Twitter Reactions: Rajasthan Royals survive Marcus Stoinis scare in rollercoaster clash

Rajasthan Royals are up and running in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022! Third win for the inaugural-season champions and Lucknow Super Giants are the latest to go down against them. The contest proceeded like a rollercoaster and went right down to the wire. However, a sensational last over from debutant Kuldeep Sen meant RR survived Marcus Stoinis’ scare to record a narrow three-run win.

Earlier in the match, Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and opted to bowl at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Taking the field with a revamped batting order, RR got off to a steady start with openers Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal adding 42 runs for the opening wicket. However, the duo were then dismissed in quick succession and what followed was a shocking collapse.

The Men in Pink lost four wickets inside 25 runs and were reduced to 67/4. Just when LSG seemed firmly on command, Shimron Hetmyer joined forces with Ravichandran Ashwin and the duo added 68 runs for the fifth wicket. Hetmyer was the aggressor in the partnership and he scored an unbeaten 59 off just 36 deliveries. Ashwin also played a handy knock, scoring 28 off 23 before getting retired out. As a result, RR advanced to 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Trent Boult’s stellar opening spell took LSG by storm

In reply, LSG got off to a horrendous start with skipper KL Rahul and Krishnappa Gowtham getting dismissed in the first two legitimate balls of the innings. Trent Boult did the massive damage and the Super Giants could never really recover. Jason Holder’s promotion at number four didn’t work either as he fell prey to Prasidh Krishna after scoring eight off 14 cherries.

Opener Quinton de Kock was then joined by Deepak Hooda and the duo showcased some resilience. However, Yuzvendra Chahal’s stellar four-wicket haul in the middle overs meant the tale of LSG losing regular wickets continued. While De Kock scored 39 off 32 balls, Hooda contributed with 25 runs.

With the required run rate constantly going up and RR taking regular wickets, LSG looked entirely down and down. However, Marcus Stoinis, playing his first game of the season, had some other plans. He took matters in his own hands and brought LSG right back in the hunt. However, a stellar last over from Kuldeep Sen meant Stoinis’ 17-ball 38-run cameo went in vain as RR clinched the contest by three runs.

Meanwhile, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to RR’s triumph:

Last year #kartiktyagi and this year #kuldeepsen. #rajasthanroyals giving confidence and clarity to the young boys! #RRvsLSG #TATAIPL #CricketTwitter

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 10, 2022

Loving @rajasthanroyals this year … 👍 #IPL2022 !! They could go all the way

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 10, 2022

It's been a day of Kuldeep’s, both showcasing their skills with the ball. One on debut, one out to seek redemption. Super Sunday at #IPL2022 #KKRvDC #RRvsLSG

— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) April 10, 2022

What a temperament Kuldeep sen 👏👏👏👏🌟 @rajasthanroyals

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 10, 2022

Kuldeep can’t do anything wrong today… 🥳🤩 But why was Stoinis held back so much?? Tactical faux-pas.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 10, 2022

Anyone else agree with me….that the end of an #IPL game is so similar to a basketball 🏀 So much stop/start …. #livedrama

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 10, 2022

Match on 😜 @IPL

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 10, 2022

Oh he is here now!!! Such power 💥💥💥 https://t.co/hvBLY3SS3N

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 10, 2022

Quality leg spin bowlling @yuzi_chahal 👏👏🌟 @IPL @rajasthanroyals

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 10, 2022

Ayush Badoni. Sai Sudarshan, Jitesh Sharma and now Kuldeep Sen. Just some of the newcomers dazzling this year. What a fantastic crop of new players.

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) April 10, 2022

#MarcusStoinis will have to do a #ShimronHetmyer to win the game! #RRvsLSG #TATAIPL #crickettwitter

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 10, 2022

One thing that is so critical to understand the expected flow of the game is the pitch analysis…before toss. One area of the sport that needs a lot more analysis. All of us have made our assumptions and all of us have been more wrong than right.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 10, 2022

It had to be Ashwin, didn't it. He is to the IPL what any woman is to a man's world: Dragging the whole ecosystem into the future by challenging the status quo.

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) April 10, 2022

Trying to get my head 🤯 around #LSG batting order….I know T20 cricket is all about flexibility but this is amazing. Let’s see if it is a stroke of genius #LSGvsRR #IPL2022

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 10, 2022

Watch that delivery on the Loop. #trentboult

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 10, 2022

What a delivery! 🤯

— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) April 10, 2022

First ever in #IPL history. Retired out, who else but #Ashwin

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 10, 2022

Shimron Hetmyer is such a wonderful talent. Can bat at many different phases of the innings👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. #RRvsLSG #TATAIPL

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 10, 2022

Ashwin retired out is fascinating T20 tactics. T20 is causing us to rethink the way we conceive the game of in the 21st century.😊😊

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 10, 2022