After Rajasthan Royals (RR)’s 20-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, batting all-rounder Riyan Parag said he developed a few shots while playing alongside skipper Sanju Samson. Parag played a blitzkrieg knock as he scored 43 runs from 29 balls at a strike rate of 148.28. He hit 1 four and 3 sixes during his time at the crease. Parag revealed that Samson told him not to attempt risky shots as the conditions were “a little tougher”.
“When I batted with Sanju bhaiya today, I had developed a few shots and I kept trying to prod him by asking ‘Sanju bhaiya, let me hit one’ and he said, ‘No, no, today’s wicket is not so easy’ Even though we practiced here, today was a little bit harder, day game, keeping the ball down, so he said ‘no, no, not now,'” Parag said.
He added that if Samson wasn’t there, he would have tried risky shots. The 22-year-old accepted that he was almost out of contention against Krunal Pandya in the first ball.
“If I hadn’t had him there I would have tried to play that shot. It may or may not have worked out, but then that element of risk goes away and you extend your innings and get your team to get a better score .Even if I had gotten the first ball, since I was very close against Krunal, everything will be fine with me because I did everything right and now these are just results. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t happen, I come back again tomorrow,” he added.
Coming to the match, RR chose to bat first. Openers Jos Buttler (11) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 in 12 balls, with three fours and a six) departed without making much of an impact, reducing the side to 49/2. Thereafter, a 93-run partnership emerged between Riyan and skipper Sanju, who scored 82* in 52 balls, with three fours and six sixes. Dhruv Jurel (20* in 12 balls, with a four and six) rounded it off well, taking RR to 193/4 in 20 overs.
LSG were reduced to 11/3 in the chase of 194 runs. Then Deepak Hooda (26 in 13 balls, with two fours and two sixes) along with KL stabilized the innings a bit. After Hooda’s dismissal, which left LSG at 60/4, KL put together an 85-run stand with Nicholas Pooran (64 in 41 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes). But a win was not meant for LSG as RR made a comeback with timely wickets, reducing LSG to 173/6 in 20 overs.
Trent Boult (2/35) was the bowlers’ choice for RR. Sandeep, Ashwin, Nandre Burger and Yuzvendra Chahal took a wicket each. Samson received the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his half-century.
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