The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 saw the Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeat the Delhi Capitals (DC) by 12 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday, March 28, to record their second victory in as many games.
Riyan Parag stole the show for Rajasthan.
After Rajasthan was asked to bat first and its renowned top three were removed in the first eight overs, the Assam batsman salvaged the innings. With seven fours and six sixes in his unbeaten 84 off 45 balls, Parag led the Royals to a total of 185/5. The final six overs yielded a massive 92 runs. Twenty-five of them came in the 20th over, when the 22-year-old smacked two sixes and three fours off Anrich Nortje.
The captain of the Royals, Sanju Samson, showered Riyan Parag with accolades after the game. The right-handed hitter might accomplish great things for the Indian squad, according to the former.
“Over the past four to five years, Ryan has become well-known. Everyone in Kerala always wants to know about him when I visit, and it’s wonderful to see him providing for us. The season is not yet underway. I’m hoping he keeps up his form. According to India Today, Samson said, “There is something very special he can bring to Indian cricket,” at the post-game press conference.
“I believe that essentially it’s about the different zones that the players are in,” Sanju Samson says when explaining the choice to bowl Avesh Khan in the final over.
Delhi Capitals, in response, got off to a quick start, scoring 29 runs in just three overs. They added 59 runs at the end of the powerplay at the expense of a few wickets lost. Before both skipper Rishabh Pant and David Warner were removed in rapid succession, the two shared a 67-run partnership off of 46 balls. Tristan Stubbs kept his team in the game by putting the Rajasthan bowlers to the sword in the final overs. With 17 runs needed in the last over, Samson gave the ball to Avesh Khan. The right-arm pacer did not let down, giving up just four runs in his innings.
Also check: IPL 2024: RR vs DC Match 9 Highlights
Samson disclosed that he gave the ball to Avesh after considering the zones his players were in. He could have chosen Trent Boult or Nandre Burger to bowl the final over.
“I believe that the main issue is what zones the players are in at different points in time. They are in different zones at different times. On certain days, they are collected and serene. You must make decisions while considering them. Sandy seemed quite composed to me, so I followed him into the 19th over. Samson continued, “Even Avesh was quite composed in the final over.