NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals on Saturday secured their fifth win in six games this IPL, propelling them forward. Despite their success, skipper Sanju Samson remains cautious, drawing from past experiences that have taught him not to become overly ambitious or take anything for granted.
In a nail-biting match against the Punjab Kings, RR endured tense moments before ultimately triumphing by three wickets. This victory further solidified their standing at the summit of the points table.
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"You can never take it for granted. Last game, we did some really good things but ended up losing. Tonight, we made more mistakes and won. Cricket is a funny game, so you have to put your head down and just focus on the process,” he said at the post-match presentation in Mullanpur.
Despite the relatively modest target of 148, Rajasthan struggled to chase it down, adding unnecessary tension to the match. Samson candidly admitted that the team felt the pressure as they approached the finish line, reflecting the intensity of the contest.
In the end, they managed to clinch victory in the penultimate ball of the match, showcasing their resilience under pressure.
"We all were (tensed). Games against Punjab in the last few overs, I don't know what it is, they are always close. It was a very funny game," he said.
It was Shimron Hetmyer, who earned RR the win with a 10-ball 27 not out.
"He has been doing it for years and years. He has confidence about his skills. Rovman and Hettie, having them, was good.”
In the absence of Jos Buttler, who was still recovering from a niggle, RR took a bold step by sending debutant Tanush Kotian to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite the opportunity, the 25-year-old found the going tough during his innings, managing just 24 runs off 31 balls.
"He (Kotian) is a very interesting youngster. He came in as an all-rounder. Had a fabulous Ranji Trophy season. He has been impressing everyone in the nets. We had a settled batting order, so we did not want to unsettle it.
"Jos is almost ready for the next game and we wanted to try him (Kotian) up the order."
On Jaiswal's 39 off 28 balls, Samson said: "Happy to see him (Jaiswal) spend time and get 30-40, hopefully he can have a big game next match."
Sam Curran, the Punjab Kings captain, praised the team for fighting it out and hoped they will put up a better show in the next game.
"The wicket was slightly slow. We did not start very well with the bat and then finished off well, much like it was with them. It was a really good effort to get to what we did. Any time you get to 150, you are in the game.
“Unfortunately, another close one for us, but positive signs. We want to improve and get a few more runs. We bowled really well as a unit and fielded well. A little disappointed and we will bounce back in the next game.”
Hetmyer, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, said being a finisher is a "blessing and a curse" at the same time.
"Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Happy I could help my team win tonight.”
(With PTI inputs)
