Lost the game because we had no answers against SRH’s spinners: Samson

On the back of their victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR) entered the Qualifier 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) full of confidence, but their IPL 2024 campaign came to a dire end as the Royals suffered a 36-run defeat to bow out of the competition in disappointing fashion.

It would not have been a surprise had RR been blown away by SRH’s top-order, but it was the SRH spinners that architected the Royals’ downfall. Between them, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma bowled 8 overs for 47 runs while taking 5 wickets. Shabaz stepping up wasn’t a surprise but RR were taken aback by the left-arm spin of Abhishek: the 23-year-old, prior to the game tonight, he’d only bowled three overs while taking no wickets. 

In the aftermath of the encounter, RR skipper Sanju Samson admitted that his side lost the game in the middle-overs, where they got bamboozled by SRH’s spinners.

“We were found short of options in the middle overs against their spin, that's where we lost the game,” Samson said in the post-match presentation.

“They bowled their spin in the middle overs against our right-handed batsmen, that's where they were one-up against us. Against their left-arm spin, when the ball was stopping, we could have tried a bit more reverse-sweep or maybe use of the crease a bit more. They also bowled really well.”

RR won the toss and opted to bowl in the hope that dew would show up in the second innings, but it never did. It meant that the toss ended up being a good one to lose for SRH, as spinners found plenty of grip in the second innings. 

“It's very hard to guess actually when we are expecting some dew or when we are not,” Samson admitted.

“The wicket started behaving differently in the second innings, the ball started turning a bit, they used that advantage really well.”

Going trophyless is a hard pill to swallow for RR, especially after being up 8-1 after 9 games, but this has been a wonderful cycle for the Royals. They’ve made the playoffs on 2/3 occasions, with IPL 2022 seeing them reach the final.

But more than the results, it’s the emergence of some really bright young stars - whether it be Yashasvi Jaiswal or Dhruv Jurel or Riyan Parag - which is the biggest positive for the side. Samson admitted the same.

“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 really great talent for the country. Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and a lot of them are looking really exciting not only for RR but definitely for the Indian cricket team.”

Samson also lavished praise on veteran Sandeep Sharma, who has proven to be a revelation for the side across the last two seasons. Signed as a last-minute replacement, Sandeep, across IPL 2023 & IPL 2024 has taken 23 wickets at an economy of 8.4 while bowling the tough overs.

“I am really happy for him,” Samson said of Sandeep.

“By not being picked in the auctions and coming back as a replacement. the way he bowled, he has definitely delivered. If we look at the numbers, Sandeep Sharma in the last two years, he will be the next guy after Bumrah. He has done a great job.”

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