I think we could have checked that no ball: Rishabh Pant

In a high-voltage clash at the Wankhede stadium, Jos Buttler smashed his third century of the season to power the Rajasthan Royals to a 15-run win and help the team move to the top position in the points table. 

After being asked to bat first by Delhi Capitals, Buttler smashed a scintillating 116 off 65 deliveries and forged a 155-run opening stand with Devdutt Padikkal to propel the Royals to 222 in the first innings. The total proved to be a challenging one against the formidable batting unit of the Delhi side. Despite valuable contributions by Rishabh Pant and Lalit Yadav, they fell short by 15 runs. 

With 36 runs needed off the final over, Rovman Powell smashed three sixes to get the equation down to 18 off the last three balls. However, a full toss around the waist height on the third delivery created a lot of drama, with Delhi fuming over the call. 

In a post-match interview, Pant revealed the tense moments in the dugout and said, "I think they were bowling well throughout the game, but Powell gave us a chance in the end. I thought the no-ball could have been precious for us. I thought we could have checked that no-ball, but it's not in my control."

"Yes, we are disappointed but can't do much about it. Everyone was frustrated because it was not even close, so I thought it was only a no-ball."

Everyone on the ground saw that. I think the third umpire should have intervened in between and said it was a no-ball, but I can't change the rule myself," he further added. 

One of the talking points from the game was the instance when the Capitals sent their assistance coach, Pravin Amre, on the field to speak to the umpires. 

"Obviously, it wasn't right, but what happened with us was also not right. It was just the heat of the moment, and we cannot do much about it. I think it was the fault of both of the sides, not even only for us because, throughout the tournament, we have seen some good umpiring," he said when asked if it was right to send an official in the middle of the game.  

The skipper also shared insights on the areas of improvement for the side and said, "I thought we could have done pretty well from there, I guess. It hurts more when you go so close, especially in a match when the other team has scored 220 runs, but I feel we could have bowled a little better. It's part and parcel of the game. I can only tell them to have their chin up and prepare for the next one right now," he said. 

On the other hand, the skipper of the Royals, Sanju Samson, revealed the team wanted to rally around the pacer after challenging three deliveries. 

"We wanted to be around McCoy and put a smile on his face. It is not easy for a bowler after conceding three sixes. We wanted to change the plan, so we took our time to give the bowler a breather," he said. 

"The last game was a tough one, and this game too, with Powell hitting those sixes. It's important to stay calm and trust your teammates. You need to back yourself," he concluded.