At the Sawai Man Singh stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday, April 10, RR vs GT was held. The Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson had anticipated a great match. But it ended up being one of those days he would rather forget. It was Sanju’s 50th IPL match as captain. And he became the third player among the current players in IPL 2024 to achieve the 50-match mark.
Due to unusually heavy rain, the game started later than planned. GT won the toss and captain Shubhman Gill asked RR to bat first. That was the first instance of forgetfulness Sanju had experienced that day. Sanju lost his recall when asked about team makeup. But he claimed they were batting first. He apologized and continued.
Sanju Samson did not bat poorly throughout the RR innings. Thus, there was nothing to be sorry about. In his 50th IPL match, Sanju scored the most runs of any skipper with 68 runs off 38 balls. His two sixes and seven fours made him the most prolific player for his team. It was in the 50+ scoring range. Samson and Shimron Hetmyer amassed 19 runs in the last over. Therefore, leaving the crease unabated as RR amassed a comfortable 196.The innings of Gujarat that followed will remain in Sanju’s memory. And that too is the one he wants to forget, particularly the final four overs.
GLIMPSE OF MATCH: RR vs GT
In the first over, Gujarat Tigers openers Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha aggressively took advantage of fielding restrictions. Gill scored two sixes and a four. The Royals introduced spin with Rahul Chahal, which slightly dipped GT’s scoring rate. In the second over, Hardik Pandya counter-attacked but Jos Buttler caught him. David Miller continued to score boundaries, keeping GT in the hunt. The dismissal of Miller triggered a mini-collapse for GT.
The Royals, openers Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal, took an aggressive approach to the bowlers in the first over. However, the dismissal of Jaiswal slowed the scoring rate. But Sanju Samson and Buttler continued their onslaught. In the second over, Buttler’s dismissal of Rashid Khan was a turning point. Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag ensured the Royals’ victory with a crucial 82-run partnership.
GT were 138/5 at the 16th over, with captain Shubman Gill leaving after scoring a 72 from 44 balls. Gujarat was short of 59 runs to get from 24 balls. Sanju Samson, the 50th match captain, faced defeat for the first time in the IPL. In a post-match interview, he said it was the hardest job in the league to speak after losing the game. And to tell where they lost. Also, He said it might be easier after a few hours.
MATCH NOTES
Buttler and Jaiswal’s dynamic early connection set the stage for the Royals’ pursuit. Buttler and Sanju Samson’s consistent hitting kept the Royals in control of the pursuit. Devdutt Padikkal’s controlled innings made sure the Royals didn’t have any late nerves. Although the GT bottom middle order was startled by Lockie Ferguson’s explosive speed, which limited their final score.
POST-MATCH REACTION
Sanju Samson, the captain of RR, expressed his happiness with the team’s performance. They had a great start from the openers, and everyone pitched in in their special manner. They feel much more confident now that they’ve won.
“We put up a solid total on the board, but the Royals chased well,” said GT Captain Hardik Pandya. Their openers deserve praise for laying the groundwork. We’ll take this as a lesson and improve for the next game.”
CONCLUSION
In an exciting game, the Rajasthan Royals defeated the Gujarat Titans with a large margin of victory. Throughout the chase, the Royals’ batting skill was on display. It was with Buttler’s early assault and Samson’s guiding role setting the tone. The final score of the Titans was limited by Lockie Ferguson’s explosive speed. Although the victory demonstrated the Royals’ confidence for the next games. Furthermore but cemented their place atop the IPL 2024 points table.
The Titans’ bowling assault, especially in the last overs, might be more effective. But their batting collapsed after a promising start. Furthermore, the Titans will take their losses as a lesson and improve for their next game against the Royals, who will maintain their winning run.
