Following his team’s four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tie, Rajasthan Royals (RR) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said he felt his body was not moving well in the first half of the season and that He needed some time to get back into his bowling rhythm. Rajasthan Royals ended their four-match winless run in the Indian Premier League and bounced back at the right time to seal their place in Qualifier 2 after a 4-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator on Wednesday.
After the game, speaking at the post-match presentation, Ashwin said that the team was not doing well in the last few games and had lost opener Jos Buttler, who returned home for England’s series against Pakistan, but this victory will give them confidence in the future. of the clash of the two qualifiers.
“In the first half, I felt like my body wasn’t moving very well during the first half of the season. I also had an injury to my abdomen. I’m also getting older. Coming into the tournament from Test cricket was difficult, I needed some time to get the pace of bowling, but once you commit to your franchise, you want to continue the season,” the 37-year-old said.
Ashwin said the team got the right length while bowling and Trent Boult got some swing and seam movement. He also said there wasn’t much dew in the second round.
“I think our boys had some exceptional shots to get that chase. I think our biggest strength is the exuberance of youth and the experience we have to back that up. Now that Hettie (Shimron Hetmyer) is back and Rovman got a few boundaries today we also have Keshav sitting on the outside. We have the right momentum for this team to move forward,” he concluded.
Coming to the match, RR won the toss and decided to bowl first. Almost all of RCB’s batsmen got starts but failed to convert them into a big knock. Rajat Patidar (34 off 22 balls, with two fours and two sixes), Virat Kohli (33 off 24 balls, with three fours and one six) and Mahipal Lomror (32 off 17 balls, with two fours and two of six) emerged as the leading run-scorers, restricting RCB to 172/8 in their 20 overs.
Avesh Khan (3/44) was RR’s best bowler. Ravichandran Ashwin (2/19) and Trent Boult (1/16) also did a good job in stopping RCB’s run rate.
In the chase, the Royals got off to a good start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (45 off 30 balls, with eight fours) and Tom Kohler Cadmore (20 off 15 balls, with four boundaries) putting up a 46-run stand. From then onwards, the RCB bowlers applied some pressure on Rajasthan, restricting the run flow and getting a few wickets. RR were restricted to 112/4 in 13.1 overs. However, Riyan Parag (36 from 26 balls, with two fours and two sixes) held one last before being dismissed, while Shimron Hetmyer (26 from 14 balls, with three fours and one six) and Rovman Powell ( 16* in eight balls, with two fours and a six) attacked RCB in the final overs to claim a four-wicket victory with an over left.
Mohammed Siraj (2/33) was RCB’s best bowler.
Ashwin took home the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Now, RR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the second qualifier on May 24 in Chennai to decide who will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final on May 26.
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