Rajasthan Royals survived a late scare to defeat Chennai Super Kings for six races in Guwahati, but his decision -making in death raised many questions, more markedly, why Jofra Archer did not play the final, or even the penultimate.
With CSK needing 39 of 12 balls and MS Dhoni still in the fold, Archer, who had launched an excellent opening spell of 3-1-11-13-1, including Rachin Ravindra’s Wickt, expected to close things. But RR was with Tushar Ubpande, who leaked 19 races. That left 20 required of the final final. Even so, Archer was not brought back. Instead, Sandeep Sharma received the ball.
He did the job, alone. Dhoni skid a capture of the second ball (the first was wide), and although Jamie Overton hit a six later in the end, Sandeep clung to sealing the victory.
Sandeep Sharma, the silent murderer in pressure situations!
Both times: April 12, 2023 March 30, 2025
He kept his nerve against two of the best finalists, Dhoni and Laadaja, defending tight margins (3 races and 6 races). #CSKVSRR #RRVCSK #ipi pic.twitter.com/khdfjxpkmc
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‘ (@stroke0geniussp) March 30, 2025
Sandeep Sharma about Jofra Archer a MS Dhoni – Call right or not?
By explaining the decision about Jiohotstar after the game, Ambati Rayudu said: “I think Sandeep Sharma has been similar to Mrs. Dhoni before. That could have played a role in RR giving Sandeep the ball. He has been his death bowling player for a while. He is very experienced. His Yorker moves in the Batsman. It is very difficult to put it aside.”
In the IPL 2023 season, Sandeep had launched and closed a game against CSK restricting MS Dhoni. With 21 necessary 6 -ball races, Sandeep admitted two six to Dhoni in the second and third ball. But then he went to play three brilliant balls to Dhoni and Jaada, restricting them only single, since RR won by three races. The final ball needed Dhoni to score a six to win the game and Sandeep nailed his yorker to save the game for Rajasthan.
That said, general statistics paint a different image. From the beginning of the IPL 2023, Sandeep has launched 28.5 overs in the death phase, granting works 10.75 for more, the 18th best economy among bowling players who have launched at least 10 overs in that period.
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Jofra Archer, on the contrary, has a professional death economy rate of 8.99, elite according to IPL standards. The only drawback: Archer had granted 63 races in 3.3 overs in death in the first two IPL 2025 matches.
At night, Archer looked back at his best moment. But Rajasthan went with Sandeep’s experience, and went out with his. If the same option would work against Dhoni another day it is still debatable.
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