Rajasthan Royals will be desperate to snap their four-match losing streak and finish in the top two when they meet table toppers Kolkata Knight Riders in an important IPL game in Guwahati on May 19.   
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

An alert from the National Disaster Management Authority bears grim prognoses about impending thunderstorms, rain and gusty wind for the residents here ahead of Rajasthan Royals versus Kolkata Knight Riders, Indian Premier League’s last group-stage fixture.

That the match at Barsapara Stadium may end up deciding whether Sanju Samson’s men finish in the top two, may have the dugout addressing a prayer or two to the weather gods.

How things are

The mathematics is quite simple now. If RR wins against KKR on Sunday, it enters Qualifier 1. However, a Chennai Super Kings loss on Saturday and a Punjab Kings win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the day game on Sunday can also ensure a second-place finish for the RR without it having to take the field.

If Sunday’s contest does get underway, death overs are where Samson’s team needs to metamorphose into its full glory. RR has not only scored 71 runs more than KKR between the 16th and 20th over, but it has also picked 24 wickets, a touch better than KKR’s 21. RR will also carry a psychological advantage for it pulled off a record chase to prevail the last time these two sides met.

An interesting duel to look forward to will be the one between spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Yuzvendra Chahal in the middle overs. While Varun has picked 16 wickets, the most by any bowler in 2024 between overs 7 and 16, Chahal has accounted for 15.

KKR will not have Phil Salt, who has flown back to England on national duty, in the eleven. Although Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be an ideal like-for-like replacement, Shreyas Iyer and Co. haven’t officially named anybody.

Teams (from):

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), KS Bharat (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson and Allah Ghazanfar.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Abid Mushtaq, Avesh Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Kuldeep Sen, Kunal Singh Rathore, Nandre Burger, Navdeep Saini, Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Trent Boult, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tanush Kotian

Match starts: 7.30pm.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Marcus Stoinis gets stump out by Delhi Capitals’ captain Rishabh Pant in the IPL 2024 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on May 14, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Rishabh Pant’s middle-order experience can help him edge out Sanju Samson and become India’s preferred wicketkeeper-batsman at the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States next month, former India batsman Gautam Gambhir said.

Pant was named in India’s 15-member squad for the June 1-29 tournament on the back of impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after his comeback following a near-fatal car accident in December 2022.

However, India’s selectors kept their options open with Samson also making the squad.

“I think only one of them will be in the starting side and whoever it is, India must back him… both have equal quality,” Gambhir, who played an important role in India’s World Cup triumph in 2007, told Sportskeeda.

“It’s touch and go but I’d start with Rishabh because he’s a left-hander and a natural middle-order batsman. Sanju in the IPL has batted at number three, but India’s top-order is fixed.

“Rishabh has batted at number five, six and seven. India need a wicketkeeper in that position as compared to a top-three batsman. A left-hander in the middle-order gives you that left hand-right hand combination.”

Delhi Capitals skipper Pant scored 446 runs from 13 matches in the IPL this season, with a 23-ball 33 in his team’s 19-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.

His Rajasthan Royals counterpart Samson has also done well with the bat with 486 runs from 12 games and can still add to his tally.

“If India see that Sanju can score more runs at number six or seven, they could go with him as well,” Gambhir said.

Delhi’s win means Rajasthan are assured of a top-four spot along with leaders Kolkata Knight Riders, leaving two playoff places up for grabs.

Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson talks to umpire after getting out during the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in New Delhi on May 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has been fined 30% of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his side’s 20-run loss to Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here.

The offence committed by Samson, who made 86 during RR’s unsuccessful run chase of 222 on Tuesday, was not specified but it could be for arguing with the umpires when he was given out after Shai Hope took a catch just near the boundary ropes in the 16th over.

The question was whether Hope’s feet touched the boundary ropes while taking the catch. The third umpire ruled Samson out but the RR skipper was not happy. He initially started walking towards the pavilion, only to return to the middle and have some words with the on-field umpires.

“Samson committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” the IPL said in a statement.

A Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct includes “excessive, obvious disappointment with an Umpire’s decision; an obvious delay in resuming play or leaving the wicket; requesting a referral to the TV Umpire and arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the Umpire about his/her decision.”

On April 10 also, Samson was fined ₹12 lakh after RR maintained a slow over rate during their match against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur.

Rajasthan Royals batter Sanju Samson plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on May 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Former Australian opener Mathew Hayden is mighty impressed with the IPL performance of Sanju Samson and has lauded the T20 World Cup-bound power-hitter for “handling both spin and pace with finesse”.

Samson was in his elements on Tuesday when he nearly guided Rajasthan Royals to a win over Delhi Capitals with his 86-run knock. The visitors eventually fell short by 20 runs. He is currently third on the top-scorers chart with 471 runs in 11 matches so far.

“Sanju Samson was batting like a dream, scoring 86 off 46 balls. He’s proven his worth time and again…Throughout the tournament, he’s been a master blaster, handling both spin and pace with finesse,” Hayden told Star Sports.

“He times his innings well. He’s got the power. And the power is a big thing in T20 cricket. Yet, what stands out is his commitment to his team. He just needed a bit of luck, especially towards the end of the match,” he added.

Samson, who is the captain of Rajasthan Royals, has taken the second wicketkeeper’s slot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup starting June 1 in the Americas.

Former India cricketer Varun Aaron also praised his performance.

“I think Sanju Samson has been batting really well. Bowlers are keen on dismissing him, evident from their reluctance to bowl bouncers despite being allowed two per over in this IPL.

“Interestingly, the over he got out, Khaleel Ahmed bowled the first bouncer to him in the match. This seemed to disrupt his footwork, as the subsequent wide slow ball, which he typically dispatches for six over covers, resulted in his dismissal,” he said.

Lucknow Super Giants players celebrate their win over Chennai Super Kings. They will up against the high-flying Rajasthan Royals in Lucknow on April 27, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Far from the pack occupied in the mid-table scrap for the playoffs spots, Rajasthan Royals will indulge itself in the prospect of strolling its way in when it visits Lucknow Super Giants at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on April 27.

Runaway leader Rajasthan has won all three away games so far, and a fourth triumph will take its tally to 16 points, all but sealing a place in the playoffs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal regaining his mojo with an unbeaten 104 in the nine-wicket mauling of Mumbai Indians wiped out the only blemish in the Royals’ top-order. Captain Sanju Samson would hope to emulate his exploits (82 n.o., 52b) from the Royals’ 20-run victory over the Lucknow side earlier this season.

But Super Giants, high on the twin triumphs over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), will be no pushovers. The side will wait with crossed fingers for Mayank Yadav’s return from injury. The pace phenom bowled in the nets on the match eve.

Taking cognisance of Rahul and Marcus Stoinis’ telling contributions in the Super Giants’ two wins, another leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, could be Royals’ go-to deployment too. This IPL, Rahul’s strike-rate has dipped to 93 against leg-spin while Stoinis has fallen to spinners five times in eight innings.

Lower down the order, Royals will seek a solution for Nicolas Pooran. The southpaw has salvaged his side by injecting momentum, hitting at a strike-rate of nearly 170 — the highest for a Lucknow batter.

Teams (from):

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Kunal Rathore, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Abid Mushtaq, Nandre Burger, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj.

Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk), Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur, Manimaran Siddharth, Prerak Mankad, Arshad Khan, Krishnappa Gowtham, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Ashton Turner, Matt Henry, Naveen-ul-Haq, Devdutt Padikkal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Mayank Yadav and Arshin Kulkarni.

Match start time: 7.30 PM (IST).

New Delhi:

Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday backed his fellow MP and Rajya Sabha leader Harbhajan Singh after he heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson.

Taking to his official X account, Mr Singh said that there shouldn’t be any debate about wicket-keeper batsman in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and vouched for Mr Samson.

The cricketer-turned-politician also said that Mr Samson should be groomed as the next T20 captain for India after Rohit Sharma. Mr Singh also praised Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a hundred as Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by nine wickets in their IPL 2024 match on Monday.

Responding to Mr Singh’s post, Mr Tharoor said that he has been arguing for years that Sanju Samson has not had the selectorial breaks he deserved.

“Now he is the leading keeper-batsman in the IPL but is still not discussed when the team is debated. Justice for Sanju,” the Congress MP said.

Delighted to agree with my fellow MP @harbhajan_singh on both @ybj_19 and @IamSanjuSamson ! Have been arguing for years that Sanju has not had the selectoral breaks he deserved. Now he is the leading Keeper-batsman in the @IPL but is still not discussed when the team is debated.… https://t.co/ZaqVHMIpTT

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 24, 2024

This was not the first time when Mr Tharoor has backed the wicket-keeper batter’s selection in the Indian team, who has represented the country in 25 T20I and 16 One Day International (ODI) matches.

Earlier last year, Mr Tharoor had questioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not selecting Sanju Samson for the T20I series against Australia.

He even said that Mr Samson shouldn’t just have been picked but also made the captain of the team in the absence of senior players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, etc. Suryakumar Yadav was named the captain of the Indian team in that series, which took place days after India lost the final of the ODI World Cup 2023.

“This is truly inexplicable. Sanju Samson should have not just been selected, he should have led the side in the absence of all the seniors. His captaincy experience with Kerala and Rajasthan Royals is more current than SKY’s (Surya Kumar Yadav). Our selectors need to explain themselves to the cricket-loving public,” Mr Tharoor had said.

This is truly inexplicable. @IamSanjuSamson should have not just been selected, he should have led the side in the absence of all the seniors. His captaincy experience with Kerala and @rajasthanroyals is more current than SKY’s. Our selectors need to explain themselves to the… https://t.co/W251o89jzs

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 21, 2023

Shashi Tharoor is currently in the electoral fray against BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

All 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 26 and the votes will be counted on June 4.

Rajasthan Royals bowler Sandeep Sharma celebrates a wicket during the Indian Premier League 2024 match against Mumbai Indians in Jaipur on April 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Rajasthan Royals’ Sandeep Sharma returned from injury in grand style, picking up a five-wicket haul, to restrict Mumbai Indians to 179 in its IPL 2024 encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 22.

Returning to the playing XI for the first time in almost a month, Sandeep showed no signs of rustiness as he delivered match figures of 5/18 in his four overs, his best in T20 cricket.

Mumbai Indians got off to another torrid PowerPlay start, similar to the reverse fixture at the Wankhede earlier in the season. Rohit Sharma, was the first to fall, mistiming his attempted lofted shot, handing Trent Boult his 26th first-over wicket in the IPL – the most for any bowler.

Sandeep opened the bowling from the other end and quickly accounted for Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar was caught unaware by a smart field change from Samson, positioning Rovman Powell at long-on, with the batter finding him perfectly with his attempted leg-side flick.

MI sent in Mohammed Nabi at five, trying to counter-attack and the Afghan all-rounder took down Avesh Khan for 18 runs in the last over of the powerplay. The cameo was short-lived as the 39-year-old was Yuzvendra Chahal’s 200th IPL victim, providing a simple return catch.

The onus was now on Mumbai’s two young southpaws, Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera, to take the team to a challenging total.

Wadhera, playing his first match of the season, was the more attacking among the two, getting off the mark with a sweep past fine-leg off R. Ashwin. The duo rotated strike regularly, punishing the occasional bad balls to the boundary, bringing up the fifty-partnership in 34 balls.

The pair took down Avesh for 19 in his second over and continued the merry-making against Chahal, scoring 20 off the 16th — Tilak completing his 38-ball fifty in the process.

Wadhera fell to Boult, one short of his fifty, bringing the flourishing partnership to a halt at 99 runs.

After Avesh kept things tight in the 19th over, Sandeep returned to pick up three wickets in the last over to restrict Mumbai to a below-par total.

Scoreboard

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma c Samson b Boult 6 Ishan Kishan c Samson b Sandeep 0 Suryakumar Yadav c Powell b Sandeep 10 Tilak Varma c Powell b Sandeep 65 Mohammad Nabi c&b Yuzvendra Chahal 23 Nehal Wadhera c Sandeep b Boult 49 Hardik Pandya lbw Avesh 10 Tim David c Parag b Sandeep 3 Gerald Coetzee c Hetmyer b Sandeep 0 Piyush Chawla not out 1 Jasprit Bumrah not out 2 Extras: 10 (lb-1, w-9)

Total: 179 for 9 in 20 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-20, 4-52, 5-151, 6-170, 7-176, 8-176, 9-177

Rajasthan Royals bowling: Trent Boult 4-0-32-2, Sandeep Sharma 4-0-18-5, Avesh Khan 4-0-49-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-31-0, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-48-1.

Rajasthan Royals batters Jos Buttler and Avesh Khan celebrate with teammates after Rajasthan won the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 cricket match against Kolkata Knight Riders, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on April 16, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Jos Buttler played one of the greatest IPL knocks on Tuesday night.

His sensational 107 not out (60b, 9×4, 6×6) gave Rajasthan Royals an unforgettable — and for much of the match — an unlikely last-ball win against Kolkata Knight Riders. The two-wicket victory has consolidated Royals’ position at the top of the table.

RR was set a daunting target of 224 by the host, thanks largely to Sunil Narine’s maiden career century (109, 56b, 13×4, 6×6). If RR was to win, it had to equal its own record of the biggest successful chase in IPL history.

That didn’t look likely when the Royals lost wickets regularly. When Shimron Hetmyer, who had taken them home in the last match, fell for a duck, the score read 121 for six in 12.2 overs.

A tall order it certainly was, with not much batting left. But Buttler’s 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Rovman Powell (26, 13b, 1×4, 3×6) allowed Royals to dream.

The dream was realised by Buttler, the Impact Player who had just the tail to support him. Forty-six were needed from the last three, then it came down to 28 off two.

Buttler took off 19 off the penultimate over, bowled by Harshit Rana, and then hit Varun Chakravarthy’s first ball in the last over over long-on for a six to ease the nerves of his teammates in the dugout. A single off the last ball dashed KKR’s hopes of a Super Over.

Like Buttler, Narine carried his team’s innings on his shoulders. He played strokes around this hallowed ground, but he seemed particularly keen to hit the bowlers over their heads.

Only one other batter reached 30, as the promising teenager Angkrish Raghuvanshi (30, 18b, 5×4) helped him add 85 for the second wicket. KKR had lost Phil Salt in the fourth over as Avesh Khan took a stunning one-handed return catch off his own bowling.

Narine and Raghuvanshi, however, went on to frustrate the Royals bowler. It took a fine yorker from Trent Boult to end Narine’s remarkable innings. But, this was going to be Buttler’s night.