IPL 2018 | Talking points - Kaul’s straight-line shackles and Sanju Samson’s time under the sun

Royals strangled by Kaul’s straight-line shackles

There were plenty of key moments won by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals in the latter's return to the league after serving a two-year ban, particularly on the field. Run-outs, such as that of a key batsman like the BBL's highest run-getter D'Arcy Short and difficult catches are testimonies to this.

However, most importantly, the straight-line shackles created by Siddarth Kaul and Shakib al Hasan were something that the Royals batsmen couldn't break free from. Kaul was relentlessly accurate in bowling a fuller length, combined with a much straighter line compared to other bowlers of the team. The wicket also demanded the bowlers to make significant adaptations to it. The ball under lights was stopping on the batsmen, which curtailed free-flowing shots and so bowling stump-to-stump became a threat in itself. Kaul exploited that chink in Royals' armour and decided not to deviate from the line. 

Sanju Samson and the promise of more

For all the promise that Sanju Samson has shown since his Under-19 appearance in 2012, he has been a stunning paradox in Indian cricket. Although disciplinary issues and lack of consistency in the domestic circuit resulted in his downfall as a cricketer, he had always been rated highly by many experts. And from that perspective, watching Samson struggle against Group C bowlers in the Ranji Trophy was a shame and it needed a moment of awakening for the youngster to realise what he was missing. 

Today, Samson came into the middle sooner than Royals would have liked, having lost opener Short for 4 in the first over itself. The team needed their top-order to deliver if they had to secure their first win after returning to the league after two years. Samson attacked from the outset, creaming the offside and drove Bhuvneshwar Kumar easily. He looked to take the bowlers at the start of the over and then rotate the strike to keep the run-rate good, which was so brilliant to see - especially given the reckless manner with which he has managed his career so far.

The Keralite was once touted as the undisputed heir apparent to the colossal throne of MS Dhoni, but somewhere, in the progression of life, he has lost himself and that promise seemed to be gradually fading. However, it seems like everything is falling in place for Samson once again and if he can stand tall to the faith, who knows, he may send Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant down the pecking order to bring the beginning of a new chapter in his career. He is only 23, after all.