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SPORTS APRIL 05, 2024 | The Indian Eye 48

are currently standing at the top of desperate to open their account in
the IPL 2024 standings with four IPL 2024 when they take on reign-
points by their name. ing champions Chennai Super Kings
(CSK) on Sunday.
“WAS IN BED FOR LAST
THREE DAYS”: RIYAN PARAG HOW ABHISHEK NAYAR
ajasthan Royals all-round- CHANGED DINESH KARTHIK
er Riyan Parag, who led the oyal Challengers Bengaluru
Rhome side to a 12-run victory (RCB) assistant coach Ma-
over the Delhi Capitals, said that he Rlolan Rangarajan opened up
felt sick prior to the game and had about the role of Abhishek Nayar
to take painkillers before taking the in transforming Dinesh Karthik as
field. a player. The veteran wicketkeeper
RR continued the trend of the batter once again played an influen-
home team emerging victorious as tial knock against the Punjab Kings,
they clinched a 12-run win over Del- which helped RCB clinch their maid-
hi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh en IPL 2024 win with a 4-wicket vic-
Stadium. tory.
Karthik’s late surge kept the
Put to bat first, Rajasthan were scoreboard ticking and eventually
got the team across the finish line.
struggling at 36/3 after 7.2 However, the 38-year-old’s transfor-

overs, however, Parag came out mation came after a lot of hardwork.
In the RCB’s latest video on
to bat and turned around the Bold Diaries, Rangarajan shed light
tempo as he hammered an un- on the very first block of difference
created by DK.
beaten 45-ball 84, helping his “He was one of the first ones,

side post 185/5 against the Del- Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag plays a shot during the match against Delhi Capitals in the maybe in India or maybe even in
Chennai, to start hiring their own
hi Capitals in Thursday’s match. Indian Premier League 2024, at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday (ANI) coaches, a little bit like tennis. He
had already done it, he had already
“I have worked very hard, the on track of the chase. Warner fell for Wasim Jaffer expressed surprise gone through a couple of coaches. He
last 3 days I was in bed, I was on 49 and Pant departed moments late. that Delhi did not play Shaw de- was at that point in his career where
painkillers, I just got up today and spite keeping him for the IPL 2024 he needed somebody to mentor him,
I’m very happy,” Parag said in a pre- MOODY AMUSED ON DC NOT mini-auction. In response to the like a holistic person who would take
sentation. PICKING PRITHVI SHAW swashbuckling opener’s omission care of him and fortunately he found
The all-rounder had a fantastic from DC’s opening two encounters, that person in Abhishek Nayar,”
start to the IPL 2024 and is benefiting ormer Australian cricketer Jaffer said, “Now that they have held Rangarajan said.
from a defined role in Rajasthan’s Tom Moody stated that wick- onto him and not let him go into the “People like us, (Shanker) Basu,
lineup, batting at number four. Fetkeeper-batter Prithvi Shaw’s auction, I’m surprised they’re not myself, Abhinav (Mukund), we’re too
He went on to credit his domes- omission from the Delhi Capitals’ playing him. He’s played for Mum- close to him. So he needed someone
tic form for his impressive start to (DC) playing XI “doesn’t make bai for most of the season, so you’d from a different point of view who
IPL 2024. sense” and suggested that DC should imagine that he’s fit. I’m surprised. could come and push him in a very
“I know what my opinion is select 24-year-old batter for their up- Punishing him and then losing the very different direction which at that
about myself. That does not change coming Indian Premier League (IPL) games is not the way to go forward.” point was required for DK because
regardless of whether I get a zero or 2024 matches. Shaw came under fire for a spate he had made a number of comebacks
not. That’s a lot to do with the type of Moody pointed out that, while of subpar performances in the IPL and tried a hell lot of things to make
season as well, I had a great domestic Shaw has been unimpressive in re- 2023. He finished with 106 runs from a comeback. He needed somebody
season and that helps. Someone in cent seasons, selecting him over Bhui eight innings, an average of 13.25. else with a different wand. Fortu-
the top four has to play the 20 overs, is a more plausible option given his Ricky Bhui was caught behind nately for him it has been Nayar and
the wicket was keeping low and stop- international cricket experience. for a duck in Thursday’s match he stuck with Nayar” he added.
ping, in the first game Sanju bhayya “It doesn’t make sense due to against Rajasthan. Nandre Burger Karhtik played an unbeaten
did it,” he added. the fact that you’ve got an Indian in- struck out the right-handed batter knock of 28 runs from just 10 balls
This marked the ninth consecu- ternational player (Prithvi Shaw) in with a crisp bouncer. which was laced with three fours and
tive win in nine games for the home the dugout. Yes, he hasn’t performed Moody commented on the dis- two sixes in his innings.
team. in the IPL like we had all hoped missal, stating that it highlighted the With his knock, he established
The Australian duo of Mitchell he would, but you can’t score runs disparity between domestic cricket himself as one of the most-deadly
Marsh (23) and David Warner (49) from the dugout,” speaking to ES- and the IPL. strikers in the final overs. The Chen-
got off to a brisk start as DC amassed PNcricinfo Moody stated. “That’s exactly what you’d like nai-born player became the sec-
30 runs in 2.1 overs while chasing Shaw was benched for Delhi’s to see a genuine quick bowler to do. ond-highest run-getter in the death
186. For Rajasthan, Nandre Burger first two games this season. Ricky And to do it to a top-order player is overs (17-20 overs). He has scored
breached Marsh’s defence to claim Bhui, a domestic cricket star, has even more alarming. What it does 372 runs at a strike rate of 203.27
the first wicket, and Rick Bhui fell in not capitalised on his opportunities, also is highlight the jump between and is just behind Rajasthan Royals
the same over for a two-ball duck. scoring 3 and 0 against the Punjab Ranji Trophy runs to international (RR) batter Shimron Hetmyer who
Skipper Rishabh Pant and War- Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals cricket and IPL,” he added. has scored 383 runs at a strike rate
ner strung a 67-run stand to keep DC (RR), respectively. Rishabh Pant-led side will be of 197.42.

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