What’s with Rajasthan Royals and new heroesIJ They have consistently inspired lesser known players to perform out of their skin. From Swapnil Asnodkar to Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja to Sanju Samson, they all narrate similar stories. On Sunday, another such story unfolded in front of a packed Feroz shah Kotla. And the protagonist was a Delhi boy — Deepak Hooda, who scored a quick-fire half-century to help Royals chase down Delhi Daredevils 185-run target with three wickets to spare.
Although he represents Haryana in Ranji Trophy, he learnt the art of batting in Delhi. And while representing a Rajasthan outfit in the IPl, 19-year-old Hooda dazzled his erstwhile home crowd with a match-changing innings of 54 off just 25 balls.
When Hooda walked in to bat, Royals were in a hole having lost two quick wickets with in a space of five balls (78 for 4 in 10.4 overs). They still needed 107 runs to overhaul Delhi Daredevils’ 184. Opener Ajinkya Rahane was batting at the other end on 34 and Hooda was expected to play the supporting role. But that wasn’t what this IPl rookie had in mind.
After working a few singles and taking stock of the pitch’s behaviour, Hooda unleashed his array of strokes to flatten out Daredevils bowling that, until then, was looking good enough to defend an above par score at their home ground.
11th consecutive loss
Daredevils have no one but themselves to blame for the humiliating record-equaling 11th successive loss - nine last season and two out of two this season. Hooda was given reprieve twice; the first one was a simple run-out chance for Yuvraj Singh who failed to collect an easy throw from point with Hooda on 23. The second was a simple catch at deep mid-wicket boundary for Manoj Tiwary spilling it and helping the ball to go over the rope for a six. Hooda was on 31.
Almost there
Before those two blunders, Daredevils looked in control of the match with their spinners - Imran Tahir and Amit Mishra - consistently troubling the opposition batsmen. Out of seven Royals’ wickets, Tahir (4 for 28) and Mishra (2 for 32) shared six between them. But, in the absence of Mohammed Shami and Zaheer Khan, their pace department struggled. Steven Smith and Karun Nair fell trying expensive shots against Mishra.
Tahir had foxed Stuart Binny and Ajinkya Rahane before he came in to bowl the penultimate over with Royals needing 19 runs. On the very first ball, Hooda hit the short and flat ball straight to long-on where Mathews took an easy catch. Morris, coming in at No. 8, sent the next ball to cow corner for six. Next two balls resulted in a dot and a single. With 12 needed off 8, Faulkner targeted his favourite mid-wicket area but failed to read the googly. Stumps were shattered and Tahir was off to another spirited run to the boundary line.
Mathews, the only pacer to have taken a wicket (Sanju Samson) in this innings so far, was given the last over to defend 12 runs. And like Albie Morkel failed to carry Daredevils over the rope against CSK, his replacement Mathews failed to restrict the opposition from taking the game away. After scoring 9 off first five balls, Royals needed 3 off the last delivery. From around the wicket, Mathews bowled a full length delivery on the off-stump. Tim Southee, like an established batsman, dissected the covers and long-off fielder perfectly for four.
DD’s batting resurrection
Daredevils’ batsmen should be commended for the way they bounced back from the miserable display against Chennai Super Kings in the previous match playing with much more intent. If opener Mayank Aggarwal (37) provided a brisk start, his partner Shreyas Iyer (40) ensured the advantage didn’t slip away once he is gone.
Also, it was clear that they had learnt from their mistakes in the last match as both of their batting mainstays - Duminy and Yuvraj - came in to bat early with enough time to make an impact. And they duly obliged. Duminy, coming in No. 3, held on to one end untill the very last over when he smashed two sixes off Morris. Yuvraj (27 off 17 balls) batted at No. 4 and shared a 45-run stand with his captain, who remained unbeaten. Angelo Mathews replaced last match’s top-scorer Albie Morkel in the team and was an instant hit with the bat scoring a quick-fire 27 off 14 balls to propel Daredevils to a post an above par total.
However, the kind of depth Rajasthan Royals have in all the departments, no score is enough. In the end it was another last ball loss for Daredevils and another clinical performance by Royals.
Brief Scores
Delhi Daredevils: 184 for 3 in 20 overs (JP Duminy 44*, Shreyas Iyer 40, Mayank Agarwal 37; Chris Morris 2/35) lose to Rajasthan Royals: 186 for 7 in 20 overs (Deepak Hooda 54, Ajinkya Rahane 47; Imran Ragur 4/28) by 3 wickets.