IPL 2019 | Should learn from our mistakes, says Ajinkya Rahane

04/17/2019

Ajinkya Rahane has stated that Rajasthan Royals should learn from their mistakes in the tournament. RR is placed at the seventh position on the points table and they have lost a majority of their matches after failing to capitalise in pressure situations in the ongoing edition of the IPL.

Rajasthan Royals just had one win in their first six matches but things seemed to change after they held their nerve to seal a victory against Mumbai Indians on Saturday. However, they once again caved in while chasing a gettable target of 183. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane rued the close games but also suggested that the team learn from their repeated mistakes.

“Should learn from our mistakes. These things happen in T20 cricket,” said Rahane, at the post match presentation ceremony, reported PTI.

The pitch had gotten better in the second innings and the Royals started well as they had scored 38 at the end of four overs. In spite of losing Jos Butler in the very next ball, they were cruising along, as they were placed at 93 after 11 overs. However, Rahul Tripathi and Rahane failed to accelerate at the right time, and RR eventually ended up at 170.

“182 on that wicket was quite chaseable. We started well. Just a matter of two sixes. A game like this, you can't criticise too much,” expressed the 30-year-old.

Post Rahul Tripathi’s dismissal in the final ball of the 16th over, when RR were placed at 127, they lost four more wickets for 33 runs.

The equation had earlier come down to 49 off 16 deliveries and Stuart Binny looked at his best, but Rahane was dismissed in the 19th over, and the all-rounder, who scored an unbeaten 33 off 11, failed to get support from the other end. The skipper acknowledged that the flurry of wickets in the death overs cost them the match.

“In a chase like this, you can't lose too many wickets in a bunch. Discussion between me and Stuart was take it deep. Tripathi started really well,” said the vice-captain of India test team.

The RR bowlers, especially Jofra Archer bowled exceedingly well to return with great figures. The pacer had three scalps to his name, while just giving away 15 runs in his four overs. Going by the slow nature of the pitch in Mohali, the Paddy Upton-coached side went ahead with two leg spinners, Ish Sodhi and Shreyas Gopal. The New Zealand bowler gave away 41 runs and scalped one wicket, whereas Gopal gave away 31 runs for none. The skipper was all praise for his bowlers, but singled out Archer for his clinical effort.

“Our bowlers bowled well. Our two legspinners in the middle overs were brilliant. Jofra's four overs were critical,” he signed off.

The Royals will next take on Mumbai Indians on April 20.