During prior seasons, RR has consistently embraced boldness in their efforts to remain adaptable. However, their fourth match of the season against PBKS on Saturday in the IPL 2025 may have been the exact T20 blueprint they had been aiming for.
Mullanpur welcomed them with open arms after their uplifting victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati. However, they were quick to admit that there were certain areas that required attention. One of the major challenges was Yashasvi Jaiswal’s difficulty in finding his rhythm at the beginning of the innings.
Jaiswal appears to be a mere shadow of his former self, the dynamic batter who dominated IPL 2023 with a strike rate of over 175 in the powerplay and set the record for the fastest half-century in just 13 balls. However, from IPL 2024 onwards, he has been dismissed in the powerplay ten times – tying for the third-highest frequency in the tournament.
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During Saturday’s match, Jaiswal overcame obstacles to set the stage for a dominant showing. Although his fifty runs weren’t the flashiest, they showcased his determination to overcome personal challenges. As he was eventually eliminated by Lockie Ferguson, Jaiswal had already provided a taste of his ferocious power at the crease – quickly accelerating from 46 off 39 to 67 off 44.
Jaiswal’s resurgence and Samson’s return as captain, batter, and wicketkeeper following a finger injury boosted RR to their top opening partnership of the season – 89. Most notably, it marked the first occasion where the duo stayed together beyond the powerplay.
The key aspect here is that their squad composition and strategy, specifically their use of an Impact Player, make them vulnerable when the top order does not perform. This stands in contrast to other teams who add an extra hitter to strengthen their batting line-up when playing first.
The team’s improved batting appeared to lessen their dependence on Riyan Parag. The captain, who led in the first three matches, appeared more confident on Saturday as he scored an unbeaten 43 runs off 25 balls. He batted with the knowledge that RR still had Nitish Rana, who recently hit a sensational 81 runs off 36 balls against CSK, waiting to come in and fewer overs to deal with compared to when the openers struggled.
This also allowed them to avoid using unconventional methods, such as moving Wanindu Hasaranga up the batting order to add depth. By having Shimron Hetmyer at No. 5 and Dhruv Jurel at No. 6, makeshift solutions were no longer necessary. However, it was perplexing why Hetmyer had previously batted at No. 8, below an Impact Player, considering he was retained specifically as a finisher.
Overall, their batting performance was not without flaws, but they exhibited a strong and formidable lineup capable of dominating even the toughest opposition. This impressive team dynamic led them to achieve a score of over 200 runs in Mullanpur during the IPL, which was deemed by Sandeep Sharma as exceeding expectations on a subpar pitch.
As a result, they were able to progress through their bowling innings without relying on Kumar Kartikeya’s left-arm versatility as an Impact Player. He possesses the ability to bowl both orthodox offbreaks and wristspin, providing them with ample options.
Kartikeya’s late appearance in the contest was overshadowed by Jofra Archer’s explosive new-ball performance, which seemed to seal the game early on. His electrifying opening over was a treat to watch. However, some like Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer may strongly disagree.
Arya fell victim to the first ball, caught off guard by a true seam delivery that sent his off stump tumbling. Iyer retaliated immediately with two graceful shots over the covers, but Archer had the final say. A well-aimed bouncer at his ribs, which was deemed a wide, may have rattled Iyer and led him to attempt a risky shot, resulting in all stumps and bails being scattered about.
Archer came into India’s unforgiving summer with a new level of intensity, a noticeable improvement from his initial hesitant performance in the chilly English spring. However, he faced disappointing outcomes in his first two games with figures of 0 for 109 after bowling just 6.3 overs.
Could it have been the fear of re-injury that hindered him? Or perhaps the harsh conditions and dominant Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting order made the situation appear more dire than it was? Regardless, on Saturday, Archer responded confidently.
Thanks to his explosive burst, the entire RR attack operated seamlessly according to plan. This included Sandeep delivering four overs at the start and end of the game, as well as their dynamic spin duo from Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Hasaranga, who effectively controlled the middle overs and neutralized the formidable pairing of Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell.
RR appears to favor this particular template, and their recent back-to-back victories have provided them with some additional breathing room. It can be assumed that Rahul Dravid’s notes on Saturday were not as plentiful in red ink due to these triumphs.
