In the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) Playoffs, Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) went head-to-head with Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Wednesday, May 22 at the Stadium Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan Royals came into the match with a massive drop in their performance and confidence. After flying high in the first 9 matches of IPL 2024 in which Rajasthan Royals had a 4-match winning streak twice, Sanju Samson & Co. suddenly started performing poorly and lost 4 consecutive matches.
On 2 May, Rajasthan Royals lost by 1 run against Sunrisers Hyderabad before losing by 20 runs against Delhi Capitals on 7 May despite Sanju Samson’s best efforts. In the next two matches, Rajasthan Royals faced 5-wicket defeats at the hands of Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings on May 12 and 15.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals looked set to finish their Indian Premier League 2024 campaign in the top 2, but the team’s losing streak coupled with the loss in their final league stage match against KKR did not allow that to happen. and they finished third.
Coming back to the IPL 2024 Eliminator, Rajasthan Royals did a fantastic job and picked up wickets at regular intervals after winning the toss. Even though the players got their lines and lengths right, RCB were allowed to score 172 for 8.
For Rajasthan Royals, Avesh Khan was the most successful bowler as he took a three-wicket haul and Ravichandran Ashwin supported him with his excellent figures of 2/19. Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal also picked a wicket each.
What cricket and life have taught us is that we will have some good phases and some really bad ones – Sanju Samson
Chasing the target, Yashasvi Jaiswal (45) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20) got the team off to a good start with the young Indian showing his true class. After the toppers’ elimination, Sanju Samson (17) and Dhruv Jurel (8) scored low and RCB started gaining momentum in the match. However, Riyan Parag (36), Shimron Hetmyer (26) and Rovman Powell (16) batted brilliantly and led RR to a 4-wicket win.
Speaking after the win and booking a spot in Qualifier 2, Sanju Samson waxed philosophical and said:
“What cricket and life have taught us is that we will have some good phases and some really bad phases. But we need to have the character to bounce back.”
Sanju Samson praised his bowlers, batsmen and fielders for doing a great job in the match. He elaborated:
“I’m very happy with the way we fielded, batted and bowled today. You have to thank the bowlers, who are always looking at what the opposing batsmen would do and what pitches to set.
Sanju Samson also gave special thanks to Kumar Sangakkara and Shane Bond for working hard with the team. Sanju Samson stated:
“Credit also goes to Sanga and bowling coach Shane Bond. They have spent a lot of time in hotel rooms discussing these things. Also, Ashwin and Boult are experienced guys.”
Sanju Samson signed off by praising Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal and revealing that he is not fully fit and the same goes for many players in the RR camp. Sanju Samson said:
“(On Parag and Jaiswal) They are 22 years old each, just like Jurel. With very little experience, the way they are performing at this level is amazing. (On their health) Actually, I am not 100%. “There is a mistake. In the locker room there is a lot of coughing and a lot of people are a little sick. (Looking ahead) Rovman finished it well. I think now we have a day to travel and rest, looking forward to the next game.”
