jogs across to the other end
Of course the next ball goes over the ropes, 50 for the RR skipper
Video
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S Samson
K Rahul
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Sanju Samson
*
Yash Thakur
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
