Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson had special praise in store for Sandeep Sharma after witnessing an inspirational performance from the pacer. Rajasthan’s campaign ended on a heartbreaking note after their hopes of reaching the final ended with a 36-run defeat. Despite Rajasthan’s shortcomings, Sandeep stood out with his precise swinging deliveries. On a night when spinners reigned supreme, the 31-year-old speedster left his impression with a performance soothing to the eyes.

His performance summed up the season he enjoyed. Samson has closely witnessed Sandeep do his magic throughout the season and named him the “next guy” after stalwart speedster Jasprit Bumrah.

“I am happy for him. By not being picked in the auctions and coming back as a replacement. The way he bowled, he has delivered. If we look at the numbers, Sandeep Sharma in the last two years, he (Sandeep) will be the next guy after Bumrah. He has done a great job,” Samson said after the game.

During the game, he picked up two crucial wickets of SRH’s power-hitting duo of Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen. He ended the game with 2/25 in his four over spell.

In the previous edition of the tournament, Sandeep went unsold in the IPL auction. He was signed by the Royals as a replacement for Prasidh Krishna.

From that moment, he has emerged as a crucial figure for Rajasthan in their pace bowling set-up.

Sandeep ended the season with 13 wickets under his belt in 11 matches at an economy of 8.18 and a strike rate of 17.54.

Apart from Sandeep, Rajasthan enjoyed the presence of youngsters Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag.

Both players were instrumental in their batting set-up throughout the season. When the majority of the batters perished, Jurel took the fight to the opposition with his knock of 56*.

“We have had some brilliant games not only this season but from the last three years, it has been a great project for our franchise. We have found some great talent for the country. Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and a lot of them are looking exciting not only for RR but definitely for the Indian cricket team. We have had some great seasons from the last three years,” Samson added.

While Rajasthan fell short in booking their berth for the final, Samson is optimistic about enjoying a great final between Sunrisers and Kolkata Knight Riders.

“The condition suits both of them, so let’s see how they come back again in the powerplay. SRH batsmen are very interesting, they can take the game away. KKR also will be confident, they look very exciting. It’ll be a great game, that’s what IPL has been giving us for the last 16 years,” Samson concluded.

Recapping the match, after winning the toss, Samson decided to bowl. Heinrich Klaasen’s 50-run blitz helped Sunrisers post 175/9 on the board.

In reply, the spin duo didn’t allow Rajasthan to stay close to the asking rate. The pacers did their job and kept the batters at bay. Rajasthan succumbed to 139/7 and suffered a 36-run defeat.

Sunrisers will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the final of the ongoing edition at Chepauk on Sunday.

IPL 2024: File photo of Sunil Gavaskar© Twitter

RR’s Sandeep Sharma celebrates after the wicket of MI’s Tim David, during the IPL match against Mumbai Indians at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on April 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

You have to have a big heart when bowling at the death while trying to execute your plans, insisted Rajasthan Royals medium pacer Sandeep Sharma after recording the ongoing IPL season’s best bowling performance.

Bowling after a three-week injury layoff, the 30-year-old Sharma wreaked havoc in the Mumbai Indians camp with a splendid 5 for 18 on Monday.

“In this year’s IPL, batters are going big and with the impact player rule, there is an extra batter so the games are high-scoring. You have to have a big heart while bowling at the death and try to execute your plans and bowl good balls,” he said after RR’s nine-wicket win over MI.

Sharma, who started off as a new-ball exponent in the IPL, has been tasked to bowl the death overs by the Royals in the three games that he has played this season.

“Even today you ask me where I feel comfortable, I’ll say it’s with the new ball. With the old ball, you have to adapt and evolve as a bowler,” he said.

Sharma returned to the RR playing XI after recuperating from a side strain that kept him out for close to a month.

“I was working hard towards my fitness for the last three weeks. I had two practice sessions before the game, my main focus was to execute the variations that I did tonight.” Against MI, Sharma’s scalps included the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, the big hitting Tim David, Ishan Kishan and Gerald Coetzee.

He took three wickets in the final over, restricting MI to 179 despite a 99-run stand between Varma and Nehal Wadhera.

“If you’re bowling at the death, it can go both ways. Sometimes, you go for runs, and when you’re lucky enough you end up getting a wicket. When we started, the wicket was low and slow. My plan was to keep bowling those cutters and it came off nicely tonight.” he said.

MI optimistic despite loss to RR

Mumbai Indians fell to their fifth loss of the season but young batter Nehal Wadhera remained optimistic about the five-time champions’ chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

“MI need to win all their games from here and we need to tighten our socks. We need to raise our game and figure out where we have been going wrong or where we have been going right so that we can rectify our mistakes whenever we return,” Wadhera said after the match.

The 23-year-old, who smashed a splendid 24-ball 49, pointed out that MI aren’t new to being involved in a mid-table muddle, having risen from the proverbial ashes time and again.

“We have been in such a situation in earlier seasons as well, and we have, you know, upped our game from there and qualified.

“So, we are optimistic even right now. We will continue the process we are following and win the games for the team. We win as a team, and we lose as a team,” Wadhera added.