RiyanRR occupies the top spot at the IPL 2023 Points Table with four wins from six matches & a better NRR. Though the franchise has depth in batting attack they failed to chase a meager 155 runs target against LSG. The credit for Punjab’s loss was given to Parag who could muster just 15 runs off 12 balls during the death overs when the team needed some aggressive approach in batting in order to complete the run chase. Riyan Parag’s poor form is nothing new as the batter has constantly failed to deliver in every fixture Rajasthan has played so far. Joining fans, Ravi Shastri too has criticized Parag for his approach in the death overs.
“They lost Samson, they lost Buttler and Jaiswal but still they had enough, a lot of depth. I think that period of play when Riyan Parag came in and the way he played his first eight balls changed the course of the match. Padikkal, at the other end, lost his rhythm as well,” Shastri said during commentary, as per reports.
He further said that there was a period where in 28 balls just single runs were scored without a single boundary being hit. He further emphasized that not smashing a boundary for such a long duration results only raises the asking run rate. Riyan’s position in the squad & team management’s decision to let him play in all fixtures despite his form has been questioned by many.
LSG get back to winning terms by defeating RR by two wickets
Coming to the LSG vs RR fixture, Batting first LSG managed to post an average 154 runs total. Initially, they got off to a cautious start with KL Rahul (39 off 32 balls) & Mayers (51 off 42) scoring runs at a steady pace. The stitched 82-run stand for the first wicket. Later after their dismissals, there was a mini-collapse as Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni failed to get going with the bat. Later Marcus Stoinis (21 off 16) & Nicholas Pooran (29 off 20) helped LSG to cross 150 run mark in 20 overs. For Rajasthan R Ashwin starred with the ball by returning with figures of 2-23. While the rest of the bowlers could scalp one wicket each.
In reply, RR got off to a steady start with openers Jos Buttler & Yashawi Jaiswal scoring 87 run-stand for the first wicket. But soon their blooming stand was broken with Jaiswal walking back to the hut for 44 runs off 35 balls. But soon there was a mini-collapse for RR with Captain Samson (2), and Buttler (41 off 40 balls) all walking back to the hut reducing RR to 97-3 in 14 overs. In the end, Padikkal (26 off 21 balls) & Riyan Parag (15 off 12) tried to guide RR over the finish line & ended their innings at 144 runs falling 10 runs short of the target. For LSH, Avesh Khan starred with the ball by returning with figures of 3-25. He got valuable support from Marcus Stoinis who returned with figures of 2-28.
Also read, KL Rahul Fined Rs. 12 Lakhs For Maintaining Slow Over Rate Against RR
