5 min readMay 16, 2024 08:55 AM IST
First published on: May 16, 2024 at 12:33 AM IST
Synopsis: Out-of-contention Punjab Kings extend Rajasthan Royals losing streak as Sam Curran leads from the front with bat and ball.
Imperfect teams, close game
This wasn’t expected to be a classic, based on the recent track record of the two teams. One team had already been knocked out of playoff contention while the other, even though it had secured a top-four spot, seemed to have done so almost by default despite losing their last three games. Also, some of their big overseas stars – from Jos Buttler to Liam Livingstone and Kagiso Rabada – have gone home.
Rajasthan Royals-Punjab Kings games over the last few seasons, and while there was not much riding on the game in terms of qualification, it did provide a close contest, largely due to the imperfections of the two teams. It promised to go down to the wire at one stage before a late spurt took Kings to a five-wicket win with seven balls to spare, taking Royals’ losing streak to four games.
After the Royals won the toss and chose to bat, there was a distinct lack of initiative and enterprise on their part. Yashasvi Jaiswal crashed the first ball of the game, offering a bit of width, through the off-side. But once he played on later in the same over bowled by Sam Curran, the innings was becalmed.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, making his IPL debut at the top of the order, seemed a poor imitation of Buttler. He was too stiff, being deceived by the slow surface provided for the first game of the season in Guwahati before being put out of his misery after a 23-ball 18. It put the onus of run-scoring on Sanju Samson, but he perished in the endeavour. The Royals were stuttering at 43/3 after eight overs.
It was only home boy Riyan Parag, apart from a cameo from Ravichandran Ashwin, who kept the innings together and ensured they reached 144/9, inadequate on most occasions. Parag’s knock off 48 off 34 balls, with six fours, wasn’t his most fluent of the season, and reflected the rut the team has fallen into.
Nathan Ellis and Harshal Patel were difficult to get away with their change of pace, while leg-spinner Rahul Chahar foxed the overseas contingent to their doom. But there were very few, if any, instances of batsmen advancing down the pitch or trying to take the bowlers on, probably a result of lack of confidence.
Kings’ captain leads from the front
Punjab Kings’ batting has been their weaker suit throughout the season. Their overseas stars didn’t turn up, bar exceptions, when it mattered most, and their Indian contingent remained inconsistent throughout.
On Wednesday, with nothing to play for in terms of their prospects in the tournament, they made heavy weather of a modest chase till their skipper took charge of matters.
Sam Curran hasn’t set the IPL on fire, but he has been saddled with added responsibility as the top order has underperformed. Chasing just 145 on a sluggish pitch against a quality attack, the England all-rounder was in his element. He had to do it almost by himself after they were reduced to 48/4 after eight overs. Jitesh Sharma played a support act with a 20-ball 22 and Impact Sub Ashustosh Sharma found the boundary and the stands at the end in an 11-ball 17. But it was Curran’s unbeaten 43-ball 61, following up with two wickets with left-arm medium pace, that had the biggest role in the victory.
The asking rate went beyond nine runs an over at one stage but Curran kept his cool and found the big hits whenever required. Five fours and three sixes reminded one of the batting talent that made the vital difference in a Test series against India six years ago. It was not all power-hitting as it wasn’t feasible for a player not of the biggest build. There was finesse, some deft placement, use of feet and a wide repertoire of shots. Sweeps, drives, slaps, glides, pulls and old-fashioned heaves featured in his knock, but the one shot that caught the eye was the inside-out six over cover off Ashwin.
Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 144/9 in 20 overs (Riyan Parag 48; Rahul Chahar 2/26, Harshal Patel 2/28) lost to Punjab Kings 145/5 in 18.5 overs (Sam Curran 63 not out) by five wickets
Rajasthan Royals-Punjab Kings games over the last few seasons, and while there was not much riding on the game in terms of qualification, it did provide a close contest, largely due to the imperfections of the two teams. (Sportzpics) 
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