Abishek shines on the big stage but Samson’s controversial dismissal overshadows DC’s win over RR – Firstpost

Rajasthan Royals (RR) were at the receiving end of disappointment once again in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Just days after going down to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by just one run, RR’s latest setback came against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday. For a team that had got off a strong start — eight wins in nine matches, this is a frustrating period. Especially when they’re just one win away from securing a playoffs berth.

Fraser-McGurk, Porel and Stubbs set the platform

RR’s decision to bowl after winning the toss backfired big time. Despite having a mixed IPL season so far, the Capitals still boast of match-winners in their setup. Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs had previously proven that and one batter to add to that list is 21 year-old Abhishek Porel.

Porel played an aggressive 65 off 36 balls, hitting shots all over the park. Porel is a versatile young batter who can bat in any position. He’s batted at No 3 on a few occasions this season, and even at five down or six down. And he’s bound to make an impact, just like he did with a 10-ball 32 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in DC’s first match of the season. And this was while coming down to bat at the No 9 position.

On Tuesday, though, Porel opened for the Capitals for the first time this season. His previous best this season was a knock of 42 against SRH recently while batting at No 4. He had scored 42 off 22 balls that game, and it was that aggression that helped him come out on top against RR too.

The Bengal cricketer looked to hit right from the word go. He targeted the mid-off region twice off Sandeep Sharma’s over in the second, collecting two boundaries as a result. And in the fifth over, Porel pulled a short ball off R Ashwin over deep midwicket. So, the youngster was showing early signs of aggressive intent.

Shai Hope was run-out at the non-striker’s end in the sixth over, but for Porel that did not hinder him much as Rishabh Pant, the Capitals skipper, made his way into the middle. Pant was only playing a supporting role and it was the East Zone cricketer who let his bat do the talking. A six over mid-wicket off Yuzvendra Chahal at the start of the seventh over, and a paddle sweep over fine leg in the last ball of that over showed just how good he can be. In fact, speaking of which, prior to this game, Porel had been dismissed twice by the RR leg-spinner, so this was a victory of sorts for the former in this mini battle.

In the 11th over, the left-handed batter struck his maiden half-century with a six over deep midwicket off Avesh Khan. The southpaw’s knock, coupled by a fifty from Jake Fraser-McGurk and a knock of 41 from Tristan Stubbs had taken DC to 221/8.

Kuldeep Yadav brilliance, Sanju Samson dismissal controversy

A target of 222 can be a big ask in T20s at times. RR suffered an early setback in the chase after they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) in the first over, but skipper Sanju Samson (86) led a fightback that would end in unceremonious fashion. Samson was involved in half-century stands with Jos Buttler and Shubham Dubey, but what could have been the game-changer is that if his partnership with Riyan Parag (27) had been even more productive. That stand lasted for 36 runs and at the end of the day, RR were left asking more.

Samson continued doing Samson things. He got his half-century off 28 balls. However, what caught the eyes of many was the way the Kerala batter was dismissed in the 16th over. The 29-year-old was facing Mukesh Kumar when he sent the ball towards Shai Hope, who took a tight catch at the long-off boundary rope. Samson, however, was livid at the decision which was soon sent upstairs to the third umpire. Samson’s point of argument was that Shai Hope’s foot touched the rope, but after the umpire’s referral, where he looked at different angles of the catch, Samson was deemed to be out.

There was inconclusive evidence to suggest Hope had not touched the boundary rope. Samson went onto argue with the on-field umpire’s, for which the RR captain was fined 30 per cent of his match fee for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.

“It depends on replays and angles. Sometimes, you think the foot has touched. It was a difficult one for the third umpire to judge; the game was at a crucial stage, but it happened. We have different perspectives, but at the end of the day, you have to stand by the decision the third umpire has made, even if we have a different opinion on it,” RR Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara said after the match.

On the other hand, it was a memorable day out for Kuldeep Yadav. The wrist-spinner registered figures of 2/25 from four overs, being the most economical bowler (6.25) among the lot. RR were 162/4 after Samson’s dismissal, and Kuldeep added to the misery, striking twice in the 18th over with wickets of Donovan Ferreira and R Ashwin, leaving the visitors at 185/7.

It was just a matter of time before DC had the last laugh, and for RR, Samson was their lone soldier who fought a tough battle, only for all of his efforts to go in vain.