You can't step the line at that point of time: Samson

Rajasthan Royals should have won Match No. 52 of the Indian Premier League 2023, but they didn’t. With five runs needed from the final delivery, Sandeep Sharma had Abdul Samad caught at long-off, only to know a few seconds later that he had overstepped.  Samad then got one in his arc and whacked it down the ground for a six to give Sunrisers Hyderabad their fourth win of the season.

The Royals started this season with four wins in the first five games but have now lost five of their last six encounters. They are still fourth on the points table but have now played one more game than three other teams who are also at 10 points. Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson was at a loss for words after failing to defend 214.

“This is what IPL gives you, matches like these makes the IPL special. You can never, never, never feel like you have won the game. I knew any opponent can win it and they were batting well too, but I was confident with Sandeep (defending the final over),” said Samson after Sandeep failed to defend 17 in the final over.

“He has won us a game from a similar situation (against CSK). He did it again today but that no-ball ruined our result. We played really well with the bat to put up that kind of a score on this wicket, but I think they (SRH) batted really sensibly, credit has to go to them for the way they batted.

Talking about that no-ball, Samson said: “Nothing much, it's a no-ball, just have to bowl it again as simple as that, you don't think about it too much. Sandeep knows what to do. Maybe there might be a small change in mindset for a few seconds when you feel that the job is done, everyone was celebrating but I think that's the nature of this game, you can't step the line at that point of time.

“To be honest, playing this format is never easy, especially this tournament. Each and every game we have to play our best standard of cricket. We will come back and try to do it again.”

The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Samson all put on a show in the first innings and helped RR amass 214/2 in their 20 overs. SRH’s top-three - Anmolpreet Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi - all got runs but it was Heinrich Klaasen (12-ball 26) who gave them a bit of momentum before Glenn Phillips went crazy.

Replacing Harry Brook, Phillips smashed 25 off seven deliveries, hitting Kuldip Yadav for three fours and a six in the penultimate over. It was only because of him SRH were alive in the game till the very end. Samad then did the rest and somehow got them over the line.

“It was a situation where it was going to go one of two ways. Happy to get out on top of this one. We are all here to do our job, this is what the team needed today. Fantastic for it to pay off, and I had so much fun today out there,” said Phillips after being named Player of the Match.

Meanwhile, Samad said: “When I went in to bat, it wasn't an easy situation. Phillips gave us the injection. Was waiting for the ball to hit in the slot. Luckily got no-ball as well.”

Hyderabad’s skipper Aiden Markram then heaped heavy praise on his batters. “Emotions turned quite quickly, nice for us to get over the line. Chasing 215 isn't easy, and guys contributed all along to chase a big target. We knew in a quick outfield like this we'll score more than expected, but we had to be aggressive.

“Abhishek started up off, and then Tripathi gave him company. Then those cameos from Phillips and Klaasy. (On Samad's finishing skills) I think you got to train it, and put yourself under pressure. You are playing high-risk cricket, so that's where technique comes in.”