Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson pinpointed the team’s struggle against Sunrisers Hyderabad’s left-arm spinners on a dry Chepauk pitch as the key reason for their exit from IPL 2024. The Royals fell short by 36 runs in Qualifier 2, managing only 139 for 7 in their chase of 176 on Friday, May 24.
“I think we were short of options in the middle overs against spin, and that’s where we lost the game,” Samson admitted post-match. “Against left-arm spin, with three or four right-handers in the middle and the ball stopping. We could’ve tried more options like the reverse-sweep or better use of the crease. But credit to SRH—they bowled really well.”
Pitch Conditions and Bowling Analysis
The Chepauk pitch, which offered an average turn of 1.8 degrees in the first innings, became more conducive to spin in the second, with turn increasing to 3.3 degrees. SRH capitalized on this, despite leaving out their primary spinners. Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player primarily for his batting, combined with Abhishek Sharma to deliver figures of 8-0-47-5. Aiden Markram also found sharp turn in his single over.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who top-scored with 42 off 21 balls, initially attacked Shahbaz Ahmed with a reverse sweep but later fell to him. The left-arm spinners then dominated RR’s right-handers, crippling their chase.
Sangakkara’s Perspective
RR’s director of cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, echoed Samson’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for more intent and game-awareness from their batters. “We need to be more clinical in our chases. Jaiswal’s dismissal brought the left-arm spinners into play, and we struggled. Dhruv Jurel showed that with intent and smart shots, the chase was achievable. Unfortunately, we weren’t good enough on the day,” Sangakkara said.
Season Review and Emerging Talent
Despite the disappointing finish, Sangakkara expressed satisfaction with the season overall. RR were early pace-setters, winning eight of their first nine games before losing four consecutively and scraping through to the second qualifier. They also faced challenges with key players like Jos Buttler leaving for England duty and Shimron Hetmyer dealing with injury.
“I think it was a great season for us. We started well and, despite some close losses, managed to put ourselves in contention for the playoffs and finals. All the players performed phenomenally, and fatigue at the end is natural. But in crucial games, you have to turn up and perform,” Sangakkara noted.
Samson also highlighted the emergence of new talent, particularly Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. Parag ended the season with 573 runs at a strike rate just under 150, and Jurel impressed with crucial cameos.
Sandeep Sharma’s Transformation
Sandeep Sharma, once known primarily as a powerplay bowler, reinvented himself as a death bowler for RR, excelling alongside Avesh Khan. Sharma’s variations proved effective against SRH. Where he claimed the wickets of Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, conceding just 25 runs in his four overs.
Sangakkara praised Sharma’s adaptability: “We identified his effectiveness in the middle and back end of the innings. With key bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Navdeep Saini injured, Sandeep’s maturity and skill have been outstanding for us. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Looking Ahead
While the season didn’t end as RR hoped, the emergence of young talents and strategic reinventions offer a positive outlook for the future. With a strong core and valuable lessons learned. RR can build on their achievements and aim for greater success in the next IPL season.
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