IPL 2021: We Weren't Good Enough On The Day: Kumar Sangakkara Unimpressed With RR’s Batting Display Against PBKS

Rajasthan Royals (RR) director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara was left unimpressed with the team’s lackluster batting performance in their 33-run loss against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday in Abu Dhabi in the ongoing UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). With this loss, the Rajasthan Royals moved to the 6^th spot in the points table.

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson did well to win the toss and chose to bowl first on a pitch that was slow and the ball gripped a bit. The dangerous Delhi Capitals (DC) openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw failed to get going this time. Shreyas Iyer was the one who top-scored with 43, while Shimron Hetmyer made 28 and captain Rishabh Pant made 24 runs as Capitals managed 154/6 in 20 overs.

Rajasthan Royals’ pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Chetan Sakariya took 2 wickets each, while Rahul Tewatia and Kartik Tyagi got one wicket apiece.

Delhi Capitals Bowled Smartly And We Weren’t Up To It: RR Director Of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara

However, in reply, only two RR batsmen got to double figures as Mahipal Lomror made 19 runs and captain Sanju Samson remained unbeaten on 70* in 53 balls with 8 fours and 1 six. Rajasthan Royals managed just 121/6 in their 20 overs as they were unable to counter neither the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje nor the spin of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel.

Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara on Saturday blamed the “careless” approach of his batting unit in the first 10 overs for their 33-run loss.

“154 was a great total to limit Delhi Capitals to, (what) we needed to do was not be careless in the first 10 overs. Unfortunately Delhi came hard at us, they bowled smartly and we weren’t up to it. So, I wouldn’t worry too much about the lower middle-order, they got us out of lot of trouble in the first half of the IPL and I am sure, they will come good, as we go along,” Sangakkara said at the post-match press conference.

“Chasing 154, should have been done with the batting that we had, especially starting from the top-order and downwards, and we weren’t good enough on the day. It is unfortunate that we had a couple of injury concerns that meant that (Evin) Lewis and (Chris) Morris didn’t play, but that is just temporary and we have the options,” the Sri Lanka batting legend added.

Sangakkara also said that it was tough for Sanju Samson to go after the bowlers as he was receiving no support from the other side and hence had to be content with anchoring one end.

Abu Dhabi Is Definitely A Bit Slower Than Dubai: Kumar Sangakkara

Sangakkara also credited the Delhi bowlers for not letting Samson or someone like David Miller free their arms and said that use of variations was the way to go on that Abu Dhabi track, which he called even slower than Dubai.

“It is definitely a bit slower than Dubai. We were expecting it as well, obviously playing a day game here, it is not going to be quick, it is either going to be slow or very slow. So, I think variations on good length that is a very good option and also (dealing with) the odd length, … if you just change the grip on the ball, that might be a variation itself, so just try and hit the stumps. “…it is bit difficult to hit straight, the shorter deliveries are always easier to hit, so just to try and hit the good length and play with the ball in hand, you don’t have to bowl a slow ball or anything else,” Sangakkara said.

RR will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on September 27.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals Fined For Slow Over-rate vs Delhi Capitals