News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan Royals

  • Rajasthan Royals opt to bowl against Kolkata Knight Riders

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to field against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday.

    RR made four changes bringing in Liam Livingstone, Jaydev Unadkat, Chris Morris and Anuj Rawat.

    KKR brought back fit again Lockie Ferguson in place of Tim Southee.

    Teams:

    Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Liam Livingstone, Sanju Samson (c), Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman

    Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik, Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy

  • IPL 2021: KKR beat Rajasthan Royals by 86 runs

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 86 runs in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday.

    KKR made 171 for four against Rajasthan Royals who in response were shot out for 85 in 16.1 overs.

    Shubman Gill scored 56 off 44 balls for KKR while his opening partner Venkatesh Iyer made 38 off 35 balls.

    Shivam Mavi took four wickets for KKR and Lockie Ferguson took three.

    Brief scores:

    KKR 171/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 56; Chris Morris 1/28, Chetan Sakariya 1/23). Rajasthan Royals 85 all out in 16.1 overs (Rahul Tewatia 44; Lockie Ferguson 3/18, Shivam Mavi 4/21).

  • IPL 2021: KKR eye handsome win over Rajasthan Royals to remain ahead in play-off race 

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders would strive for a handsome win over struggling Rajasthan Royals in their last round-robin game to stay ahead in the IPL play-offs race here on Thursday.

    With 12 points from 13 matches, KKR are currently sitting at the fourth position in the pecking order, just ahead of defending champions Mumbai Indians on net run-rate.

    MI too have 12 points from 13 games and still have a match to play against bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.

    If both KKR and MI win their last matches, then it will boil down to net run rate and that’s where the Eoin Morgan-led side (0.294) would have an edge as it currently enjoys a positive run rate compared to the Mumbai outfit (-0.048).

    KKR had a mixed bag in the second leg of the tournament so far, winning four and losing two games.

    While KKR started the second phase with back-to-back wins over Royal Challengers Bangalore and MI before suffering a defeat to Chennai Super Kings, they came back to beat table toppers Delhi Capitals.

    A defeat against Punjab Kings followed before they outplayed SRH by six wickets to keep their nose ahead in the race for the final play-offs spot.

    KKR have been impressive in the second half and even their two defeats were narrow, where they lost in the last over.

    In the batting department, Venkatesh Iyer has been the star performer in the second leg for KKR, while Rahul Tripathi too has been impressive this season.

    Young Shubman Gill scored a fine half-century in KKR’s last match, which holds good for the team.

    Nitish Rana, up in the batting order, has also done well but the form of skipper Morgan remains a cause for concern.

    The induction of star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan in the last match for the first time in the second leg, has given a new dimension to the side.

    In bowling, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been the team’s go-to man while Sunil Narine too has been among the wickets.

    In the absence of Andre Russell and Lockie Ferguson, who missed a few games following injuries, Tim Southee and Shivam Mavi are the new pace bowling pair for KKR.

    Pacer Prasidh Krishna did well to snap four wickets in the matches that he had played, before being dropped for conceding 22 runs in the 19th over, against CSK.

    RR are out of the race, languishing at the seventh spot in the eight-team standings with 10 points from 13 games. And come Thursday, RR would look to dent KKR’s hopes and end their campaign on a positive note.

    RR have been hit hard by the form of their Indian batsmen. Barring Yashahvi Jaiswal and, to some extent, skipper Sanju Samson, the team’s Indian batsmen lacked intent.

    With Mustafizur Rahaman as their most experienced overseas signing and young Chetan Sakariya in the ranks, RR’s bowling is a bit thin on experience.

    Teams | Kolkata Knight Riders: Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Karun Nair, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathy, Shubman Gill, Harbhajan Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pawan Negi, M Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Dube, Tim Southee, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russel, Ben Cutting, Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Sheldon Jackson, Tim Seifert.

    Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain), Liam Livingstone, Evin Lewis, David Miller, Chris Morris, Oshane Thomas, Mustafizur Rahaman, Tabraiz Shamsi, Glenn Phillips, Chetan Sakariya, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Akash Singh, Anuj Rawat, KC Cariappa, Yashashvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Kartik Tyagi, Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat, Kuldip Yadav, Mahipal Lomror.

    Match starts at 7:30 PM.

  • Mumbai Indians opt to field against Rajasthan Royals in must-win game

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss opted to field against Rajasthan Royals in a must-win IPL game for both teams here on Tuesday.

    For MI, Ishan Kishan replaced Quinton de Kock at the top of the order while all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has come in place of out-of-form Krunal Pandya.

    For Royals, left-arm pacer Kuldip Yadav will make his IPL debut.

    He has replaced Akash Singh while leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal replaced wrist spinner Mayank Markande.

    Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Jimmy Neesham, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult.

    Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (C), Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube, Glenn Phillips, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Kuldip Yadav, Mayank Markande, Mustafizur Rahman and Chetan Sakariya.

  • Neesham, Coulter-Nile blow away Royals, who managed only 90/9 in must-win game

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Jimmy Neesham and Nathan Coulter-Nile hit the ideal length on a tacky strip as Mumbai Indians’ disciplined bowling attack choked Rajasthan Royals to a meagre 90 for 9 in a do-or-die Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

    It is the lowest T20 total by a team batting first at Sharjah.

    Rohit Sharma was spot-on in deciding to bowl first and Neesham (3/12), playing his first game of the UAE leg, took the pace off his deliveries on a Sharjah track where the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat.

    Coulter-Nile (4-0-14-4) was equally effective with his change-ups and hitting the hard-lengths more often than not en route one of his best IPL spells.

    Neesham and Coulter-Nile cumulatively gave away only 26 runs between them in eight overs and also got a whopping seven wickets, which threw Royals out of contest.

    Jasprit Bumrah (2/14) was menacing as ever with crucial wickets as it was one of MI’s closest to perfect bowling performance.

    Royals were blown away in a space of four overs as they slumped from 41 for 1 in the last over of Powerplay to 50 for 5 by the time the first 10 was about to end.

    There was no looking back for MI from that position.

    The in-form Sanju Samson (3) tried to slash hard without reaching to the pitch of the delivery as Jayant Yadav at point took a diving catch.

    Shivam Dube after the CSK heroics tried to reach at a fuller delivery on ‘fifth stump” and dragged it back while Rahul Tewatia (12 off 20 balls) in the midst of a horrendous season, tried to pull a short ball that came late and took the edge into keeper’s hands.

    Neesham’s induction in place of Krunal Pandya, who has been a regular feature for a good five years now, proved to be a master-stroke as he didn’t give enough pace to manoeuvre and also bowled wicket-to wicket, not experimenting much.

    Evin Lewis (24 off 19 balls) once again started in rollicking fashion but the course of Royals innings was changed when talented Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) failed to ride the bounce off a Coulter-Nile delivery to be caught behind.

    Once Bumrah got rid of Lewis with an angular delivery, rest of the Royals batters fell like a pack of cards.

  • Neesham, Coulter-Nile knock Royals out of IPL as MI live to fight another day

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Jimmy Neesham and Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled exceptionally well to keep Mumbai Indians alive and kicking as they outclassed Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets in a low-scoring Indian Premier League match, here on Tuesday.

    New Zealander Neesham (3/12) and Aussie Coulter-Nile (4/14) snapped seven wickets for only 26 runs in eight overs between them to choke Rajasthan for a meagre 90 for 9.

    The five-time champions then knocked off the runs in 8.2 overs to go up to 12 points and more importantly improve their net run-rate to -0.048.

    This was also the biggest victory for MI in terms of balls left (70).

    Ishan Kishan (50 not out) got some much-needed confidence during the short chase as MI knocked Royals out of IPL from the league stage itself yet again as they flattered to deceive.

    The Royals did not have many quality Indian players except Yashasvi Jaiswal.

    Kishan, who has endured wretched form during the better part of the UAE leg, hit five fours and three sixes.

    Fittingly, he finished it with a maximum.

    MI will now meet Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, another must-win game but they would also want Kolkata Knight Riders (12 points, NRR +0.294) to lose their last match against Royals on Thursday.

    In case KKR win and move up to 14 points, MI on the last day would know how much they require to get past Shah Rukh Khan-owned team’s net run-rate.

    On the day, Neesham and Coulter-Nile hit the ideal length on a tacky strip as they choked Royals to the lowest T20 total by any team batting first at Sharjah.

    Rohit Sharma was spot-on in deciding to bowl first and Neesham (3/12), playing his first game of the UAE leg, took the pace off his deliveries on a Sharjah track where the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat.

    Coulter-Nile (4-0-14-4) was equally effective with his change-ups and hitting the hard-lengths more often than not en route one of his best IPL spells.

    Neesham and Coulter-Nile cumulatively gave away only 26 runs between them in eight overs and also got a whopping seven wickets, which threw Royals out of contest.

    Jasprit Bumrah (2/14) was menacing as ever with crucial wickets as it was one of MI’s closest to perfect bowling performance.

    Royals were blown away in a space of four overs as they slumped from 41 for 1 in the last over of Powerplay to 50 for 5 by the time the first 10 was about to end.

    There was no looking back for MI from that position.

    The in-form Sanju Samson (3) tried to slash hard without reaching to the pitch of the delivery as Jayant Yadav at point took a diving catch.

    Shivam Dube after the CSK heroics tried to reach at a fuller delivery on ‘fifth stump” and dragged it back while Rahul Tewatia (12 off 20 balls) in the midst of a horrendous season, tried to pull a short ball that came late and took the edge into keeper’s hands.

    Neesham’s induction in place of Krunal Pandya, who has been a regular feature for a good five years now, proved to be a master-stroke as he didn’t give enough pace to manoeuvre and also bowled wicket-to wicket, not experimenting much.

    Evin Lewis (24 off 19 balls) once again started in rollicking fashion but the course of Royals innings was changed when talented Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) failed to ride the bounce off a Coulter-Nile delivery to be caught behind.

    Once Bumrah got rid of Lewis with an angular delivery, rest of the Royals batters fell like a pack of cards.

  • Play smart, enjoy your game and give 100 per cent: Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Rahul Tewatia

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals are currently placed at the sixth position in the IPL 2021 points tally and they will have to win both their matches to enter the playoffs.

    Their confidence would be rocket high following their thumping win over mighty Chennai Super Kings but their next encounters are also not easy at all, as the Sanju Samson-led side will face Mumbai Indians on October 5 and Kolkata Knight Riders on October 7.

    However, despite the crunch situation, the Royals look a little relaxed. Day ahead of their crucial tie, all-rounder Rahul Tewatia said that the team is not discussing anything related to the net-run rate or playoff fight.

    “All matches are important for us. We are not thinking anything like we win both the matches and enter the playoffs. We are just taking one match at a time. We want to give our hundred per cent and enjoy the game, like we did in our last match. This is what Kumar Sangakkara (team director) also suggested,” Tewatia said on Monday. “Nothing such as net run rate or where we are standing at the moment (points tally) have been discussed in the team meeting so far.”

    Further talking about their Tuesday’s match against Mumbai, the 28-year-old said the Rohit Sharma-led side is a dangerous team on their given day. “Their middle order is really good, so is their top order. But we will try to play a smart game and win it,” he said.

    The all-rounder further admitted that his performance has not been up to the mark in the season and said he will look to produce a better show to help his team.

    “Yeah, our middle order is struggling and I take responsibility for that. I know my performances weren’t up to the mark with regards to the high expectations. However, I will put in the effort to improve the output in the next matches.”

  • Don’t think we could have scored more than 190 but dew became factor: Dhoni

    Rajasthan Royals chased down a stiff target in 17.3 overs courtesy 50 off 21 balls from Yashasvi Jasiwal and 64 not out off 42 balls from Shivam Dube.

  • ‘Rutu Ka Raj’: Opener smashes hundred as CSK score 189 for 4 against Rajasthan

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Indian cricket’s Gen-Next star Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his red hot form with a magnificent century as Chennai Super Kings scored an imposing 189 for 4 against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here on Saturday.

    Gaikwad struck as many as nine fours and five sixes in his 60-ball 101 not out to make a mockery of Royals’ bowling attack in their 12th round encounter.

    Some of his shots in the off-side region would be remembered for times to come.

    Ravindra Jadeja (32 not out off 15 balls) scythed trough the Royals attack at the back-end as CSK added 55 runs in only 3.4 overs.

    In fact, in the final over, Jadeja faced four deliveries, leaving Gaikwad with two deliveries and he pulled Mustafizur Rahman off the final delivery to complete the coveted landmark.

    For the Royals, leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia (3/39 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler but his joy of getting three scalps was spoilt by Gaikwad with two back-to-back sixes — one over long-off and other into the sightscreen.

    The sixes over mid-wicket off left-arm seamers Akash Singh and Mustafizur were delightful as it landed at least 20 yards behind the ropes into the grass banks.

    The Punekar is not someone who is muscular but a “strong core” (according to him) and stable base allows him to maintain shape while going for the big shots as Royals found out on the day.

    The manner in which he came down the track and lofted seamer Chetan Sakariya for an inside-out one-bounce boundary made it look as if he was tackling a spinner with enough time at his disposal.

    There were a lot of boundaries in the arc between cover and mid-off region as his driving was majestic.

    Gaikwad’s sequence of scores since resumption of IPL is 88, 38, 30, 45 and now 101 not out.

    There hasn’t been a single failure so far and his partnerships with Faf du Plessis (25) has been the cornerstone of CSK’s good batting performance.

    That none of their retired stars like Suresh Raina, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu, all IPL heavyweights in their own rights, haven’t had much contribution with the bat, isn’t affecting them primarily because of du Plessis and Gaikwad’s power-packed starts.

    On Saturday, they added 47 for the first wicket while they had conjured up 71 against RCB, 74 against KKR and 75 against SunRisers Hyderabad.

  • IPL 2021: Tricky tests coming up for Delhi Capitals in playoff quest

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: After their win against Rajasthan Royals last week, it seemed like a mere formality for Delhi Capitals to make the play-offs with a chance at a top two finish looking highly likely. But after a disappointing loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous fixture, the scenario has suddenly become more complex.​After their four-match winning streak was snapped, Ricky Ponting’s side, currently second in the table, now need a win to guarantee progress and two to make the top two. However, their last three games are all against tricky opposition.

    First up, finalists of the last edition, both Delhi and Mumbai Indians clash on Saturday at Sharjah. Last season, Delhi lost all four of their encounters against Mumbai. And historically, Mumbai have always performed when their backs are up against the wall. Lying fifth at the moment, with only net run rate separating them from fourth, Mumbai’s last two games are against bottom dwellers Rajasthan and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rohit Sharma will be aware of the fact that a win in Saturday’s early match will put them in an advantageous position so they will be up for the contest.

    The remaining two fixtures for Delhi include teams in the top three. Post Mumbai, table toppers Chennai Super Kings will be their opponents followed by third placed Royal Challengers Bangalore. And the team management will not have forgotten how an almost easy situation was turned upside down last season as the team went on to lose four of their last five league games and a final league match victory ensured progress.

    “We have not qualified yet. Funny things happen in the IPL and we are very much aware of it. We have to keep getting better as there is always room for improvement. We are sitting at the second spot on the table, but we have to keep working hard. We have to play our best team in every match,” said Mohammad Kaif, the assistant coach of Delhi Capitals during a virtual interaction on Friday.

    The job will be made tougher due to injuries suffered by explosive finisher Marcus Stoinis and opening batter Prithvi Shaw. Stoinis’ absence was keenly felt like match as the middle-order crumbled like a house of cards, contributing only 13 runs. In Shaw’s absence, Steve Smith was used as an opener and though he was the joint highest run-getter, his low strike-rate and his inability to clear the boundary have been pretty evident this season.

    “We have missed out on Shaw, Stoinis and got a big gap to fill. They have been very important members of the Delhi Capitals team. Injuries are not helping us right now. They both are getting better. In fact, Shaw had a hit in the nets yesterday. Stoinis has started to run a bit. We will be taking a call tomorrow before the game on how Shaw feels. But Stoinis still got probably few matches to go from here on I guess,” Kaif added.

    The slow Sharjah surface will be another added factor. Delhi struggled to get going and this season, most teams have found it difficult to score on this track. Extra onus will be on the batters to perform. “The pitch in Sharjah has been a bit more on the slower side this year. However, the players must take up the challenge of batting on difficult pitches, where it’s tough to score runs. The team which accepts the challenge of scoring runs on a difficult pitch will win,” Kaif summed it up.