In the TATA IPL 2024‘s fourth match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals claimed victory with a 20-run margin against Lucknow Super Giants thanks to the impressive performance of Captain Sanju Samson. With his unbeaten 82 runs off 52 balls and strong bowling during the Powerplay and slog-overs, Samson led his team to a successful start in the tournament.
In the match between RR and LSG, Samson (82) and Riyan Parag (43 off 29) put together a remarkable partnership of 93 runs in just 59 balls, leading RR to a total of 193/4. The RR pacers, Trent Boult and Nandre Burger, set the pace by taking three wickets in the Powerplay. Sandeep Sharma, R Ashwin, and Avesh Khan then delivered an outstanding performance in the later overs, successfully defending a target of 60 runs in the last five overs and securing a victory for their team.
LSG had a rough start while chasing a target of 194, as Trent Boult showcased his skills by taking a wicket in the very first over, dismissing Quinton de Kock. He continued his dominance by claiming a second wicket in the following over, skillfully removing Devdutt Padikkal. In addition, Nandre Burger also joined the party by grabbing his first IPL wicket, catching Ayush Badoni at mid off.
LSG made a substitution by bringing in Deepak Hooda as their Impact Player for Yash Thakur. Hooda immediately started off aggressively, hitting a six and a four in his first three balls. He partnered with KL Rahul, opting for an aggressive approach that helped LSG reach fifty runs in the seventh over. Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced by Samson, and the leg-spinner made an impact by dismissing Hooda in the first over. After a few economical overs, Nicholas Pooran and Rahul increased the pace, with Rahul taking on Burger to score a six and two fours, adding 17 runs to LSG’s total. Pooran also shifted gears and hit two sixes and a four, adding 20 runs to Boult’s over. Rahul reached his fifty off 35 balls. The pair added 85 runs, but with 49 runs needed off 24 balls, Sandeep Sharma made a crucial breakthrough by having Rahul caught at deep point for 58 runs off 44 balls. RR took two more quick wickets as R Ashwin dismissed Marcus Stoinis at deep mid-wicket. In the meantime, Pooran reached his fifty off 30 balls. With 38 runs needed off 12 balls, Pooran hit two fours off Sharma’s over, but RR still managed to contain the damage with only 11 runs conceded. The game came down to the last over, with 27 runs needed off 6 balls. Avesh Khan delivered an excellent over, conceding only six runs and securing the win for RR. Pooran ended the game with an unbeaten 64 runs off 41 balls.
Prior to the start of the match, the decision to bat first was made by Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan Royals.
In the second over, the home team suffered an early setback when Naveen-ul-Haq had Jos Buttler caught behind after conceding two fours earlier in the over. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson combined aggressive and cautious play, scoring 36 runs off 18 balls. Mohsin Khan was hit for a four and two sixes in the fifth over by the pair. However, the LSG Pacer made a strong comeback by getting rid of the dangerous Jaiswal (24 off 12) with a well-executed bouncer on the last ball of the over, causing Jaiswal to mistime his shot to mid on. At the end of the Powerplay, RR’s score stood at 54/2.
The LSG spinners caused a decrease in the pace, however, when pacer Yash Thakur was brought in, Samson and Parag significantly increased the intensity with three successful sixes in the 9th over, resulting in a total of 21 runs.
Krunal Pandya had a strong hold on the game and concluded with a spell of 4-0-19-0, while Samson and Parag took on Bishnoi, smashing a pair of sixes to reach RR’s hundred in the 11th over and also completing a 50-run partnership.
Riyan Parag was fortunate when Mohsin misjudged a catch and was unable to reach it, as Parag had mishit a pull off of Bishnoi. In the next ball, Samson achieved his fifty off of 33 deliveries. Together, they added 93 runs in 59 balls before Naveen finally broke through with a slower bouncer in the 15th over. This caused Parag (43 off 29) to miscue and be caught at deep square leg.
LSG claimed another wicket when Bishnoi caught Shimron Hetmyer behind the stumps after a calm over. Despite this setback, Samson and Dhruv Jurel kept the pace going and propelled RR to a total of 193/4. Samson’s impressive knock of 82 runs from 52 balls remained unbeaten, while Jurel contributed 20 runs off 12 deliveries.
At the conclusion of the first innings, RR announced the substitution of Shimron Hetmyer with Nandre Burger as their Impact Player.