RR vs MI | Player Ratings - Steve Smith, Riyan Parag guide Rajasthan Royals to five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians
Steve Smith and Riyan Parag forged a good partnership in the middle-overs and that ensured that Mumbai’s target of 162 runs was safely tracked down by Rajasthan Royals. Shreyas Gopal was also impressive with the ball and his twin dismissal helped Rajasthan assert themselves from the very beginning.
Sanju Samson (7/10): As Jos Buttler returned to England for the birth of his child, Samson came out to open the innings and how brilliantly he batted. He clearly understood that dictating the pace behind the square was the way forward and on the face of Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah charge, he ensured that Rajasthan Royals got off to a great start. A longer stay in the middle would have helped the cause a bit more.
Ajinkya Rahane (3.5/10): Many thought after being relieved from the captaincy duties, Rahane would bring his A-game to the fore, but that remained beyond the realms of fantasy. He definitely started with a positive intent, but fell prey to Rahul Chahar’s outside off-stump invitation and gave a catch to Suryakumar Yadav at cover when he could simply play with the turn towards backward point. His 12 was full of confidence and one would find it really difficult to see any flaws in his technique before the dismissal.
Steven Smith (8/10): This was a flawless innings. Not the one that he used to play to consolidate, and not even the struggling white-ball mode. The newly-appointed Royals captain came to the crease just after Rahane’s dismissal, and after seeing Samson bat so confidently, Smith decided to take his chances and took the team over the line.
Ben Stokes (3/10): The English all-rounder hasn’t set the IPL stage on fire like he did last year for the Royals, but the in the absence of Jos Buttler, who had been the biggest stabilising force for them this season, Stokes failed terribly and while trying to cut a conventional leg-break, he saw his stumps being scattered.
Riyan Parag (8/10): Being ahead of K Gowtham in the pecking order meant there was pressure on Parag’s young shoulders. Parag, however, was undaunted by the same and pulled up one trickery up his sleeves after another. That eventually failed, but his moment under the sun came with the bat as in the company of Steve Smith, he played fierce shots and scored an important 43 for the team’s cause.
Ashton Turner (1/10): Second golden duck in two consecutive matches - Ashton Turner has almost made everyone forget his breath-taking innings against India a month ago with his failure to be off the blocks. Most importantly, he was dismissed in a terrible manner - being caught plumb in front after shuffling just way too much.
Stuart Binny (7.5/10): If there is any comeback, I was truly excited about, it was of Stuart Binny. The Karnataka all-rounder has been chastised way often, been a regular part of memes, but at Jaipur, he showed what he has got. After an 11-ball 33 against Kings XI Punjab, Binny showed his worth with the ball, by picking up one wicket at the expense of 19 runs. An unbeaten four-ball seven would add to it.
Jofra Archer (6/10): A performance of 2 for 21 in four overs would be sufficient to have a good rating anyday but if you drop three catches in an innings, then it is not done. Jofra Archer dropped sitters and that not only gave Unadkat’s bowling figures a torrid look but also ensured that Mumbai went ahead by a margin to score a par total of 161.
Shreyas Gopal (8.5/10): The youngster is shining bright and how! One of the conventional theories that leggies are debunking this IPL season that they can’t be economical. Gopal proved that yet again in Jaipur as he ended up with an economy rate of 5.25 while sending Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock back to the hut, while ensuring that Steve Smith’s plan of keeping Jofra Archer for the death overs remained successful.
Jaydev Unadkat(3/10): It is an odd day, let it sink within me first. Unadkat started terribly, like he always does. And there was a little sense of change in length when Quinton de Kock was striking big when the ball was pitched up. Unadkat, however, could’ve found his redemption as no less than two catches were dropped and his fellow pacer Jofra Archer was the culprit. That eventually led to a terrible bowling figure of 0/46 - well, you must’ve been acquainted by it now.
Dhawal Kulkarni(2/10): Sometimes, life works in mysterious ways and probably, that’s why cricket is called a game of glorious uncertainties. After conceding just three runs in the first over, Kulkarni’s fate changed in a dramatic manner as Quinton de Kock milked him for 19 runs in one over to give his bowling figure a torrid look. He pulled up the strings in the third over, ending with nine runs, and that culminated his performance in the match against his home city.
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