Rajasthan Royals came out on the wrong end of the first super over in four years in the IPL, against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday (April 16).
Fielding first after winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals conceded 188 in their 20 overs, with Tristan Stubbs (34 off 18) and Axar Patel (34 off 14) providing late impetus to the Delhi Capitals innings. In the chase, RR came out all guns blazing, racing to 50-0 by the fifth over. Skipper Sanju Samson then pulled a muscle in the next over and had to leave the field retired hurt.
Riyan Parag, batting at No.3, didn't get going and was out for eight off 11 when Nitish Rana came to the crease. After a slowish start (20 off the first 16 balls), Rana took off, hitting Axar Patel for two fours and a six in the 15th over. He followed it up with another four and six off Kuldeep Yadav in the 16th, before reaching his 50 off just his 26th ball in the 17th.
Match 32, Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Rajasthan don't use Nitish Rana in the super over
Rana was the joint-highest scorer for Rajasthan in their chase, making 51 - same as Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, Rana's knock came at a significantly better strike rate - 182 compared to Jaiswal's 137.
Yet, when RR were only able to match DC's score and had to choose their three batters for the Super Over, they didn't pick Rana. Instead, RR opened with Shimron Hetmyer (15 not out off 9 in the main match) and Riyan Parag (8 off 11). When Riyan was dismissed on the fourth ball of the Super Over, Jaiswal came out to replace him, but couldn't create any impact as he was run out for a diamond duck.
Also read: Explained: Why the back-foot no-ball call off Mitchell Starc in IPL super-over was correct
With the second wicket falling in the Super Over, Rajasthan were restricted to 11 runs, which DC overhauled in just four deliveries.
Why did Rajasthan not pick Rana?
While Hetmyer was always going to be one of the openers in the Super Over for RR given his recognised role as a finisher, the choice of his partner was an interesting one.
Also read: Explained: Why Sanju Samson didn't bat or keep in Rajasthan's super over defeat vs Delhi
Rana is primarily someone who bats in the top four and is not known to go big from the first ball. It was evident in his knock in the run-chase as well, where he accelerated from 20 off 16 to 50 off 26, scoring 30 runs between balls 17-26.
Riyan has also shifted up the order since last year, but he used to play the role of a finisher before that for Rajasthan Royals, and is a right-hander who could complement Hetmyer's left-handedness.
Starc, who was bowling the Super Over for Delhi, had also dismissed Rana with a pinpoint yorker in the main game, which was exactly the kind of deliveries he was attempting to bowl in the Super Over as well.
These factors could have played a part in RR not picking Rana, a decision that came under severe criticism on commentary and across social media as they lost the Super Over comfortably.
Following the victory, DC have moved back up to the top of the table while RR remain at the eighth spot.
