'Wicket Wasn't That Good': Sandeep Sharma Credits RR Batters For Posting 200+ Vs PBKS
Sandeep Sharma contributed to the Rajasthan Royals' success with the ball, taking two wickets for 21 runs in his four overs.
Rajasthan Royals pacer Sandeep Sharma has said that he and his team probably read the Mullanpur pitch better than the Punjab Kings and although the track was not great for batting, his team’s batters made a great effort to post a total over 200 runs, making the chase difficult for Punjab.
Sandeep contributed to Rajasthan’s success with the ball, taking two wickets for 21 runs in his four overs.
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In response to Rajasthan’s 205/4, Punjab could just manage 155/9, as they faced their first defeat of IPL 2025.
“This pitch, the back-off length was skidding and was keeping low. We saw the other team bowling. I think we read the pitch faster than the other team," Sandeep said.
“We had the same plan during time-outs. We talked to the batters who were playing inside us. We got their feedback on which ball is tough to hit or which ball is tough to convert boundary balls," Sandeep added.
“We cut down those balls on this wicket. Again, I feel the wicket was not that good. The credit goes to our batters, who scored well," Sandeep said.
Jofra Archer (3/25), Sandeep (2/21) and spinner Maheesh Theekshana (2/26) bowled with precision, while Kumar Kartikeya and Wanindu Hasaranga provided fine support, as the 206-run target became too steep for Punjab.
Sandeep added to the damage by removing Marcus Stoinis (1), while left-arm spinner Kartikeya, introduced into the attack next, struck another blow by dismissing Prabhsimran Singh (17).
From a precarious 43/4 after the Power Play, Punjab’s hopes were revived through a fighting 88-run fifth-wicket stand between Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell (30 off 21) that came off just 52 deliveries.
Having impressed as an Impact Sub with a 25-ball 43 not out on debut against the Lucknow Super Giants the other day, Wadhera continued his form with a counter-attacking 33-ball half-century.
Wadher took the attack to Hasaranga and Kartikeya during his innings studded with three sixes and four boundaries, while Maxwell provided solid support as the pair brought the equation down to a gettable 85 needed from the last six overs.
With Wadhera in charge, the chase was heading in the right direction until Theekshana pulled things back, dismissing Maxwell (30 off 21 balls).
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