IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans, 24th Match - Who Said What?

Rashid Khan with a boundary on the final delivery of the match ended Rajasthan Royals' winning streak in IPL 2024. The hosts struggled with the bat initially at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, but skipper Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag built an excellent partnership to help regain momentum. The duo stitched a partnership of 130 runs as Rajasthan posted 196 runs on the board in the first innings.

Samson, who is currently auditioning to earn a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, made 68* runs off 38 deliveries, while young Parag 76 runs off 48 deliveries. Towards the end, Shimron Hetmyer played a good cameo of 13* runs off five deliveries as RR would have been happy with the first innings total.

When it came to the chase, Gujarat started well as openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan built a partnership of 62 runs in the middle. However, after Sudharsan got out for 35 runs, wickets fell one after the other. Despite so, skipper Gil played to his merit and made 72 runs off 44 deliveries to keep the team in the hunt. However, it was Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan who were incredible towards the end as GT ended up winning the match by three wickets.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Dhanashree Verma shares heartfelt message on Yuzvendra Chahal's 150th outing

Talking Points

1. Form of India probables

Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson and Avesh Khan are in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup. Gill played a brilliant knock for his team, as he made 72 runs, while Samson hit 68*. Both players looked to be in good shape, which should put them on notice. On the other hand, Avesh Khan has been consistent this season. Barring the final over, the pacer has done a relatively good job, which should give him some confidence ahead of the upcoming matches.

2. From meme to dream

Riyan Parag has been trolled mercilessly in the last couple of years. The cricketer worked very hard in the domestic circuit and is finally making the most of the opportunities. Against GT, the 22-year-old made 76 runs and moved to second on the IPL Orange Cap list. The cricketer hit his third half-century of the season in five matches, which looked like a dream in the last season.

Also Check: Most Runs in IPL 2024

3. Sanju Samson’s captaincy

Sanju Samson didn’t use the service of Trent Boult in the death over, as he put his money on Kuldeep Sen and Avesh Khan. It was a bold decision, as Boult was incredible with the ball against GT. The Kiwi pacer gave away just eight runs in his two overs and was never considered again, which is bizarre.

Who Said What?

Losing skipper Sanju Samson said:

I think the last ball of the game (where was the game lost?). Very hard to speak at the moment. Hardest job in the tournament when a captain loses the game and has to tell where the game was lost. When the emotions come down I'll be able to tell clearly. Have to give credit to the Gujarat Titans. That's the beauty of this tournament. Will have to learn and move on. While I was batting I thought something around 180 would've been a fighting score. 196 was a winning score I thought. With no dew, our bowling lineup should've done it. It wasn't easy to go hard at the start of the innings. 197 at Jaipur, without dew, we'll take it any day.

Winning skipper Shubman Gill said:

We were targetting 45 in 3 overs and it is very much gettable and that was the mindset at that time. Mathematically both batters needed to hit 22 off 9 balls and that's how the thinking goes and if one batter goes berserk that will do. I would have loved to finish the game, but very happy with Rahul and Rashid bhai for finishing the job for us. Winning the ball off the last ball is always a great feeling. He (Rashid Khan) is someone who you always want in your team, he is such a competitor.

POTM Rashid Khan said:

Winning the game is more pleasing for me. Happy that I landed the ball where I wanted today and that gave me energy with the bat as well maybe. I haven't bowled much in the last 3-4 months after the surgery and I just lost a bit of grip on the ball and I had a good session after the last game and it really helped me to get back to my best. I really enjoyed my bowling today. It was just a matter of hitting 3-4 sixes and you need to stay positive