Rajasthan Royals’ batting succumbed underneath strain whereas pursuing 220 runs in opposition to Punjab Kings, stumbling in a run chase for the fifth time in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, however head coach Rahul Dravid felt the bowlers shared the burden of the aspect’s wretched run this season.
“It’s been a kind of seasons the place we all the time really feel that we in all probability gave 15-20 runs additional. If we have a look at the season, bowling has not been up to speed. Neither in taking wickets nor in stopping runs. We’ve chased practically 200 each recreation, even then we’ve managed to get shut.
“So, we have to work on that subsequent season. A bit on the fielding too. However that’s the match. At instances you see and say you’ve gained simply three video games however we additionally have to see that we’ve been shut fairly a number of instances. We have to win these video games, too, this isn’t an excuse,” Dravid mentioned after his aspect fell 10 runs in need of 220 runs.
Shimron Hetmyer has come underneath hearth this season, having scored simply 220 runs in 12 innings at a median of 20.
“Hettie on the again finish, possibly missed out this season, which was a bit powerful on us. However that may occur. I imply, that’s the sport, proper? He’s accomplished so effectively for us in that position prior to now three seasons. That’s the character of the sport. I don’t actually assume we felt the necessity to tweak it [batting order] an excessive amount of,” Dravid mentioned.
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Dravid added that his aspect’s younger batting core will enhance with time and can come again stronger subsequent 12 months.
“We really feel that we have been shut in all of the video games, we have been stepping into good positions, however simply not capable of cross the road. Perhaps with a number of adjustments subsequent 12 months and a bit little bit of luck possibly which may change.
I feel our gamers can be a bit bit extra skilled one 12 months down the road as effectively. All these guys are doing effectively. [Yashasvi] Jaiswal, Sanju [Samson], Riyan [Parag] are already taking part in for India. They’ll play extra sooner or later and study. [Dhruv] Jurel too. Vaibhav will play under-19 video games. I feel by the 12 months that powerful worldwide cricket will make them even higher by the following IPL,” Dravid mentioned.
Punjab Kings spin bowling coach Sunil Doshi praised Harpreet Brar whose three wickets allowed the aspect to rein the opposition in regardless of conceding 89 runs within the PowerPlay.
“Brar has been constant all through the season. Final 12 months additionally we noticed how he bowled. Again and again, he’s confirmed himself when he has had the chance. He was there to carry out and bought the wickets for us,” Doshi mentioned.
Brar, a left-arm orthodox bowler, halted RR in its tracks with the wickets of left-handed batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi – an unfavourable matchup in response to fashionable T20 conference.
However Doshi mentioned stats seldom confine a participant’s means to make an affect in a recreation.
“The numbers are there to see for the matchups. However they don’t show that the bowler can not ship [against certain types of batters]. The matchups will all the time be there and the bowlers will nonetheless come again and ship. That was what our bowlers confirmed,” Doshi mentioned.
He additionally allayed any considerations round Shreyas Iyer struggling an damage after the PBKS captain was subbed out within the second innings.
“It was only a niggle when he was batting. That’s it.”