Spin bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), Syrej, admitted that the side ended his 181 -run chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and found his two -run loss from the first one win situation. At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, RR was ready to win completely as he needed 25 runs off 18 balls. But LSG’s Pacer Avesh Khan took three wickets in his last two overs, and defended nine runs from the finals to give his team a memorable win, disappointing RR.
This was also the second time when the RR failed to score nine runs in the finals, unable to do so against Delhi Capital (DC) and eventually lost the match through a super over at Arun Jaitley Stadium earlier this week.
“To be honest, we are playing good cricket. It’s just that the result has not gone away. In the dugout, there is a lot of peace with Rahul (Dravid, Head Coach). Everyone has played enough cricket in the dugout to know that no one should panic and take it.
“But unfortunately, losing the previous game with this game and super over by two runs, yes, it’s difficult, but plays in this way. T20 is a format where there is a lot of risk. You make a lot of mistakes and our efforts are to reduce those mistakes.
“I think we could finish it in a few overs while we were running a partnership. But Avesh again bowled well. So, we could finish it. But again, we are absolutely calm, we are composed about it and we are ready for the next game,” in the press conference after the match.
RR was also hurt by the fact that Pesar Sandeep Sharma hit four sixes to Abdul Samad at the last minute of 27 runs of LSG’s innings. Sandeep had earlier failed to protect 12 runs in the super over against DC. But very much said that the expensive final than Sandeep is something that can happen in any game.
“This does not mean that I can take anything away from him because he is a great bowler. He has always bowled those important and strict overs. Certainly, we had 20 runs less, maybe 10-15 runs.
“I will be honest with you, this is a team game. Even in the last match, he gave very little runs to two overs – 5 and 7 runs. So, generally, we forget the important overs and we keep emphasizing the overs that they have not bowled well.
“It is not easy to go there and it is easy to perform in the day and day with the same intensity. But I think we are a unit. Things are not going to our way, the results are not going to our way. But I think it’s a young side and I am sure everyone is hurting and they will learn from their mistakes. You were in a commanding position in both matches, you were still in existence.”
Rejecting rumors of rift in the team, Butuul signed the RR, who suffers four consecutive defeats in IPL 2025. “Clarity with us is perfectly best with supporting staff and players and in the dressing room. Whatever plans I have, it is very clear about it.
“It’s just that on that particular day, the players were not executed and it was just in that last over, things did not go in our way. Most of the time, we were in the game and we were playing good cricket. So, I think we do not just reach that finishing line. I think they will assess the situation and tell us.
RR will now be seen in the eighth place in the numeral table, next time they will face the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), headed by Silver Patidar at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
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