IPL 2019 | Player Ratings - Lack of control, situational awareness result in another heart-breaking defeat for Rajasthan Royals
Ben Stokes failed to defend 18 runs in the final over after Mitchel Santner pulled off a nail-biting win from the imminent jaws of defeat. After the CSK top order collapsed for just 24 runs, MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu rescued the visitors to secure a memorable win against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
Ajinkya Rahane (3/10): Another failure by the Rajasthan Royals’ skipper as Rahane floundered after an emphatic start against Mitchell Santner. The way he shuffled across and played him with the turn gave a glimpse of his water-tight technique, but soon after seeming to be in good touch, he fell prey to Deepak Chahar’s persistence. His poor form with the bat continues to haunt him and one wouldn’t be wrong in saying that the axe is looming over Rahane.
Jos Buttler (6/10): The Englishman was unstoppable against the new ball, but ended up playing one shot too many only to be dismissed by Shardul Thakur for a well-paced 23 off 10 deliveries. Buttler’s runs were crucial for his side, but his early departure denied the Royals from achieving fruitful dividends.
Steve Smith (3.5/10): After an early collapse, Royals needed someone of Smith’s stature to weather the storm and anchor the innings, but it wasn’t to be. In an attempt to sweep Jadeja over deep mid-wicket, Smith hit it too well but failed to pierce the gap. The situation was tailor-made for Smith and he could have made a match out of it. Royals’ middle-order woes continue to trouble them and they need to make amends before its too late.
Sanju Samson (2/10): Samson’s comeback bolstered the side, but the man in-form failed to deliver under the pump. After Buttler’s fall, Royals needed Samson to bid his time out in the middle and set a platform for the belligerent Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. The pitch was conducive for batting, but Samson got carried away and ended up playing a futile shot, which was not needed at that stage.
Rahul Tripathi (3.5/10): Rahul Tripathi has done wonders at the top of the order and his failure in the middle is only putting pressure on Rahane as an opener. Should he open the batting or not is an open debate, but one just cannot throw his wicket away in such a high-voltage game. Royals were in hot water when Tripathi took guard and was expected to rescue the RR innings, but it wasn’t to be.
Ben Stokes (4/10): Stokes anchored the Royals innings and was all set to launch a blitzkrieg on the Chennai Super Kings bowlers. But some astute bowling from Deepak Chahar curbed the southpaw’s innings at a very crucial juncture. Stokes is yet to fire with all guns and the pressure to deliver is only on the rise now. He looked in good touch in this innings, but a knuckle-ball deceived him while trying to heave the bowler over cow corner. Stokes grabbed a screamer, but couldn’t defend 18 runs in the final over. He lacked control and the execution was poorer; something that cost his side heavily in the 2016 World T20.
Riyan Parag (5.5/10): The promising talent from Assam was on the verge of making his IPL debut a memorable one. He looked good for his span of 16 deliveries at the crease but a Shardul Thakur delivery that bounced a little more than expected resulted in his dismissal.
Jofra Archer (7/10): There was complete daylight between Archer and most of his teammates. Saying that Archer was outstanding with the ball would be an understatement, he looked unplayable in the death overs and thought he had left enough runs in the final over for Stokes to defend.
Shreyas Gopal (6.5/10): After Stokes’ dismissal, not many expected Rajasthan Royals to cross the 150-run mark, but Shreyas Gopal provided the much-needed impetus. He remained wicketless with the ball, but did well to keep things in control in the middle.
Jaydev Unadkat (4.5/10): Unadkat found some of his mojo in his first two overs and scalped the key wicket of du Plessis to get his side off to a solid start. He is yet to justify the price tag he has been bought for, but this was comparatively better than his previous run against the same side.
Dhawal Kulkarni(8/10): Kulkarni was the pick of the bowlers, did almost everything right with the new ball and uprooted Watson’s stumps with a peach of a delivery. Rahane did make a tactical error in not bowling out Kulkarni, who was their best bowler for the day with figures of 14 for 1 (3 overs).
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