NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals' skipper Sanju Samson expressed his dismay over his team's narrow defeat against Gujarat Titans in a thrilling encounter at Jaipur, which was defined by last-ball drama. Despite a valiant effort, RR fell short as Rashid Khan's heroics clinched victory for GT.
Samson, visibly stunned by the outcome, found it challenging to articulate his thoughts as the match ended in an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Reflecting on the intense contest, he acknowledged the difficulty of speaking after a defeat of this magnitude, stating, "As a losing captain, it's the hardest job in the league."
Rashid Khan's exceptional batting display, culminating in a boundary off the final ball, proved to be the decisive moment of the match.
Talking about where they lost the game, Samson said in a post-match presentation, "The last ball of the game (laughs). You have to give credit to the Gujarat Titans for the way they batted, bowled and fielded."
Despite the disappointment, Samson remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of learning from the defeat and moving forward.
"We will learn from this and move on," he affirmed. While expressing his belief in RR's capabilities, Samson reflected on the target set for their opponents, stating, "When I was batting, I thought something around 180 would be a fighting score. I thought 197 was a winning score."
1/9:Gujarat Titans end Rajasthan Royals' winning streak
<p>Gujarat Titans end Rajasthan Royals' winning streak</p>AFP
2/9:Ending Royals' Winning Streak
<p>Gujarat Titans celebrated a nail-biting victory, halting Rajasthan Royals' four-match winning streak in a thrilling encounter.</p>AFP
3/9:Titans' Dramatic Comeback
<p>Despite Rajasthan's table-topping position, the Titans staged a dramatic comeback in the final five overs, chasing down 73 runs off the last 30 balls.</p>AFP
4/9:Rashid's Heroics
<p>The pressure mounted on Rashid Khan as he thumped the final ball to the boundary, securing victory for the Titans with a total of 199-7.</p>AFP
5/9:The Power of Positivity
Rashid Khan emphasized the importance of positivity, attributing it to the Titans' successful outcome in the match.AFP
6/9:Samson's Humorous Take
<p>Despite defeat, Rajasthan Royals' skipper Sanju Samson humorously pointed out the last ball as the decisive moment in the game.</p>AFP
7/9:Credit to Titans
<p>Sanju Samson credited Gujarat Titans for their exceptional performance in batting, bowling, and fielding.</p>AFP
8/9:Confidence shown by RR
<p>Rajasthan Royals appeared confident initially, with Riyan Parag's fifty and contributions from Samson and Hetmyer, setting a daunting total of 196-3.</p>AFP
9/9:Gujarat's Resilience
<p>Despite initial setbacks, Gujarat Titans showcased resilience, with skipper Shubman Gill's innings and Rashid Khan's heroics leading them to victory, instilling momentum for the upcoming games.</p>AFPSamson highlighted the challenges posed by the conditions at Jaipur, noting the absence of dew and the nature of the pitch. Despite the setback, he commended his team's effort in pacing the innings and acknowledged the competitiveness of the opposition.
"197 at Jaipur, without dew, you will take it any day," he added, underscoring the resilience of RR's bowling unit.
As Rajasthan Royals regroup after this narrow loss, Samson's words echo the determination to bounce back stronger in the upcoming fixtures, epitomizing the spirit of competition in the IPL.
(With inputs from ANI)
